These Things-That-Happen

This is life.
  Things happen.

How?
  I called them in before I was born into this person...
  I call them in now through my thoughts and beliefs...
  Random occurrences...

I guess, in the end, 'how' doesn't matter,
  because here they sit,
  these things-that-happen.

Here they sit,
  waiting for my attention,
  my response.

And, whether or not I had some choice
  that these things happened,
  I do have a choice
  in my response.

Of that, I feel quite certain.

So, these things-that-happen
  are awaiting my response,
  and I,
  well I,

choose to live into them,
  to explore their essence,
  to find my own grace in and through them,
  to breathe from a deep center of peace,
  to allow that breath to flow over
  my tired bones, my frightened heart, my confused mind.

I ask these things-that-happen,
  'What have you brought to me,
  gifts, lessons, challenges..?'
  and,
  "What can I bring to you?'

These things-that-happen,
  openings into the next step
  on this journey called life.

Turning my attention from
  what I thought 'was supposed to be'
  to these things,
  I see now that they are my life.

What I thought 'was supposed to be'
  was only an image in my mind,
  a wandering of my fancy,
  a reflection of someone else's path.

So, these things-that-happen...
  I guess, this time, I shall welcome you,
  ask about your essence and your gifts.

And I shall allow myself to feel
  grateful
  for the mystery, the journey
  that is about to unfold.