Practicing Courage #17: All things are true

The Courageous Life

When the rain is falling, it’s dark out, and the storm seems unrelenting,
Above the clouds the sky is blue and the sun is shining.
All things are true.
Someone’s last breath is met across time and space with the sounds of an infant crying,
The signal of a new arrival.
All things are true.
As divorce papers are approved and a marriage meets an end,
A preacher announces, "you may now kiss the bride."
It is this bittersweetness
This possibility of joy and sorrow coexisting
Of finding expansion within contraction
It is these 4 simple words
That line the very fabric of our human experience.
All things are true.
Recently I spent 4 days on retreat with spiritual teacher and renowned poet Mark Nepo.
And he kept reminding us of this.
The idea, that in his words, all things are true.
From my perspective part of the practice of living well is increasing our capacity to hold them all.
To make space and strengthen our ability to be with both/and, (not either/or)
How might your life shift if you were able to recognize more often that all things are true?
While exploring the possibility of holding them all (the both/and) with a greater degree of compassion, wisdom, and love?
Allowing whatever is here to simply be here as it is.
This is the final practice of 2023.
Thank you for practicing together this year.
I look forward to continuing together in 2024!
Till then take care,
-Joshua

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