Insight
\nBy
\nJoseph Anthony Petro<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Today as I prayed, I imagined standing
\nNear a sandy beach, and as I did, fear vanished
\nAnd so did anger, resentment, jealousy, and shame.
\nAll that was left was an ocean
\nOf sorrow, and an ocean of joy,
\nAnd I am convinced in this moment that the soul
\nKnows only these two emotions: joy and sorrow.
\nThe rest of them belong to the mind.
\nAnd the body has the blessing (or curse,
\nAs the case may be) of feeling them all.
\nOf course fear will crop up
\nAny minute now, or some ancient shame
\nWill appear out of nowhere
\nAnd turn my gaze once again to the ground.
\nThat said, I hold to the idea
\nThe beach inspired: the soul only knows two emotions.
\nA boat cannot sail across an ocean of anger.
\nOnly over heaves of sorrow or
\nBuoyant ripples of joy can a vessel
\nAs fragile as ours get anywhere.
\nAnd all the other emotions pass.
\nOnly joy and sorrow remain\u2014
\nWaves of sorrow, like wind
\nThrough reeds, currents of joy,
\nLike fingers through harp strings,
\nSorrow that wanders abandoned houses,
\nJoy that claps its hands with praise,
\nSorrow, limitless, and dark as night,
\nJoy, shimmering, like a sea of gold.
\nThe eternal dance of union and longing–
\nThe substance and form of all we ever wanted
\nAnd all that we are, or ever shall be,
\nIs made up of the rhythms of joy and sorrow.
\nSo I will hold still and I will sing,
\nFor today I know the soul\u2019s journey
\nIs sure, the soul\u2019s journey is born
\nOn waves of sorrow and currents of joy,
\nAnd ends on the shore where the Beloved waits,
\nIn perfect peace, to welcome us home.<\/p>\n