we must learn, we must know that if our love excludes, it is incomplete, it isn’t whole.
if my heart doesn’t break open when i hear of the murder of children living in the kibbutzim on October 7th AND my heart doesn’t break open when i hear of the mass murder of children in these years since and now the starving of children, then my love is incomplete, it isn’t whole.
and if my love stops at children and doesn’t extend to all harmed, starved, or murdered, then my love is incomplete, it isn’t whole.
this quote from Kahlil Gibran (which i’m sure i’ve often shared) from his book, The Prophet, has resonated with me since i first read it many years ago, and it came to mind as i learned of the passing of two incredibly profound voices this past week. Joanna Macy was a renowned Buddhist scholar, ecologist, and environmental activist. Andrea Gibson was a beloved poet and activist for social justice, LGBTQ+ rights with poetry that gave voice to death and life. both lovers of life in their own right with unique and inspired voices. please do yourself the great favor of checking out their work.
though i know of no connection between the two, their views on death and life seem so similar. Andrea Gibson in their poem titled, “Love Letter From the Afterlife” wrote, “I am more here than I ever was before. I am more with you than I ever could have imagined.” similarly, Joanna Macy when asked by a friend how it had been for her upon the death of her teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, she shared, “Oh! It’s been amazing. He’s everywhere!”
i think these two voices of light and love (so needed in this time) would appreciate Kahlil Gibran’s words here as well.
may all of our hearts open as wide as theirs and may their words and wisdom continue to teach and guide us who remain, to do the work of love.
i wrote this for my personal morning practice a few years ago. an effort to strike the balance of releasing the urge to control, yet be fully engaged in this world & its needs with wisdom & an open heart.
i share in the hope that these words may be of benefit for you as well.
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may we we have the capacity heart to hold the entire world & all of life, & the wisdom of mind to let go.
may we hold all of life with love & with love may we let go.
may we embody love, may we abide in love, may we align with love, may speak & act with love, may we let go into the flow of love.
our level of acceptance of cruelty towards others, whether by means of indifference to it or celebration of it, is in direct relation & proportion to our level of emotional & spiritual maturity. it is also a reflection of our understanding or lack of understanding of love & what is sacred. the harm & cruelty, embodied in the actions of the administration through DHS, ICE, HSI, w/ collaborating law enforcement & contractors is immoral. this should be obvious, especially for those who claim to know & practice love. we all need to look in the mirror & have a come to Jesus moment regarding our own moral foundations & practices in this time – a time calling for our love, embodied by empathy, fierce compassion, clarity, wisdom, resilience, & courage. a love that challenges us to give voice & solidarity to those targeted, working to end harm, while also calling to the humanity w/ in those doing the targeting. a love that calls out the harm in the actions of systems & institutions while also not seeing individuals as beyond redemption.
access to power doesn’t last. for those who wield it, their time is finite. they fear this truth in their bones & they want us to think otherwise. but we, who find our source in love rather than fear, know differently. so, every time they turn out the light, we turn it back on – with our empathy, our kindness & compassion, our thoughtfulness & imagination, w/ our solidarity, resilience & bravery, planting seeds for the future we want, a future that prioritizes health & well-being, equity, justice, & happiness for everyone without exclusion.
celebrating friends is a beautiful & joy-filled practice.
happy debut novel release day to my dear friend, Veronica Bane!! 🤩DIFFICULT GIRLS is out today! 🎉
my preordered copy arrived at my doorstep AND i’m looking forward to attending a talk and book signing this Thurs 7/10 in Phoenix, AZ 🤗 if you’re in the area, come on by 👍🏼 or check out dates for a location near you.
so happy to celebrate Veronica! she’s not only one of the most generous hearted people i know, but also one of the most disciplined and dedicated to her passion and craft. bravo, friend! so happy for you and this moment!! 👏🏼♥️🙏🏼
loving each other into wholeness can be expressed in many different ways, i think. it can look different in different situations, depending on the need.
but it most certainly doesn’t look like assaulting & grabbing people off the streets & disappearing them, or relegating them to concentration camps, or modern-day enslavement, or cutting their healthcare & access to food assistance. these are examples of cruelty, a loss of humanity, & an affront to the soul.
let us choose love, not cruelty.
resist the darkness being celebrated. stand up, speak out on behalf of each other.
The Metta Garden 