My friend Meg shared the above pic with me this morning (from Karen Salmansohn — I just ordered one of her books). I’m drawn to the honest speak of “all happening at the same time.” I’m drawn to the friendships that are able to embrace and explore such notions. That smile together. That cry together. That get silly together. That furrow our brows together. That aren’t afraid to hold it all. Or that our afraid, but invite some witness and growth over a cup of tea or a whiskey.
Wander School and Becoming & Belonging is where I and a few others are doing this regularly. Yesterday’s format was invitation to notice what has our attention — the burning and the blooming. And then to tell a bit of story and to lend a bit of witness. It’s all practice isn’t it, this dual citizenship.
The world is both burning & blooming.
You get the bad news and the sunrise in the same day.
You cry over the headlines,
and then you laugh at a baby
wearing a hat shaped like a bear.
This is the dual citizenship of being alive.
Rage and reverence.
Grief and grace.
You are allowed to feel both.
You are allowed to scream,
& still notice how good the soup is.
You don’t have to choose.
Let it all in.
Karen Salmansohn
