At Gate 3 in August

It’s 5:30 am, the sun is creeping over the horizon, and it’s stunningly quiet at the gate. Each of us waiting for flight 4975 to open its honeycomb doors. Each of us in an unexpected pause, our lives in a slight ellipsis between here and there, between trouble and peace. Dale, the wizened gate agent, cautions us not to carry too much. If I had only known when I was younger. The beautiful old woman next to me is thinking this, too. We look at each other and laugh. For a slow moment, we’re not sure if we’re boarding a flight to Heaven or just landing more deeply in our very precious lives. For an instant, I wonder if they are finally the same thing.

A Question to Walk With: In conversation with a friend or loved one, describe what needs to be addressed in you for you to land more deeply in your very precious life.

This is from my new book of poems in progress, This Slow Quick Dance.

Mark will be offering retreats and a few special journeys in 2024. Below are some of his offerings: 

May 6: Drinking from the River of Light, Talk on the Creative Process, The Gilmore Festival, Kalamazoo Public Library Central Branch, VanDeusen Room | 2 pm
https://www.thegilmore.org/event/mark-nepo/

June 28-30: Falling Down and Getting Up: Discovering Your Inner Resilience and Strength, weekend retreat, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
http://tinyurl.com/5n79swbd

Aug 16-18: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship, weekend retreat, Mercy By the Sea, 167 Neck Rd, Madison
https://www.mercybythesea.org/events/

Sept 16–21, 2024 You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship, a Mastery Week Retreat at the Modern Elder Academy in Santa Fe, Mexico, .
https://www.meawisdom.com/workshop/the-power-of-friendship-with-mark-nepo

Sept 29 1pm PT/4pm ET: Mark Nepo in Conversation with Brooke Warner – You Don’t Have to Do It Alone, ticketed event hosted by Book Passage
https://www.bookpassage.com/event/mark-nepo-brooke-warner-you-dont-have-do-it-alone-online-event

Nov 1-3: Harmony Hill Retreat Center, You Don’t Have to Do It Alone: The Net of Friendship weekend retreat, Union WA, Contact Harmony Hill for info:
https://www.harmonyhill.org/contact-connections/

Dec 8–14,  Saying Yes to Life: The One Life We’re Given, a weeklong retreat in Costa Rica, hosted by Global Journeys
https://globalj.org/mark-nepo-costa-rica-overview/