Thinking Out Loud

I know I should optimize my titles for search, but since my titles are part of my art, I cannot compromise. You see, I love a title that is clever and nuanced. For today's post, I vacillated between "Write it Out" and "Right it Out." Both have a meaningful application. Through writing, I come to know what is right for me. And as I discover additional rights in life, I return to my pad and write it out. It's a beautiful, self-reinforcing cycle. I was texting with a dear friend today and she confessed her lack of confidence in certain areas of her life, particularly regarding her decision to leave her faith culture. We were both raised in the same religion by devout parents, and this past weekend our church held one of its large conferences. I didn't even remember that it was that time of the year and I was busily engaged at a work conference in a distant city. I have no idea what was covered in their sessions and I can honestly say, I do not care. Sh...

I was reading some words of wisdom from the Buddha tonight wherein he used the image of a boat to describe the role of meditation. To him, the meditation practice is the boat that helps us cross the river of delusion, the river of suffering. When it the boat brings us to the other side, we can safely discard it: The boat is not the opposite shore--it is just the vehicle we use to get there. How many have mistaken meditation as the end game? How many of us confuse means and ends? Perhaps it's helpful to see meditation, prayer, scripture study, sutras, mantras, chanting, ordinances, tithing, and oblations--to name a few--as transitional objects. Sacred observances we cling to as they work their marvelous wonder--we become wholly transformed. The scriptures we so diligently studied, the mantras we so religiously chanted, we become them. Like a boat, they've carried us to our destination and they are ever with us. They are our being, no longer our doing.

Yesterday as I wrote the lines "death does not discriminate," I realized the same could be said about life. My friend told me all about the trials she's facing as we walked yesterday and my heart ached for her and her family. I couldn't help but think of how we all get our fair share of hard times. In fact, it led to me marveling at what I'm now calling the equality of life.  We all have lessons we need to learn and life so generously supplies our instruction. None of us are spared. We each face hard times, disappointments, sickness, trials, tribulations, and death. We all get our fair share of troubles. The refrain, "Life isn't fair!" isn't a fair statement. Life is perfectly fair. We all are born. We all die. And somewhere between our beginning and our end, we all receive our fair share of heartache and joy! I don't see life as hard. I choose instead to see the meaning. As my friend recounted her travails and wondered what others would ...