Ascensions into heaven are like falling leaves
sad and happy all at the same time
Going away isn’t really sad
especially when your going
enables a new kind of presence to be born.
Long have the leaves known the trees
They’ve danced together in the wind
days upon days.
But now, growing older and wiser,
they know they can’t cling to the trees forever.
And so they say goodbye
falling to the ground
waiting for the mystery of death
to transform them
into nourishment for the earth.
And the trees?
They stand alone for one short season
but they are at peace,
waiting for another mystery
to enfold them
with its presence…
When I saw you leaving
I covered my face with my heart
Oh, the ache of letting go
But then I remembered the trees
and so I stood in peace
remembering your return.
When you come back
we will be new for each other.
Much will have happened in our lives.
There will be more for each of us to love
More for each of us to know.
The Spirit will have left a footprint in our lives,
and we will be excited like a new leaf
come home to a tree!