This Receiving the Ever-Fresh

Nov 21, 2018

Walking the snowy path, again this day, I am reminded again. Relax. Let all of this give itself. Among these gifts of Nature, Nature gives itself. Each gift, being the giving of this all. I am learning, here, more of what the way of contemplation has been teaching me for these many years, and what I have reminded others of through my teaching and writing, that nothing of lasting value is ever gotten, only received by Grace. To have communion with this Life, known in all I see and feel on this path, this day, I must not reach out to receive it, but simply relax and allow the room for it to bless me with itself. And, in this giving, it gives all itself, even as I, in receiving, receive with all of myself. This wholly-happening, holy.

* * *

Presence, being receptive,
means to recieve, so a returning

so, receiving is never a single act
but a seamless movement happening

the returning, as long as receptivity is allowed,
keeps happening, ever-fresh, ever-flowing

so nothing is received
with a past or from the past

the sole reason one thinks the past re-happens
is the fresh gift is placed in memory, blocking the newness

yet, prior to this misplacement and displacement
what is received is only in the ever-present now ~
giving, receiving, that received one happening together

so, the saying,
"No one steps in the same river twice"

and the impossibility
of meeting anyone or anything twice

hence, to receive this ever-freshness
the memory is relaxed, all is met for a first-time

the self, initially, learned by getting
then, facing its powerlessness, un-learns to receive

egoic frustration leads to struggle
when getting ~ always aggressive ~ is exhausted,
receptivity ~ always graceful ~ arises

this receptivity is pure openness particularized in one with
thankful allowance, beautiful welcome

what one always sought
has room, now, to be given

the spaciousness becomes more stable over time
a 'getter' becoming a 'receiver'

everything becomes gift
gratitude one with the sky-like atmosphere

the gift is seen, finally, as not to one or for one
but to all all is given, for received for all

in the posture of receptivity individuality melts
universality arises in Grace impartial

receptivity, unlike getting, is not personal
person never receives, Love never gets

in receiving, Love expresses Love,
Lover and Beloved melt into one harmonious Effulgence

for Giver, Gift, and one oneself
means reception of the Giver in this Unity

so, the Prayer,
"Whatever given me, give only Yourself to Yourself"

*(C) Brian K. Wilcox, 2018.

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