Teshuva*

Teshuva*

If weeping were the thing could tender us
we would by now be soft and clear.
Or if rage could bring us round, those storms
would hold us north, and keep us sure.

With every fresh assault our futile tears
run rivers in familiar groove.
But drying salt is hard. Too sharp and strong -
the crystal's fixed; We do not move.

Where only love will serve, the sun in flow,
our need is greatest to be kind.
One way we have not set our faces -- we turn
toward Light, and turning, shine.

--Jeanne Lohmann, Quaker

* The turning to God in Hasidic teaching

Footprints in the Sand (Revised)

Footprints in the Sand (Revised)

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with God.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to God.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he
questioned God about it:

"God, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."

God replied:

"You know, there are other people in the world
that needed me besides you, and frankly,
I could have used a little help!
Where the hell were you?"

The Holy Longing (Goethe)

Tell a wise person, or else keep silent.
Because the massman will mock it right away.
I praise what is truly alive,
what longs to be burned to death.

In the calm water of the love-nights,
where you were begotten, where you have begotten,
a strange feeling comes over you
when you see the silent candle burning.

Now you are no longer caught
in the obsession with darkness,
and a desire for higher lovemaking
sweeps you upward.

Distance does not make you falter,
now, arriving in magic, flying,
and finally, insane for the light,
you are the butterfly and you are gone.

And so long as you haven't experienced
this: to die and so to grow,
you are only a troubled guest
on the dark earth.

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

On dealing with sadness...

So much sadness...some words from one of my favorite poets:

*********************************************************

Now is the Time


Now is the time to know
That all that you do is sacred.

Now, why not consider
A lasting truce with yourself and God.

Now is the time to understand
That all your ideas of right and wrong
Were just a child's training wheels
To be laid aside
When you finally live
With veracity
And love.

Hafiz is a divine envoy
Whom the Beloved
Has written a holy message upon.

My dear, please tell me,
Why do you still
Throw sticks at your heart
And God?

What is it in that sweet voice inside
That incites you to fear?

Now is the time for the world to know
That every thought and action is sacred.

This is the time for you to compute the impossibility
That there is anything
But Grace.

Now is the season to know
That everything you do
Is sacred.

Hafiz (Persian poet c. 1320-1389) translated by Daniel Ladinsky