Seven sins and seven blessings.

Watching by candlelight.

What I saw by candlelight is the same as you saw. Different candles. Fifteen hundred miles apart on the same night. I saw what you saw. 

King David grieved for his son, and I grieved for mine. We both threw the dirt over our own heads. Regret. Suffering. A harsh gust of wind to snuff out the candle. 

In the light of the candle that which we must let go. That which we think we deeply need, but in truth it is just another thing to want. Desire. Attention. Ego. Nothing. 

What I saw by the candlelight is the same as you saw. Seven sins and seven blessings, each commanding the same night where we fail to sleep, although we do come close. 

james lee jobe 

"Paul Cézanne"

by Pascal Gariépy

A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it. 

Dōgen Zenji

there comes a rain
that reaches the deepest roots

there comes a sun
that gives power to that which grows

life comes
from the wet and the light

life comes
from a will to be

power to power
life to life

james lee jobe

Just as the lotus needs muddy water to live, the pain of the world can inspire compassionate and effective action. The imperfect, as the poet Wallace Stevens said, is our paradise. 

Katy Butler

We are all of the earth.

The old man died by the fire, and after, his eyes became a constellation in the night sky shining with all of the light that he had seen during his lifetime.

The old man died by the fire, and after, his voice became a sound on the wind way after midnight – is that the wind? – is that a ghost? We do not know.

The old man died by the fire, and after, we chanted the old prayers while burning sage and dancing, building a second fire at dawn to send the old man’s body onward.

Ashes on the earth. Ashes become the earth.

james lee jobe

If you aren't in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty, or back to pain and regret.

Jim Carrey

If you enjoy this blog, and I hope that you do, please consider making a donation through the BUY ME A COFFEE button below. (Not every time you come here, just maybe once in awhile.) It's done safely online, and just takes a moment. I could use the supplement since my mobility issues no longer allow me to work. Thanks!

james