Lucky to be Leafless

Eugene Peterson is truly a sage of our time. I love his writings and love his heart on ministry and life. I have recently been reading and rereading a sketch that he wrote on "blessed are the poor in spirit". One of the things God is teaching me right now is to read slowly and soak deeply. I tend to rush through scripture and readings. I seem to "get through a lot" and check it off my reading to-do list. But have I slowed down enough for soul-soaking to happen.
So, here is something to soak on by Peterson...

The Lucky Poor
"blessed are the poor in spirit"

A beech tree in winter, white
Intricacies unconcealed
Against sky blue and billowed
Clouds, carries in his emptiness
Ripeness: sap ready to rise
On signal, buds alert to burst
To leaf. And then after a season
Of summer a lean ring to remember
The lush fulfilled promises.
Empty again in wise poverty
That lets the reaching branches stretch
A millimeter more towards heaven,
The bole expand ever so slightly
And push roots into the firm
Foundation, lucky to be leafless:
Deciduous reminder to let it go.