I´ve been thinking so much while I´ve been here about Kahlil Gibran´s chapter on "Joy and Sorrow" from his book, The Prophet. In it, he says, "Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives? When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. "
I was with my boss, America, this past weekend walking around Burgos on a day that was so cold that one might be led to suspect that here was a place where even Santa Clause would lose his elves to frostbite. Round about two hours after walking in this city-sized igloo, we were ready to go back to America´s house for some coffee and and maybe a stint in a kiln. As I got off the elevator and rushed to open the door of her house, America held my arm and said, wide-eyed, "Rahim, waaaaaaaaait." She extended her arms above her head and told me, "It´s gonnnaaaa be waaaaaaaaaaarm." And I thought about Gibran: the cold which had moments ago been so burdensome had brought with it the opportunity to appreciate warmth.
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Oftentimes we cannot appreciate our present circumstances, or even the future, unless our past experiences lend themselves to the harshness of the elements. While reading your blog, I thought of the beauty of the pearl and the oyster. The pearl is only formed when the oyster is exposed to an irritant. The greater the irritant and the more prolonged it is in existence, the larger and more beautiful the pearl. I believe that people, too, are refined by walking through the "fires of life". Therefore, it is most important that we recognize and appreciate the coldness and bitterness through which we pass, so that we may better delight in the warmth to which we are about to enter.
hahaha I LOVE America!!
I think Newton had it right with his third law-- if every action has an equal and opposite reaction, how could the depth and breadth of our emotions be so different to defy this natural law?
It's the beauty of extremes, baby.
Maybe now you'll understand why I don't think virtual gifts are unfair like you do (did?). . . A virtual gift of a TV and cable is only sorrowful because of the joy you would experience if you had it;)
Ahh.. fantastic. Rarely do we pause before the moment in order to appreciate it. We're so very often preparing for the cold outside that we never brace ourselves for the warmth inside. And sometimes we know the cold outside will be such a harsh cold, and we catch ourselves at the door with the doorknob in our hand and that harshness in our minds, but do we ever pause on the other side to think that the warmth inside will be such a lovely warmth?
I'm glad América does.. 'Rahim it's going to be waaarm!' I'm sure one could not have put it any better..
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