Abbey Labyrinth Monthly Reflection: Floating

(Photo crecit: contributed by author)

Next In-person walk: Saturday, June 13, 9-10 a.m.
Covenant Presbyterian Church back parking lot, 2222 at Mo-Pac, Austin

Next Zoom discussion:  Jun 13, 2026 10:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada), Zoom link is here.

By Janet Davis

Walk In: Losing our Lives by Choosing to Float in Free Fall

As swimmers dare

to lie face to the sky

and water bears them,

as hawks rest upon air

and air sustains them,

so would I learn to attain

freefall, and float

into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,

knowing no effort earns

that all-surrounding grace.

“The Avowal” by Denise Levertov

Questions

The idea of free fall sounds scary to most of us yet, as the poet imagines, can be a picture of a Divine invitation to know more of God’s completely un-earned grace.

Where in your relationship with the Divine do you sense yourself hanging onto something that God is inviting you to release? It could be a relationship, a calling, a work ethic, a specific vision for healing or goodness, a dream, a desire to earn your way, an idea about your identity or personhood….

What do you tend to imagine the letting go of your attachment and freefall would look like for you?

Alternatively, can you imagine falling into God’s embrace?

Center: Meeting the Holy One in the Choice to Float in God’s Wisdom

(Photo credit: contributed by author)

Living in Passionate Faith

Ask humbly for the gift,
and Faith is a gift, not a given,
not an act of will or skill,
though clear intention and request
are first required—

Then let yourself float
in a pool of confident Wisdom
that is not your own, but God’s,
beyond anyone’s guess of God.

You will know when
the moment comes,
though you will not
be thinking about
whether or not
you are ready.
You will hear and
at the same moment
do it—

Take the quantum leap
of consciousness
into the Big Yes,
and discover
you can swim.

By Alla Renée Bozarth

Copyright 2010 (Diamonds in a Stony Field). All Rights Reserved.
For information or permission to reprint, contact the poet at
Alla Bozarth

Questions

This poem gives us a different image of what we might “fall into”… a pool of God’s confident wisdom that is beyond anyone’s guess of God. What does that mean to you? Have you ever felt yourself “caught” by God’s wisdom before?

What “quantum leap of consciousness” are you being invited to right now? Can you hear and act, “ready” or not? If not, what are you waiting for?

Are you content with the discovery that you can swim or are you wanting a different image of rest and peace and oneness?

Walk Out: Saving Our Lives by Recognizing That We are Already a Part of Everything Else

This picture was taken on a visit to Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, in NE UK as we waited for the tidal water to recede so we could return to this magical “sometimes island,” former home of an ancient monastic community.  (not quite white herons but close!). (Photo credit: contributed by author)

Poem of the World

This morning
the beautiful white heron
was floating along above the water
and then into the sky of this
the one world
we all belong to
where everything
sooner or later
is a part of everything else
which thought made me feel
for a little while
quite beautiful myself.

By Mary Oliver

Questions

The American culture promotes and cultivates a remarkably independent sense of self. In fact, one that is not actually true. For example, biologists have proven that when we spend time among the trees, our bodies are changed, our immune systems boosted, by the chemicals trees release.

As you walk out, imagine yourself as a porous being, an integrated part of the broader, benevolent ecosystem surrounding you.

What feelings rise for you?

What goodness does the reality of such connection offer you?

What practices might help you remember the fact of your inter-connection?

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