I don't know what god wants. I know that it is important to me to share the stories of violence, suffering and strife, because in doing that, I shine a light on those that perpetrate injustice. No one should have to feel invisible in their situation. A quote from Lorraine Hansberry resonates deeply: "I care. I care about it all. It takes too much energy not to care."
I know that beauty exists, right alongside the ugliness. One does not diminish the other. The more overwhelming the situation, the more important it is for me to notice the exquisite flower bud, or the brilliant bee, or the way the light shines through the clouds at twilight.
My daily work involves hearing some of the worst ways that one human can treat another human. The cruelty often leaves me without words. I remind myself each day that love exists. Good people exist. And I also remind myself that compassion, courage, love, and strength exist and that they can come through me, not from me. My capacity is finite and small. My capacity to be a conduit for these qualities is nearly infinite, as long as I remember to open my heart and allow them to flow through freely.
Leanna, thanks for your thoughts and wisdom. If we keep at focusing on love we will get there. As you say, "My capacity is finite and small. My capacity to be a conduit for these qualities [compassion, courage, love, and strength] is nearly infinite, as long as I remember to open my heart and allow them to flow through freely." Beautifully put.
The only way I can deal with the horrors that human beings inflict on each other is to look daily for beauty around me. I want to see beauty in the neighborhood and in the people around me. I like what Jack Gilbert says about the memory of the stars being more than enough but , if I can't see the stars, then I am going to look for something else. I have Gilbert's poem Failing and Flying on my fridge - just like the arrangement of the words there. Thank you for reminding me of A Brief for the Defense.
I don't know what god wants. I know that it is important to me to share the stories of violence, suffering and strife, because in doing that, I shine a light on those that perpetrate injustice. No one should have to feel invisible in their situation. A quote from Lorraine Hansberry resonates deeply: "I care. I care about it all. It takes too much energy not to care."
I know that beauty exists, right alongside the ugliness. One does not diminish the other. The more overwhelming the situation, the more important it is for me to notice the exquisite flower bud, or the brilliant bee, or the way the light shines through the clouds at twilight.
My daily work involves hearing some of the worst ways that one human can treat another human. The cruelty often leaves me without words. I remind myself each day that love exists. Good people exist. And I also remind myself that compassion, courage, love, and strength exist and that they can come through me, not from me. My capacity is finite and small. My capacity to be a conduit for these qualities is nearly infinite, as long as I remember to open my heart and allow them to flow through freely.
Leanna, thanks for your thoughts and wisdom. If we keep at focusing on love we will get there. As you say, "My capacity is finite and small. My capacity to be a conduit for these qualities [compassion, courage, love, and strength] is nearly infinite, as long as I remember to open my heart and allow them to flow through freely." Beautifully put.
to enjoy ... infuse with joy. In some circumstances, it's all we've got. That, and love.
Well said Karen!
The only way I can deal with the horrors that human beings inflict on each other is to look daily for beauty around me. I want to see beauty in the neighborhood and in the people around me. I like what Jack Gilbert says about the memory of the stars being more than enough but , if I can't see the stars, then I am going to look for something else. I have Gilbert's poem Failing and Flying on my fridge - just like the arrangement of the words there. Thank you for reminding me of A Brief for the Defense.
Thanks for your comment, Graciewilde! There is actually far more beauty than the horrors that some humans concoct.
I would have been somewhat inclined to agree with Gilbert were it not for his bringingcreligion into it.
Thanks for your comment, Veronica, much appreciated!