Joy & Sorrow

I still remember the great impact this section first had on me. The verse pointing out the source of your sorrow having once been the source of your joy made alot of sense to me. The verse before that took me alot longer to accept.

Prior to reading this verse I had come to the realisation that only time woud help me. I had dug so deep into myself during my times of sorrow, that the joy to fill my soul was now tremendous.

All things are relative; the joy that makes you smile, could make someone else laugh out loud.

Thankfully, nature hates vacuums; the space you dig out with your sorrows WILL be filled, with time, and life will mean so much more to you.

Be grateful for ALL things. Humbly accept YOUR journey and rejoice in your sorrow, not just in your joy. Love all things, even through the tears of pain.

Peace.

Given to me by a very special person, 1994

THEN a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your
laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your
tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your
being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very
cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your
spirit, the very wood that was hollowed
with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into
your heart and you shall find it is only that
which has given you sorrow that is giving
you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in
your heart, and you shall see that in truth
you are weeping for that which has been
your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than
sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is
the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits
alone with you at your board, remember
that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales be-
tween your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at
standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to
weigh his gold and his silver, needs must
your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.