My Farewell

My Farewell

I sat around a fire and thought 
- of you. 

Take your greatest moment of pleasure,

and multiply that by a millionfold,

then you might barely 

conceive what I am talking about. 

Has your life been so restrained 

that you never collaspsed onto the floor

from ecstasy? 

As for me, nothing of me will survive,

so these poems are my farewell. 

To my readers, 

       What does it mean to lead a life in which you take this mantra to heart "nothing of me will survive"? Does it mean to use up every gift you have been given, to pass on every blessing you have received, to burn passionately the full width and breadth of yourself?
       When I graduated high school (June 2010), I asked my close family members and friends to write me letters for a “Time Capsule” that I would open upon my college graduation (May 2013). I asked them to reflect, to offer advice, and to emanate Love. The reason I have chosen to end with this post is because that is the poetry of Life, the hallowed words of the ones you love, the enriching spirits of those who love you. You won’t always feel connected to the words of Hafiz, though I hope within them you find gems and treasures and immeasurable worth. Conversely, you will often draw upon the encouragement of those near and dear to you. Hold close to these jewels, they are such gold to carry.

In closing, I would like to share some of the pertinent advice my father wrote to me in his letter:

“Dear Arden,

      As you start the next chapter of your life (or is it really a new road), it is appropriate to offer advice. As you know, I love poetry and I have often found wisdom to guide me in the short verse of poetry. We have both enjoyed reading the poems of Mary Oliver – “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” What will your answer be to this question? What will be your “credo”? – best translated as, “I have given my heart to”.

      You are an individual, trying to fit into this world. Treasure your achievements, find the joy of learning, and thrill in the discovery of not only new things, but also old things seen in a new way. You will meet many people and this is the best way to grow and change. Try to find something you love and you will never need a job. Try to find someone to love and you will experience all the emotions of joy, hurt, beauty – but it will make you have experiences that will fulfill your dreams.

     It is not important to measure the number of years that you complete in life. More importantly, you should measure the moments that make us human, that connect us to a spiritual place, or that enrich your soul.

So this is what I would like you to take with you into the future:

• Strength – to persevere against the mountains 
• Passion – to explore and question 
• Courage – to continue when hope seems to fail
• Honesty – to yourself
• Love – for your family 

You are a great person. You will probably do great things.

           Love always,
                           Dad

P.S. I am also including a diagram for an origami 5-point star. Who knows, one day, it may be all you need.”

       That's just it, who knows what you will need one day? It may be Love, it may be Courage, it may be Laughter, it may be a kind word, a soft touch, a caring smile, or it may be a 5-point origami star. I will leave you all with this final line from Hafiz: "Laughter is when the spirit, like an arrow, takes flight above the hour's concern." 

      Thank you for taking this journey with me, it's been a great year!

      Wishing you all a life full of laughter!

                                        Arden 

A Royal Event: Existence

We all help to host a royal event: Existence. 

            Today I took a liking to the song, "Testimony of Grace", it's a song about the stories of those who have come to know God. Since it's Sunday, take a listen.

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Every Horse Should Run Full Speed

Every Horse Should Run Full Speed

Accomplish something with your life;
use all your wits and talents.

As every horse should be able 
to run full speed,
and know all the beauty and wonder
of its strength. 

         Today is my mom's birthday, I wish her the full speed of a beautiful running horse and the ageless wisdom contained with Wordsworth's poem. I love you, Mom!

Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey

William Wordsworth

Oh that best portion of a good man's life, 

His little, nameless, unremembered, acts 

Of kindness and of love. 

Nor less, I trust, To them I may have owed another gift, 

Of aspect more sublime; that blessed mood, 

In which the burthen of the mystery, 

In which the heavy and the weary weight 

Of all this unintelligible world, Is lightened:

- that serene and blessed mood,

by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, 

We see into the life of things - and become a living soul. 

Wild Horses

Photograph by: Chuck Haney

That Does Not Know Sadness

That Does Not Know Sadness

You entered form to give a holy message.
An envoy from inconceivable is each of us. 

When you have completed that courageous task
you will be able to return to a world
that does not sadness. 

But so difficult your divine errand, 
it will take a lifetime to accomplish,
love along the way. 

        Essentially, this poem is saying in this world we will know loneliness, pain, despair, misfortune, sadness, fear, etc., but in Heaven these things will disappear. Conversely, this task of ours, life, will take a lifetime to accomplish (literally be an unfinished masterpiece until our final breath), and through it we must endure these things, while taking the time to love along the way.

         In Rilke's letters to Franz Xaver Kappus contained his perspective on suffering, prompted by Kappus asking for advice on the matter: "If only we could see a little farther than our knowledge reaches and a little beyond the borders of our intuition, we might perhaps bear our sorrows more trustingly than we do our joys. For they are the moments when something new enters us, something unknown. So don't be frightened, dear friend, if a sadness confronts you larger than any you have ever known, casting its shadow over all you do. You must think that something is happening within you, and remember that life has not forgotten you; it holds you in its hand and will not let you fall. Why would you want to exclude from your life any uneasiness, any pain, any depression, since you don't know what work they are accomplishing within you?"

Don't Laugh At Me, Peter, Paul, & Mary

The Table Where You Ate

The Table Where You Ate

For your sake we are here,
not for our own.
Why should I ever complain 
about working in the shop
where you did? 

And the table, earth, where you ate -
isn't that good enough for me? 

Your legs stretched out across 
every particle of space
I might ever encounter;
the wise could build monuments
here because of this.

If my senses were less dull 
the scent of your breath 
would enter me,

for you exhaled something 
of your soul into this world,
and what you do does last. 

For your sake, Beloved,
we are here, not for our own,
no matter what directions our 
thoughts and actions may turn. 

When dawn pulls the veil from my eye,
the scent of your breath will enter me forever,
and lift every sail. 

           We are here to fulfill God's divine purpose for our life. Our direction is not our own, as our destiny is God's. That's not to say we don't have free will, we do, and we can technically choose our own direction at any given moment. But this life may ultimately fail to satisfy us, as we left no room open for the plans God intended (the plans that quite honestly are better than any we can conceive of). Hebrews 12:1 has this interesting line to explain The Cross, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross". That's powerful, don't postpone joy, pursue it. It is what we will know in the kingdom of Heaven and it is what we can know here if we lead fluid lives ready to be amended by God.

What If (2005), Nichole Nordeman

Listen To This Music

Listen To This Music

I am a hole in a flute that the Christ’s breath

moves through –

listen to this music.

I am the concert from the movement

of every creature singing

in myriad chords.

And every dancer, their foot I know and lift.

And every brush and hand, well,

that is me too,

who caresses any canvas or cheek.

How did I become all these things,

and beyond all things?

It was my destiny

as it is yours.

            Hafiz’s “music” is about destining towards the peak of life. Become who you are through every person or passion that has touched your life and added a fiber to your being; undoubtedly then you will harbor the orchestra he describes inside your soul. The following Billy Joel song, For The Longest Time, seems to reflect on the joy of finding someone who makes you very happy. This is a “truth” many people have experienced. Conversely, sometimes they forget that even though such encounters may end, if they’ve struck a chord within you, there will “still be music left to write”. As Billy Joel sings: “If you said goodbye to me tonight/There would still be music left to write/What else could I do/I’m so inspired by you”.

This Place Where You Are Right Now

This Place Where You Are Right Now

This place where you are right now

God circled on a map for you.

Wherever your eyes and arms and heart can move

against the earth and the sky,

The Beloved has bowed there –

knowing you were coming.

I could tell you a priceless secret about

your real worth, dear

But any unkindness to yourself

any confusion about others,

Will keep one from accepting

the grace, the love

The sublime freedom

divine knowledge always offers to you.

This is a wondrous truth of the world.

              Destiny is a powerful concept that I've always thought of as abstract, not rooted in veritable fact. Hafiz pens that destiny, advanced knowing, is actually knowledge. A truth that you can either accept or be blind to based on your personal conduct. Here's how one guy made a difference in the life of a homeless man by giving him a computer. Laura Willard wrote the article for Upworthy and said: "If I'd have heard about what this guy was planning to do before it all played out, I might have thought he was unrealistic. After watching the video, I realized that there's a much bigger thing at play here: We need to remember that every human being is unique and full of potential. We don't know other people's stories." The homeless man, Leo, says much can be accomplished through Faith, a higher form of Truth.

"Do noble things, not dream them, all day long:

And so make life, death, and that vast for-ever

One grand, sweet song." - Charles Kingsley

How Many Times Have You Felt Like a Corpse?

How Many Times Have You Felt Like a Corpse?

How many times have you felt like a corpse

and then came back and told a good joke,

that made us all laugh?

And did you ever swear off dancing and then

there you were one day, twirling about again?

And how many times has your soul felt empty

and then maybe, a temple for all near you became?

Bring those, anything you have cherished, to the

forefront of your mind’s view, where they belong

as a testament to your destiny.

            Find someone to cherish this holiday season and you will undoubtedly behold the latter part of these questions. While you’re at it, check out this highly spirited and full of goodwill “Christmas Miracles” video by WestJet airlines.

Written On The Gate of Heaven

Written On The Gate of Heaven

It is written on the gate of heaven:

Nothing in existence is more powerful than destiny.

And destiny brought you here, to this moment,

which is a part of your ticket – as all things are –

to return to God.

           Welcome to the month of December! This month’s theme will be Hafiz on God/religion. This theme is woven throughout many of his poems. I chose this poem to open the month because it is nonspecific, but peaceful. You are here for a reason; this particular moment is infinite in its magnitude. Here’s a philosophical inquiry for you, if you could decorate the gates of heaven, what would they look like? If you have an answer, adorn your heart with its contents.

In a Tree House

In a Tree House

Light

will someday split you open

even if your life is now a cage,

For a divine seed, the crown of destiny,

is hidden and sown on an ancient, fertile plain

that you hold the title to.

Love will surely bust you wide open

into an unfettered, blooming new galaxy

A life-giving radiance will come,

O look again within yourself,

For I know you were once the elegant host

To all the marvels in creation. 

From a sacred crevice in your body,

a bow rises each night

and shoots your soul into God.

Behold the Beautiful One

from the vantage point of Love.

He is conducting the affairs

of the whole universe

in a tree house – on a limb

in your heart.

            This makes my heart swoon for God and for the enormity of His Love. Hafiz was such a brilliant poet and possibly an even greater interpreter of spirituality. A perfect man/woman would be a manifestation of Love. A few “Realized Souls” have achieved such a near perfect union on Earth, Hafiz being one of them. Daniel Ladinsky, the most well-known English translator of Hafiz said: “Language when it mingles with spirit does a tremendous service to the world: it empowers and changes lives; it awakens love, valor, and wonder. The words of a poet-saint are unique, they become cherished friends to the heart – for they constantly comfort and free.”

        I consider Sting’s song Fields of Gold both comforting and freeing. Take a listen.