communion

this morning - in conversation with Mary Oliver - I went down to the river.  
the sun warmed my back.

reluctantly entering the crystal-clear cold water I felt my cells light up - each of them exuding a pristine light.

warmth rose from within, mingling temperatures, under and above, water, air, skin, sun.

I kept swimming on the inside-outside membrane until my skin began to freeze again.

the delicious chill would stay with me praising the miracle of our communion: aliveness.

the river had washed away all sin and sung the gospel: You are a child of God, you deserve to be here.