As I engage in my daily yoga/gym/running practice, I am invited into the moment (and frequently accompanied) by my long-time friend, Mr Tambourine Man, with whom I might share a walk to Ocean Beach and where he will occasionally ‘take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind, down the foggy ruins of time; far past the frozen leaves, the haunted frightened trees; out to the windy beach, far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow’. With each breath, stride, and footfall I touch the earth and am reminded of my connection to it; and on it I am allowed to ‘dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free, circled by the circus sands with all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves’ so that I may ‘forget about today until tomorrow’.
Although sorrow can also be our constant companion here on this plane of reality, so too can joy be at our side. Holding the two within our heart with understanding, compassion, and love is at once a challenge and an opportunity to participate in the fullness of life. Affirming both sides of a contradiction can be a pathway to liberation.
As for joy, the blessing of friendship affords the possibility to experience happy connection, empathy, and a level of deep understanding, which, in turn, brings light into the darkness of sorrow. A heartfelt thank you to all whom have shined this light on my life. It will always be my loving intention to respond in kind to your gift of friendship and the blessing of our connection.
