Mark Nepo

I don't think it's a blind obedience to God.

I think it's a saying yes to life by accepting and not turning away from all the hardships that there's a mystery.

There's a paradox.

You and I could be on a raft at sea and a huge wave comes and smashes the raft and we're hanging on.

That's not a good day for us.

And it doesn't diminish the majesty of the sea.

And we're asked to hold both.

That's the broken hallelujah.

Not just a everything's wonderful.

Don't worry, it'll work out.

No, the fact that saying yes to life is there is a incomprehensible mystery that we're a part of.

This is why you've heard the old proverbial question.

Is the glass half full or half empty?

Well, that is really not helpful for me because it's always both.

And our job.

in the broken hallelujah, in saying yes to life, in facing life and embracing life, is how do we relate to both?

How do we let both be a teacher?

How do we open our heart to the mysterious wholeness of life that is both fragile and gentle and at times harsh and can break us and break us open?

And that's

where the work of being a spirit in a body in time on earth is.