Some say the body holds
the spirit up like
a corset, is its eyes and
ears, displays its moods,
points it to its prey,
retrieves what the spirit
desires, and gets a pittance
in return- in fact is
ridiculed because the spirit
thinks it’s hot stuff,
wants everything all
at once and cannot stand
the body’s ponderous delay.
But others say the spirit
is the body’s friend, takes
it everywhere, dresses it
up, introduces it around,
makes a name for it,
conceals its unseemly
parts, abides its
nervous schedules, gets it
to laugh, keeps the noise
down while the body sleeps.
~George McCauley
may we know the intensity of waiting to be simply our need to acknowledge……we are all vulnerable and holding the rhythm of our heartbeats….
When you are coming back into your body and have been gone for a long time, which most people have, I think it is important to remember that whatever is happening will not be that way forever. It will change. Here the concept of impermanence, that everything changes, can be of great comfort. Tibetan master Sogyal Rinpoche suggests that “impermanence is like some of the people we meet in life- difficult and disturbing at first, but on deeper acquaintance far friendlier and less unnerving than we could have imagined.” Being mindful of impermanence allows you to ride with the experience, to stay with it. This is Annie Dillard’s advice. “Not only does something come if you wait, but it pours over you like a waterfall, like a tidal wave. You wait in all naturalness without expectation or hope, emptied, translucent, and that which comes rocks and topples you; it will shear, loose, launch, winnow, grind.” And you will be healing while you allow the changing to happen. ~Rita Justice
The only thing that makes life possible is permanent,
intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next.
~Ursula LeGuin
My now favorite scripture from the Old Testament is Ecclesiastes. I thought he was a curmudgeon when I was younger, but now realize he was old and realistic. The only thing you can count on is change. Whatever is now, will change shortly. Live in the moment and go with the flow!
Always find something affirming or inspiring or a new way of seeing things in your posts. I get behind in reading because I am finding quite a few people that I really enjoy not only reading, but reflecting on what they say and often sharing with others. Such a delight! But at my age there’s so much trivial survival stuff that takes up time. Thanks be, some of my doctors’ offices are getting wi fi. 🙂
Love this! Your inspiration comes from your curiosity……blessings….