I sent my friend the picture of this newest bird. Still fresh from my hands, she traveled across the globe to gather in the best compliment. Her reply was, “She’s a fancy bird. Very Ivy-like.” And my heart is still beaming.
I had promised my grandmother that on my best of days, my very best, they would see her, and they would see her daughter. And I don’t always get it right — even in my “best” attempts, but I keep trying. And when you call it out by name, call them out by name, it is all the love that shines.
And isn’t that the best we can do, wear the pearls that we were given? The pearls of wisdom and strength. Of laughter and joy. Of survival and grace and courage. When we give it all a name, we have a responsibility, to witness and uphold. To generate and pass along. And with that, those very pearls are given wings. And I feel the fancy flutter about and I think, I know, how very Ivy-like indeed.
Robert Caro, one of the best known biographers, is a voracious note-taker. When interviewing people for his books, in his notes, you will often see the letters SU. They stand for shut up. This is a directive from Caro, to Caro. Through years of experience, he learned that some of the best details come in the silence. He trained himself to listen to the silences. The power between the words, around the words. This is where he gets inside his subjects. This is why his books are so powerful.
This morning I opened the door to take my daily walk in our garden. In this time, I often find my inspiration for my daily blogs. This morning, hit by the pinks and greens and yellows, I knew in an instant, the words I wanted to write were already hanging in the trees, and lit by the sun. This was my time to just listen.
I walked in silence, and was filled with the story around me. All I had to do was pay attention. What a powerful gift, this colorful silence… whispered directly into my heart. Breathe, my friends. And listen.
