To be frank, this post was inspired by the fact that it is raining here in Vermont today - and at times seemed to be pouring. It's gray. It's certainly chilly if not cold. It would be easy to let myself feel down, if not outright depressed by the weather. But, I have too much to be thankful for. Family. Friends. A home. Income. Decent and improving health. Clothes to wear that are appropriate for each season. Libraries close by. A terrific local bookstore. Good healthcare practitioners. People who can listen and help me figure out what direction I want to move in, how to proceed. Federal legislators who have a vision for a better future for everyone.
It can also, seemingly, be pouring not just physically but also metaphorically. It can be "pouring" so much that it clouds our vision, makes it difficult to see our way. There may seem to be no light or only blurred light. It may be hard to think this, but there is always some light, even the darkest night has starlight. There may be clouds on a dark night obscuring the light - but the light is there none the less. One of the meditations images in Opening the Heart: Meditations on How to Be (here) is:
Floods, famine, war, racism, sexism, homophobia, hatred of someone else's religion all exist. People not caring about the environment, only about what they can extract from Mother Earth are still operating in the world. I think that, despite all this, we can hold onto the vision of light entering all of our hearts, minds, and souls. And, I do mean everyone, not just ourselves and our family and friends. I mean everyone.
I wrote this poem inspired by this meditation image:
Starlight on the Darkest Nights
Sit with the dark.
Breathe with the dark.
Don't fight the dark.
Let the dark calm your
mind, your soul.
Vision can clear in the dark.
What is over there:
dancing, twirling, calling you?
Is it starlight?
Is it hope?
©2017 Kathryn L. Samuelson
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