This morning I sat with a book of Mary Oliver poetry in one hand and Mark Nepo in another. Searching, as I often do, for answers to the many questions that circle through my mind. I was hunting for some meaning to quiet my internal debates. Nothing eases my heart quite like the observations of someone who has asked similar questions. I find it comforting to surround myself with the words of other seekers. It takes the edge off of this solitary journey, and links me to something bigger than myself. And so the books stacked by my bedside grow ever taller. And this is what I read today:
We Share The Same River
from The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo
I was traveling in South Africa and felt very tender one morning, when my friend Kim came upon me as I was weeping. She asked if I was okay. I told her it was only the waters of life splashing up on my shore. Later that day, I found her near tears and checked in with her. She said, "The river's now in me."
We looked into each other and realized that we all share the same river. It flows beneath us and through us, from one dry heart to the next. We share the same river. It makes the Earth one living thing.
The whole of life has a power to soften and open us against our will, irrigate our spirits, and in those moments, we discover that tears, the water from within, are a common blood, mysterious and clear. We may speak different languages and live very different lives, but when that deep water swells to the surface, it pulls us to each other.
And so you've come to visit, because your river flows directly into mine. We share the same river, you and I. And we are foraging for reasons that have yet to be revealed.
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| our creek (when it becomes a river) |
True, isn't it. We are all one.
ReplyDeleteyes, indeed.
DeleteI feel like you have written this just for me Exactly what I came here for today you know. Thank you so much! Hug, Gesche
ReplyDeleteLove when everything comes together just so. Glad you came.
DeleteHey Maya-
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying both of your blogs - your tender honesty is so lovely and a real gift.
I've just been getting into a new (to me) singer, Sharon Jones, and whenever this song comes on, I think of you! It's a terrific sassy post-break-up song - I hope you like it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSuwHj-RZxA
x Helen
Yes, yes, yes! BETTER things is so right. Loved that! thank you!
DeleteWouldn't you know - that same river was flowing oh so strongly through me today. It was a raw day of many tears. So thanks for posting this. Your writing is always beautiful and refreshing, Maya. As I read this post, I could feel my soul quiet a bit, to stop and reflect.
ReplyDeleteSometimes (when I am more wise), rather than run from the grief inside me, I stop and honor it. Because, when there is always sadness just behind my eyes, I can see the same sadness in others. And it brings us closer. All of us humans learning what it means to be human.
If you can offer yourself the time to feel it and see it... your own humanity and those around you, the pain washes over you in a different way than those moments when we are too overwhelmed for awareness. That difference invites compassion, don't you think? My heart (and rive)r are with you.
ReplyDeleteThis made me think of a song too: Bridge of Light by P!nk and Bill Mann.
ReplyDeleteI find it fascinating how music can open one up to feel, even though there is a fear to be overwhelmed by it; it carries the emotion on its tunes like a ferry boat, no matter whether we are on board or watching from the shore.
And the lyrics often resonate where my own words fail.