The Deeper Sorrow Carves Into Your Being

Yes, you would have thought that I would have included this in one of the first posts in my joy blog, way back when I was all bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and excited. (Yeah, May seems so long ago now). But no. In fact, I didn't even remember it until Anita repeated the "deeper that sorrow carves into your being" line recently. There was a time when I would read this particular passage every day. Because life was tumultuous and sorrow was pretty much carving into my being, all daggers drawn, and I tried to believe that it was emptying me out for some joy.

I didn't always succeed.

But these words continue to resonate anyway, through the decades and I am sure they will resonate through the centuries as well, the way Rumi's have.

The incomparable Kahlil Gibran. From The Prophet.

Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy, and Sorrow.

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow umasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can be it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lite that soothes your spirit the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at a standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.