I catch myself

I am privileged to sit with and counsel people.  Often I catch myself saying things I need to hear myself.  I find myself convicted.  I want you to do one thing this week, I say.  One thing.  Often my client says: Only one?  There is a list of things.  I say:   It all begins with one thing.  Do that one and let*s see about the rest next week.  When the client leaves I think  One thing.  Only one thing.  I*ll see about the rest tomorrow.

I catch myself

Counseling

Exactly what I need to hear

Except

It seems the person

I sit with

Needs to hear it too,

Except perhaps

From someone else.

I catch myself

Consulting someone else I trust,

To hear what I need to hear.

I listen to birds

As they sing from tree to tree

Especially this morning

With every door and window

Open.

I know there is more

To their singing,

More nuance

Than I will ever catch.

Still

I catch

What I can.

Still

I catch

What I may.