I wonder, when you say “tell the truth without wounding,” do you risk softening the edge that truth sometimes must carry? That's the challenge isn't it? a heart rooted in compassion can hold softness and still wield fire. Tenderness without clarity becomes indulgence; clarity without tenderness becomes cruelty. The Way is to let truth cut but only to free, never to wound for sport.
“while discarding the unnoticed” a memory arose when I read this line. I’m sitting in a gym. It’s tryouts it for the school’s drill team (not cheerleaders but dancers who are serious dancers without the athletics). I choose one whose timing to the music is flawless. She’s picked up the subtle nuances of the routine. The slight head turn that I choreographed, the places where free style is allowed but just a touch. She’s marvelous. When we judges came together I got a lot of push back from several of them. They didn’t see what I saw. This girl was quiet in school. Never spoke. Sat alone. They feared she wouldn’t fit in. I had the luxury of seeing her only thru the lens of the tryout and I saw something different. I insisted she belonged and I was right. She was a star. She rose to lead, to choreograph, and seemed to smile more. I hope she’s somewhere still dancing. Thank you for this writing. It holds magic
Grateful for the poetics of this (re)transmission especially now, as I have been sitting intentionally with the power understanding of ‘re-‘ as a taking back, as again, as uncovering.
With this poetic recovering of Psalm 15, I am touched by the generous reminder that presence is how we dwell with the Sacred.
Beautifully said. The “re-” really is the hidden hinge. Re-turn, re-member, re-cover. Not new inventions but the uncovering of what was always there. Presence as the doorway, not the prize.
This was tender, I enjoyed this Psalm.
I wonder, when you say “tell the truth without wounding,” do you risk softening the edge that truth sometimes must carry? That's the challenge isn't it? a heart rooted in compassion can hold softness and still wield fire. Tenderness without clarity becomes indulgence; clarity without tenderness becomes cruelty. The Way is to let truth cut but only to free, never to wound for sport.
Amen. Funny how that perception was actually backwards. We were running the wrong way.
Story of my life!
Story of my life!
“while discarding the unnoticed” a memory arose when I read this line. I’m sitting in a gym. It’s tryouts it for the school’s drill team (not cheerleaders but dancers who are serious dancers without the athletics). I choose one whose timing to the music is flawless. She’s picked up the subtle nuances of the routine. The slight head turn that I choreographed, the places where free style is allowed but just a touch. She’s marvelous. When we judges came together I got a lot of push back from several of them. They didn’t see what I saw. This girl was quiet in school. Never spoke. Sat alone. They feared she wouldn’t fit in. I had the luxury of seeing her only thru the lens of the tryout and I saw something different. I insisted she belonged and I was right. She was a star. She rose to lead, to choreograph, and seemed to smile more. I hope she’s somewhere still dancing. Thank you for this writing. It holds magic
Thank you for sharing that story! I could feel your presence and witness to this young woman's artistic expression. May she dance eternally.
Grateful for the poetics of this (re)transmission especially now, as I have been sitting intentionally with the power understanding of ‘re-‘ as a taking back, as again, as uncovering.
With this poetic recovering of Psalm 15, I am touched by the generous reminder that presence is how we dwell with the Sacred.
Beautifully said. The “re-” really is the hidden hinge. Re-turn, re-member, re-cover. Not new inventions but the uncovering of what was always there. Presence as the doorway, not the prize.
Beautiful. Thank you for your much needed words.
Ouch! I