Quiet Day:  Creating the Poem of Your Life

The Path of this Day Apart

In this Day Apart we will signal a gentle truce with ourselves, so we may be ready for what comes to us about revising our lives, allowing our lives to unfold as the good poems they are already. 

Through the poetry of William Stafford, lovely images of the rhythms of nature, the lyrical songs of streams, frogs, birds, and whales, with meandering walks, and stillness, we will practice listening and looking for the poems and gifts that are unfolding within us.

“I think you create a good poem by revising your life… by living the kind of life that enables good poems to come about.”    W.S.

“If you are writing and you get stuck, lower your standards and keep going.  And my standards can get really low…”  “When you are writing and it gets hard, don’t stop.  It’s hard because you are doing something original.”           William Stafford, Dad

“To lower one’s standard comes from medieval warfare.  It was a signal for a truce.  To raise your standard meant to attack.  To declare a truce as a writer is to be utterly ready for what comes.”      Kim Stafford, Son

From the Arti Gras! Evaluations:

 “Wonderful blending of imagery, words,
and sounds, an oasis for reflection.  “John’s ,
inviting, facilitator/presenter.  We received
glowing praise for your workshop at Art
Gras! from Amanda Cushing, Director of
Arti Gras! February 13, 2010, the
Spirituality Network, Columbus.

The Day's Schedule

9:00     Session 1.  Welcome/Introductions
What brings us here?  An opening of brief sharing by participants,
“My Life in Writing” reflection and Power Point by JH

10:15     Silent time to rest, to walk, to sit with one of nature’s icons and acconpanying poem by William Stafford.
10:45     Session 2.  “The Contrary Way William Stafford Invited Young Writers Forward”  

11:30     Silent time to rest, to reflect with one of nature’s icons and accompanying poemsby William Stafford, and/or to walk slowly as “walking meditation.” 

12:00    Lunch, and after lunch in the sleepy time that follows…

 12:30    “Wake Up!” with the Canadian Brass playing music for the royal Fireworks, plus the G rated humor of Librarians & Photographers!                                                                                                     
12:35     Session 3.  Williams Stafford’s early formation from his Quaker mother, then  In the work camps for Conscientious Objectors during the Second  World War.
1:15 break, some quiet time.   

1:30   Session 4.  Conversation together, sharing our half-baked ideas maybe a hunch or two of the way forward, what we’ve begun to consider, or remaining silent if that is the better way.
2:00    Shalom

For:   Persons with too much to do and too little time for reflection on what is most important in God’s universe. No need to expect a miracle. Faith is always enough.
What to bring: 
     Dress casually and bring walking shoes. 
    A willingness to be still and experience the peace within.

To express interest in this Day Apart, email [email protected]