Resistance and Resilience: Offering

Posted byremcmahanPosted inpoetry, UncategorizedTags:, , , , , , , ,

September 23, 2025

For the past few months, this blog has been focused on works of creativity as acts of resistance to the powers that be and a means of resilience that remind us we are not alone even as the world turns upside-down and inside-out. This morning’s post will be the last in this series. Thank you to all who contributed, from artists to photographers and poets to musicians. You may find former posts here: https://spirit-reflections.org/blog/.

Today’s act of resistance and resilience is simply this: offering. When we pay attention to the world around us, even the familiar and ordinary, we witness the vast array of gifts presented to us, no matter how dark, frustrating, confusing, or pain-filled our circumstances appear to be. When we offer what we ourselves have to give (in this blog, our creative works) we extend hope and blessing because offerings are just that: blessings and acknowledgment of one another.

What do you notice being offered to you this very day? What are you offering in response?

Gratefully yours,

Rosemary

This Day’s Offering

“This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight.” Exodus 29: 38-39

I have no lambs to give
no “pleasing aroma” wafting
Godward on another day
of waiting for yet
another piece of sky
to fall.
Yet look what I do have:
yellow-yoked eggs
and buttered muffins,
gray and white woven placemat
that holds my floral cup,
a partner with his morning
shadow, a tabby and tux,
yin-yanged in sleep,
these words.

On my deck awash in fiery sun,
cicadas singing aubades,
I clip my finest offerings:
one pink tea rose, a stem of blue torenia,
purple lobelia, two pink petunias
drifting over the bud vase
on the window ledge,
wafting Godward.

(c) Rosemary McMahan

Photo credit: Rosemary McMahan

Published by remcmahan

Poet, writer, minister, wanderer, traveler on the way, Light-seeker ~ hoping others will join me on the journey of discovering who we are and were meant to be. You can reach me at 20rosepoet20@gmail.com or at my blog, Spirit-reflections.org.

14 thoughts on “Resistance and Resilience: Offering”

  4. Thank you for all you have offered in this blog, dear Rosemary. I particularly love today’s poem, it’s simplicity and imagery. I offer my thanks and praise to you and all the contributors to this blog for all their creativity, giving us much to reflect on visually and spiritually. In a world that is so troubling, I find peace within my/our home in simple things, simple actions, as well as in the gift of true friendships. I try to offer kindness to others, and an appreciation for my blessings. All this in the name of the One who loves us all. May you be overwhelmingly blessed knowing how much you are appreciated for all you have given me/us.❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Thank you, dear Rosemary, for this thoughtful and beautiful blog, for all your time, efforts, poetry, photography, and narratives that have given me much to ponder as I consider my place in this troubled world. I thank all your contributors as well for their creativity and beauty. May we show our resilience through kindness in words and deeds, and may the One who loves us unconditionally anchor us in that love so that we too may be a source of love in our world. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Amen! I will continue blogging, but not in regard to this particular theme. I think I’ve made my point about the importance and relevance of the arts. Thanks for following!

    Like

  10. Rosemary, “offerings” Wonderful idea to maintain in our daily interactions within our, lives and People. What do I have to offer at this moment of connection and intersection with society. Even if the opportunity does not arise to make an offering of what we see as our gift, we never know that from someone’s point of view that they are receiving an offering. So, if we remain steadfast, Resilient, keep feeding and honing our gifts then we will be able to give out of our abundance, because we have continued to beathe life to our spirit within.

    Thank you for providing this thought provoking platform which has received such ponderous contributions. I will continue to reflect upon them.

    Debora

    Liked by 2 people

Leave a comment