I met Sylvia at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on the Brooklyn Bridge. This is my second year walking in solidarity with women all over the world on March 8th across one of the most famous bridges. Women For Women.org sponsors this event. I am a sponsor for a young woman in the Congo who has 8 children and struggles to feed them. WFWI doesn't just give money but helps the women establish a livelihood.
Back to Sylvia who is from Korea, I met randomly walking across the bridge.. We just started talking and it was simpatico. We seemed like old friends and the conversation was never awkward. She since has gone back to her country and we stay in touch. My heart goes out to Asia since the terrible earthquake & tsunami in Japan. There is something reassuring in making new friends. I have a lot of love to give and very few who seem open to receive it. That's why I was so happy to meet such a kind person like Sylvia. She reminds me that goodness still exists in people. I look forward to this friendship that is based on mutual interest and cultural exchange.
My spiritual teacher Fr. Thomas Keating says that the goal of the spiritual life is "To live ordinary life with extraordinary love." That sums up my weekend with my dear friend Cathy. She just turned 76 a couple of days ago, but she is the youngest and most energetic person I know. I always feel that when I am with her that I am on vacation. It is that unconditional love that puts me at ease even when she gets impatient at my clusmy self spilling my coffee all over her table that it is tempered by love. We have the best time doing "nothing" together. I find the whole visit very healing. There are no expectations of each other but we encourage one another to be better.
I love her dearly and I can honestly say she is the closest person to me on this planet.
The great thing is not having a mind. Feelings: oh, I have those; they govern me. I have a lord in heaven called the sun, and open for him, showing him the fire of my own heart, fire like his presence. What could such glory be if not a heart? Oh my brothers and sisters, were you like me once, long ago, before you were human? Did you permit yourselves to open once, who would never open again? Because in truth I am speaking now the way you do. I speak because I am shattered.
This is a well loved book of poetry. Louise Gluck was Poet Laureate of the USA a few years back.
Stanley Kunitz was a champion of hers. He started Poet House in Soho but they recently moved to Battery Park: http://www.poetshouse.org/. Its a reading library and a place where poets can write and research. They sponsor many events and for kids too.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Autumn is my favorite time of year. The cobwebs of heat and humidity make way for clear thinking. It is really my time for focusing on health and well being.
This is a view from my window.
Reflection is a big part of my process. It helps me to look deeper and gives time for revelation.
Life is poetry if we look deeper and spend time seeing the inner life of all things. Life is filled with these wonders. In this age of rapid response the silence and stillness where real beauty lies is over looked. This blog is an attempt to show you my world. I don't always get there, but isn't life about moments anyway?
I will include poetry, pictures, recipes, interviews and whatever else inspires me. One of my favorite quotes is "The cruel truth without love is a lie." (from the film: Burnt By The Sun) Even the truth can be deceiving if not spoken with compassion.
To kick off this blog, here is a sampling of my own poems:
