Deliberate: Folding life into Practice

A frosty grocery-shopping trip,
Loaded up packages and tins,
Bags and boxes
Toted through the chilly air,
Cart flying down the street,

Happily arriving home and unpacking,
Enjoying a piping hot cup of tea
And drinking it mindfully,
Settling in for a quiet evening
Of listening to audio talks and reflecting;

Supper’s ready in the fridge,
Cold left-overs from
Last night’s cooking frenzy,
Macaroni and cheese
With lots of vegetables;

These simple activities
Are my practice these days,
No fancy projects,
Nor life changing goals,
Just everyday tasks;

This is where the real practice lives,
The place where the mundane rubber
Meets the ordinary dirt road,
Rain or shine, mud or dust,
ruts and all,

Over a simple track
The cart rolls,
And though the wheels
Are frequently squeaky,
And the joints of the puller often creaky,

Somehow the groceries always get home,
The tea gets made,
The supper prepared,
Then onto the plate or into the bowl.