{ Sorrow }

Sometimes pain is so enormous, it's too much to write about.  And sometimes the grief and sorrow someone is experiencing is too much to write about publicly.  Friends of mine are suffering unspeakable pain and sorrow right now.  To me, it's seems a sort of private thing, when someone's suffering so profoundly, and so I won't mention details or names.  Instead, i just want to put some of the pain on this page in hope that it somehow siphons away some of their pain.  I believe that when someone is filled to overflowing with pain and they have at least a billion tears to shed in the process of healing, every tear we (as friends, family, concerned human beings) shed with or for them takes away that many tears they'll have to shed themselves.  When we can somehow share that pain with them, it helps them heal.  That is what I believe.  I will continue to cry with and for them; i will siphon away as much pain as i can.  So many in the community are doing the same.  Human kindness transcends race, religion, politics and any other beliefs when it's truly needed.  I'm grateful for that.  

When i was 19 or 20, i discovered a book by Kahlil Gibran called The Prophet and i've owned a copy every since.   In the last 21 years, whenever i'm experiencing deep sorrow, i turn to the chapter on Joy and Sorrow.  I'm going to put the entire thing here:

Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.

And he answered:

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.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall. 

And this song by Tori Amos keeps looping through my head.  Whether you're religious or not, it's just a soothing song:   { Star of Wonder }   

Star of Wonder

We three kings are coming again
Bearing gifts from the East
From the East

Some say a star will rise again
In the hearts of humankind
Some say we have been in exile
What we need is solar fire

Star of wonder, star of night
Star of royal beauty
Westward leading, still proceeding
A star
A star of wonder

We bring gold and myrrh for him
From the East, frankincense
From the East

Some say a star will rise again
In the hearts of humankind
Some say we have been in exile
What we need is solar fire

Star of wonder, star of night
Star of royal beauty
Westward leading, still proceeding
A star

Star of wonder, star of night
Star of royal beauty
Westward leading, still proceeding
A star
A star of wonder
Of wonder.