“I like birthdays. I like them more for other people, but I’m glad we celebrate them. At the heart of it is the opportunity to tell someone “I’m glad that you were born,” which is also to say “I’m glad that you’re alive.” Those are powerful statements. The world would be a different place if we lived that way, if we said and expressed these things, more than once a year.”
– jamie tworkowski If You Feel Too Much (TWLOHA)
Tout comprendre c’est tout pardonner..
“To understand all is to forgive all”
– Evelyn Waugh Brideshead Revisted.
This quote originated somewhere else at an earlier date – Leo Tolstoy in War and Peace; I am inquisitive about it – as to its meaning.
I have reflected that to truly understand (or empathise) one must have suffered a similar situation or to a similar degree. No one would wish that upon anyone. Therefore I consider it important to note that true forgiveness is not about empathy or understanding from our own experiences, it is a giving up of one’s self – our criticisms and doubts and selfish desires – to consider another person more important than oneself. It does not require in-depth understanding but a depth of character that is reflected in Christ’s nature – to reflect the image of God.
Every time I say hello
I also say goodbye
Just in case it’s the last time
I see you alive
I used to fret about
being the first
or being left behind
but now I don’t mind
It’s the sweet bye and bye
Every time I say hello
I also say goodbye.
Caught a glimpse of your soul
It just occurred to me
When I resurrected
The dead talk topic
You said ok..
I have no clue
What to say.
We both know this –
All the days past
Are covered in grace.
But if you had
Something to say
I would hear you
To your face
I’ve only had a handful
Of friendships last for years
Few of these are true brothers
The handful are held
In an open hand
In case they wanted to leave.
But I’ll set about trying
To kick every elephant
Out of here.
Because there’s no more
Room for friends.
“Can-do person”
less and less soon
just a person
will that do?
will I lose all
but the real ones
the few and far between?
who call the very minute
and hour of need
no matter how long it’s been..
so long
Sky image from ‘Composer in the Garden’
There are some who hold the notion
that they owe their very lives
to another one’s devotion
their compassion helps them thrive
So an endless lifelong debt
is paid out every day
in prayers and thoughts and dreams
and acts of kindness to repay
One cannot be a foothold
To carry life and limb
One can barely be a handhold
Secure for you to cling
One cannot be an anchor
In a fall to take the slack
One cannot be a lifeline
When there seems no turning back
Instead a close companion
Can cheer us on in love
But surely as the day is long
Shall share the view above
Count the stars of heaven 
