Dare to Be Happy, Dare to Pray

Dare to Be Happy, Dare to Pray
Excerpt:


And if your spirit
carries within it 
the thorn
that is heavier than lead —
if it’s all you can do
to keep on trudging —
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted — 
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning, 
  ...                                                  ~Mary Oliver