to sit still
to do one thing
and one thing only
to begin and to end a breath
without distraction
outside my window
a man stands on a ladder
to paint the ceiling of a parking garage
with a brush — a brush for
six levels of concrete
to do one thing
to begin and to end
with constant attention
to be present to what’s needed
to be present to what’s
good, what’s
here,
what’s holy
too often this is
beyond me
it requires much more
diligence in rehearsal than
I would like to admit
so let me practice:
thankful for the manna
of leftovers; thankful for the
wilderness of work and of words;
thankful for the blessing of flesh and space
thankful for this what instead of
regretful for what is not; thankful for this
where rather than restless for where I am not;
thankful for being instead of critical
for not being otherwise
one full breath
and then one more
let this be the extent of my prayer
out of gratitude rather than
weary resignation
just one breath
enfleshed and holy
just one brush
for what is needed
on Numbers 11:4-6