Beckoned and gathered
Drawn ever close
We began
Sharing stories
Our yearnings
Our souls
Exposing deep wounds
And time worn scars
We shared hopes
Named our fears
And lifted our hearts
Emboldened,
Encompassed
Enthralled
We spoke
We listened
We heard
And we danced
And we stomped
And we walked and we paused
Wisdom teachings, traditions
Shared and brought forth
We gathered as peers
Encouraged, reinforced
Summoned each by Spirit
In silence and prayer
We opened our palms
We beat to the rhythm
Our hearts and deepest thoughts
In song, encircled as One.
We broke bread
Shared some meals
Tears and laughter
And rolling down hills.
Encouraged and danced
Blessed and beloved,
We hold our hearts together
As contemplatives that we are
So we lift up this Shalem TC Class 2025
In deepest of regards and with love.