A blind child
guided by his mother,
admires the cherry blossoms…
– Kikakou

[blockquote source=”Mark Nepo”]Who knows what a blind child sees of blossoms or songbirds? Who knows what any of us sees from the privacy of our own blindness – and, make no mistake, each of us is blind in a particular way, just as each of us in sighted uniquely.

Consider how each of us is blinded by what we fear. If we fear heights, we are blind to the humility vast perspectives bring. If we fear spiders, we are blind to the splendor and danger of webs. If we fear small spaces, we are blind to the secrets of sudden solitude. If we fear passion, we are blind to the comfort of Oneness. If we fear change, we are blind to the abundance of life. If we fear death, we are blind to the mystery of the unknown. And since to fear something is thoroughly human, to be blind is unavoidable. It is what each of us must struggle to overcome.[/blockquote]

I was very much inspired by this passage – which serves as a gentle consideration for all that we see. As well as, to remind us – of a few of those things that often get missed along the way.

The wisps of clouds trailing off to a fully saturated blue…

The honeysuckle slipping through the air, in the wake of the whippoorwill’s whistle.

And morning glories tucking in, as the Moonflowers pop into view.

My dears, there are times when we may feel nearly paralyzed by our fears – locked between those flashes of hope, and the dread of not ever moving on.

Our feet become like lead weight, pulling us even deeper into those sands..

While, just beyond our reach stands a sturdy Elm with limbs extended.

And, hoping that we might take this chance…one more stretch to bring us home, once again.

[blockquote source=”Mark Nepo”]With this in  mind, Kikakou’s little poem serves as an internal parable. For, in the course of our lives, we all stumble and struggle repeatedly, in and out of relationship, and in and out of the grace of the hidden wholesomeness of life. It is, in part, why we need each other. For often our relationships help us experience the Oneness of things. We do this, in the course of our lives, by taking turns being the blind child, the loving guide, and the unsuspecting blossom – and, never knowing which we are called to be until we’ve learned what we are to learn.”[/blockquote]

My dears, it’s precisely within these moments of struggle that we realize just how very much we need one another.

Indeed, sometimes we are the blind child – and other times, the unsuspecting blossom. But never are we beyond the reach of another’s hand to help us up again.

Namaste, and much love, my dears.