Fable of the Man Who Keeps Finding His Peace

author’s note:

True, true, all true.


FABLE OF THE MAN WHO KEEPS FINDING HIS PEACE

Years ago
disturbed by all the turbulence
I decided I should do my part
to calm our hurricane.

But my little agitated wings
only stirred the storm more.

Finally I realized
I could not help unless
I found the peace
the masters said resides within.

So I sat down in a shelter
and closed my eyes and ears
to the storm outside

only to find a storm inside.

Had the wise ones lied to us?
Where was that damn place of peace!
In desperation, I continued

and by working down through
the blow of my noise
I finally discovered
the calm center promised.

So when I resurfaced
I felt especially pleased—
especially proud
and wanted to tell all
about what I’d found.

But what I’d found
was soon lost
when the disturbance
began to disturb me again.

The joy of progress
followed by the pain of regression.
Despairing, I delved once again.

Thus began a pattern
repeated many times since then:
going within
then going back out again.

Back and forth.  Down and up.
The exercise often seems hopeless.
But I persist, because
to survive the weather outside
I need the relief
of my blessed moments of peace.

mythsteps · Fable of the Man Who Keeps Finding His Peace

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