WEAKNESS

“Our strength will continue if we allow ourselves the courage to feel scared, weak, and vulnerable.”

~ Melody Beattie

This is a prayer for the ages. In fact, it helps to define weakness, in spiritual terms, as any habit of mind or heart that prevents us from seeing things exactly as they are, or in their entirety, or with our entire capacity to feel. These are the blindnesses that continually keep us from Truth, Oneness, and Compassion.

We are all frail. We all make mistakes. We all fall prey to a thousand emotions and exaggerations. But these things make us rich, not weak - if we are willing to face them squarely. In truth, it is not the tissue of our humanity that defeats us, but rather our refusal to accept who we are and to live accordingly, limitations included.

Underneath it all, this blindness, in its many recurring forms, is the cause of most cruelty. For its is during those moments when we think we see so clearly that we break things that are irreplaceable, not even realizing they were precious.

After breaking many things in my life - hearts, heirlooms, robins’ eggs - I am humbled to admit that the only difference I see on Earth between being strong and weak is the honesty with which we face ourselves, and share ourselves, blemishes and all.

~ For this meditation, hold a picture of someone you care about. It might be a picture of yourself.

~ Close your eyes and center yourself. When opening your eyes, focus on the picture and allow yourself to see your relationship with this person exactly as it is.

~ Close your eyes again. When opening your eyes this time, focus on the picture and allow yourself to accept this being entirely, blemishes and all.

The Book of Awakening

~ Mark Nepo