Courage

The Courage to Be.

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
― E.E. Cummings

Oh, my goodness – YES. And, just isn’t this the case?

That we must find those pieces of heart, that instill within us the greatest freedom.

To stand firm, to risk it all – to know, to believe, to achieve. My darlings, it’s up to you to BE.

If only we might learn to let go of that need – to be right, to be certain, to be felt, to be heard. We might just be amazed and challenged with the wonders that fill each day.

To be all and everything you’ve ever hoped, dared, and dreamed – my darlings, requires one simple act and the courage to believe.

And sharing with us these precious glimpses of a life, fully lived.

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The Colors We Share.

My darlings, this morning I was inspired by the most perfect bloom. The tiniest of bud, barely discernible against the stone garden path…simply waiting for that moment to be ‘known’.

That’s its joy, you see—that we might discover the depths of its journey; from seed, to soil, to stunningly beautiful. A pop of gold against a patch of cerulean blue ~ my goodness, the artist certainly knows her hues…

It brought to mind something Osho once shared –  how the seed becomes the flower, in spite of its ‘not ever knowing.’

I hope you’ll not mind that I share it with you today.

“The seed cannot know what is going to happen,” he writes. “the seed has never known the flower. And the seed cannot even believe that he has the potentiality to become a beautiful flower.

Long is the journey, and it is always safer not to go on that journey because unknown is the path, nothing is guaranteed. Nothing can be guaranteed.

Thousand and one are the hazards of the journey, many are the pitfalls – and the seed is secure, hidden inside a hard core. But the seed tries, it makes an effort; it drops the hard shell which is its security, it starts moving. Immediately the fight starts: the struggle with the soil, with the stones, with the rocks. And the seed was very hard and the sprout will be very, very soft and dangers will be many.

There was no danger for the seed, the seed could have survived for millennia, but for the sprout many are the dangers. But the sprout starts towards the unknown, towards the sun, towards the source of light, not knowing where, not knowing why.

Great is the cross to be carried, but a dream possesses the seed and the seed moves. The same is the path for man. It is arduous. Much courage will be needed.”

Indeed, much courage is needed – but, know that this garden path waits for your bloom.

From seem, to soil, to stunningly beautiful – my darlings, we all have our colors to share.

Never Forgetting Your Why.

I had a dear friend and mentor who once shared with me that leadership was a willingness to relinquish control; to exist in a space of absolute unknowingness; and, in that space, never once forget why you are there.

I don’t know why his words have found me on this misty morning. Perhaps, it’s a matter of sentimentality – or, maybe, something much stronger still?

“To be silently drawn..” – isn’t that what Rumi once said? “By the stronger pull of what you really love…”

This is what it means to be free.

To have faith in that indescribable something else; to let the beauty we love become all that we do.

And, in my life, my darlings – that beauty is you.

“We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.”

And, knowing – that one day, those stars may form a circle…and, in their center, we shall dance.

My darlings, to be silently drawn – to experience the thrill of life’s greatest adventure – is to learn to let go, without ever once forgetting your ‘why.’

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The Night the Soldiers Arrived.

“Whoever survives a test, whatever it may be, must tell the story. That is his duty.” ― Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate, Elie Wiesel

I saw the tattooed numbers peeking out from under his shirt sleeve. For some, it may have gone unnoticed…but I knew their much deeper meaning.

“I’m not ashamed,” he smiled. “My wife, she says I should have it removed – but I, I never want to forget.”

We sat together on an old park bench. As the heron took flight, dipping its wing I thought – how gracious for this moment to find me.

He shared of his life, leading up to that event – ‘the night the soldiers arrived.’ A vicious pounding shattered the peace of a family just sitting down for a meal.

“That door,” he began “had always served us well. The joy of family and friends. But, on that night..”

His voice trailed off.

There are times in lives when we realize how important it is to listen. This chance meeting was, by no means, an exception.

They were given only an hour to collect their things. A lifetime of sentiment shoved into an old woolen satchel.

The food was left untouched on the plates. “One of my only regrets,” he said.

They were separated like cattle and forced into the filth of an old railway box car. It was part of the “Final Solution” – a sinister reign of terror leading to the mass extermination of over 6 million Jews.

When they arrived at the camp, they were stripped first of their possessions, and then of their dignity. “But, they couldn’t steal our faith” he smiled.

They were a family of considerable means. His father, a reputable businessman and community leader. The conditions were intolerable by any standard. But, for this young man – it was his first ever glimpse into the heartbreaking lesson of man’s inhumanity to man.

“My father was a good man,” he said. Even to this day, I knew this to be the one truth that could never be shaken.

Though sadly, his father – once a pillar of strength – soon began to succumb to these dire circumstances. Day by day, the young man watched as his father’s body continued to fail – finding rest, as he said, ‘between the exhales.’

“One night,” he said “my father fell to sleep with a small crust of bread in his hand. And I had this thought – ‘if he dies, then I shall have his bread.'”

Can you imagine having a thought such as this before you’ve even learned to shave?

“That’s when I decided,” he smiled “that, God willing, I should survive, then I shall make this world a far better place.”

And do you know, that he’d gone above and beyond making ‘damned sure’ this promise was kept?

“When there is pain,” he smiled – “remember, there is also a gift.”

How lovely that his ‘gift’ to me was the simplicity of his message. Perhaps, we should view our own challenges in much the same way?

That our scars may serve, not as a reminder of pain, but rather – that one single moment in which our hearts found resolve?

To Have Courage Enough to Live.

Philosopher Immanuel Kant once wrote, “By a lie, a man annihilates his dignity as a man.”

I’d like to think his reference extended far beyond it’s most literal translation. That is to say, we must all at some point learn this lesson of ‘to thine own self be true.’

To Kant, the world was simple – a series of fundamental concepts which structured our human experience. And, believing that one could never enjoy a direct relationship with their surroundings. That at best, our experience was comprised of a synapse of senses.

But, I think there’s so much more to it, than that.

Come to think of it, I’m not sure he and I would have gotten on so very well. As, it’s difficult for me to see things in terms which are so very ‘black and white.’

You see, I believe the world to be ripe with a million glorious colors…of passionate pinks, Monet blues, and Tiger Lily reds. And, isn’t it always those colors in between that make this life so very much worth living?

Life is not always so simple, my darlings.

At times, we may succeed…and others, we may fail. But, rest assured we’ll always have this symphony of shades.

Our inner truth shines brightly, my darlings. And our sole purpose in this life, my darlings – is to have ‘courage enough’ to experience it.

In the Ultimate, We Dwell.

“The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this path I walk in peace.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

I love this passage written by the venerable Thich Nhat Hanh – as, it serves as an important reminder of the freedom which exists within this moment right here.

“Only a free person can be a happy person,” he continues. “Whether your home is in Washington, D.C. or New Delhi, you have to come home to this moment…The present moment is a teacher that will always be with you, a teacher that will never fail you.”

And, that freedom is born, my darlings, within this moment – right here.

It is within each blade of grass, and every shifting wind. It’s right here even within the curled edges of the dying maple leaf.

Can you just imagine that, if you will? To walk in the spirit of always being free?

And, no matter if you’re caught in a flurry of worry – this peace-filled refuge is never more than a single thought away.

Waiting simply for your heart’s sweet embrace.

“I have arrived. I am home.
In the here, in the now.”

Namaste, my darlings – and remember, it is right here, always, within the ultimate that we dwell.

To Live a Meaningful Life.

I was prompted by a question earlier this morning, “What does it mean to live a meaningful life?”

For many, we might answer – ‘to life life to the fullest’. But, in reality – what does that mean?

As Buddhist teacher, Rodney Smith, once wrote: “There is…a search for purpose which goes on in almost everyone.”

And, we’ve all sensed this, haven’t we? This much deeper knowing which indescribably draws us nearer to where our hearts most need to be. We may feel it as a gentle nudge,or a nearly unbearable unsettledness.

Though, always with the intention of ‘carrying us home.’

Thich Nhat Hanh once described, “Happiness means feeling you are on the right path *every* moment. You don’t need to arrive at the end of the path in order to be happy. The right path refers to the very concrete ways you live your life in every moment.”

So, what does it mean to live a meaningful life? Is it fame, money, or material pleasures? Is it always having things go our way?

Or, is it something much bigger still? In this way, perhaps, true happiness can be found within each and every step?

In many ways, the path reveals itself to us. And, as we draw back the branches and the prickly overgrowth, we must remind ourselves –  to have ‘courage enough’ to stay.

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage,” writes Anaïs Nin.

Indeed, to have courage enough to stay this course, my darlings – is the means by which we may discover our heart’s true purpose.

The Supreme Light of Being.

Oh, what a beautiful passage this morning. From, the Bhagavad Gita;

“If a thousand suns
were to have risen
in the sky at once,
Such brilliance as this
might resemble
the brilliance
of that Supreme self.”

The Gita is a narrative dialogue between Pandava prince Arjuna and his guide and charioteer Krishna. It is intended to impart a knowledge of ‘self’, and more specifically – to answer the question, “Who am I, and how do a live a peaceful life in this world which is filled with such duality?”

Within the text, Arjuna is faced with a moral dilemma – to fulfill his ‘duty’ as a warrior of the state, or to preserve this path of nonviolence.

His dilemma is, in fact, a universal dilemma. In so much as, every human being must face these challenges – however big or small – within every single day. But for Arjuna, he had to make the most difficult choice of all – to conform to the perfections of others, or to find the strength of will to preserve inner-peace.

In this passage, Arjuna is overcome by a profound realization. That is to say, that in order to obtain our spiritual freedom – we must serve, with equanimity, that much greater purpose. Even if, within that service, we face our greatest challenge.

“If a thousand suns
were to have risen
in the sky at once,
Such brilliance as this
might resemble
the brilliance
of that Supreme self.”

This is the Supreme light of being.

The Heart of Hoʻoponopono.

[blockquote source=”Henri Nouwen, from Bread for the Journey“]”The only people we can really change are ourselves. Forgiving others is first and foremost healing our own hearts.” [/blockquote]

I remember the very first time I saw my father cry.

The year was 1990, and my father had come to visit me in Hawaii. Meanwhile, half-way around the world our troops were readying for our next military conflict.

It was a solemn time, one marked by the memories of my father—who had served alongside five of his seven brothers, in some of the most war-torn areas of World War II. Miraculously, all survived – but, not without leaving an integral ‘piece’ of themselves behind.

My father never spoke much of the war. And, never any long-winded stories of heroism in the face of certain defeat. Likewise, he deliberately shied away from any events which might honor his courage. Though, I do recall one day he opened up enough to say, “I called for the medic, but…it was already too late.”

Can you imagine experiencing such atrocities, before even having fallen in love?

And yet, there he was—still very much a child—fighting a war over something he barely understood.

We had planned a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, which serves as the final resting spot for over 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives on that fateful December 7th attack.

For those who have never visited, it is a profoundly moving experience.

There were 1.4 million gallons of fuel on the USS Arizona when she sank. And still, over 70 years later, that fuel continues to surface each day. The Hawaiians refer to these droplets as the ‘Tears of the Arizona,” and I…could think of no better tribute.

“To the Memory of the Gallant Men Here Entombed” reads the inscription. “And their shipmates who gave their lives in action on 7 December 1941, on the U.S.S. Arizona”

I’m reminded of a word in Hawaiian, “Hoʻoponopono.” Which means, to set right – through prayer, discussion, confession, and repentance – anything which might cause the heart to grieve. It is the ancient practice of forgiveness and healing, establishing the means by which we may finally let go of the ‘fault.’

I often think of this practice when I see others struggling in the tangled-up-ness of their heart’s past hurt. They want so badly to be free of this pain, and yet — they tend to hold onto it with everything they’ve got.

And, so on this day, my father stood at the Memorial’s edge…watching the tears of these soldiers slip into the ocean.

A few moments later, an elderly man approached from the left; by his dress, I could tell he was a Japanese veteran of the same World War. They stood silently together there for some time, until the older man extended his hand over the side, and – with great reverence – set a flowered lei upon the water.

“Hoʻoponopono,” the old man whispered.

It was then that my father cried.

I had always assumed my father was simply overcome by emotion; triggered by the action of this Japanese soldier asking for forgiveness.

But, in time I grew to realize that it was so much more than this. That it was more symbolic of the two finally having the courage to forgive themselves.

It has become, by far, one of the single-most transformative experiences in my life.

But my goodness, it’s so easy to develop our list of reasons — someone has wronged us, and in our heart we feel justified in our righteous unyielding. But, no one ever benefits from anger and resentment. Likewise, holding on merely reinforces the walls of our own self-imposed prison. Remember, ‘The energy spent trying to get revenge can be better spent creating an amazing life.”

Hoʻoponopono, my darlings – in our letting go, may we finally find our peace in this world.

This Ripple of Hope.

I believe it was Robert F. Kennedy who once said, “It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.”

He was speaking to a group of students at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The year was 1966 – a year marked by the stench of injustice, and representing perhaps the very worst of the apartheid movement.

Kennedy had been invited by the National Union of South African Students (NAUSAS) to give the annual Day of Affirmation address at the university. He immediately accepted, embarking on a 5-day trip that would include this historic speech.

His words gave hope to the opponents of apartheid – hope that they might one day stand victorious against those who brandished fear as their weapon.

For those who are perhaps too young to remember, apartheid was the means by which the National Party enforced a system of racial segregation. Most notably, the forced ‘resettlement’ of millions of non-whites to their ‘designated areas.’

And that was just the beginning.

Through a series of legislation known as ‘petty apartheid’, the rights of non-whites were systematically eroded. It was, perhaps, one of the most volatile periods in South African history; one that went largely unnoticed by the rest of the world.

Until this momentous speech, that is.

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice,” Kennedy remarked, “he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Kennedy’s visit may have offered Americans their first glimpse into what it was like to live in the ‘land of the banned.’

“Few of us will have the greatness to bend history itself,” he offered. “but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”

I don’t know why I am compelled to share this history with you today.

Perhaps, to reinforce this ‘power of one’ and the ability of Hope to change this world.

My darlings, we are not so very small, after all.

May action serve as our measure of our success.

In peace, love…and equanimity,