tikkun

                                                                      for B. 

how a heart can be 

holy, unwhole

even while beating

in fine health

much like a planet,

spinning in its good time

a perfect globe

holding billions 

of hearts,

broken into pieces

of shattered, scattered 

peace.

but those binding ties

between us all -- 

strangers though we may seem

across continents, cultures, language

chasms of belief & practice -- 

go deeper still

pointing always 

back

to one

one light

one love

one peace 

held together by billions

of threads so delicate

as to remain shimmeringly unseen

but experienced, 

(tangible heartstrings tugged)

when triumph

or disaster

strikes. 

& closer, still...

in a fractured world

of fragmented hearts, 

if I hold your essential pulse 

in my warm hands, touching

your soul from deep within

my own eyes, breath, speech, 

heart beyond thought

where love knows 

its own way home

& in that holding,

a wholeness

even for a melted instant

emerges:

a simple equation of ignition

two made 

one

candle flame held to another

just enough to leap into light, 

its self

& share more fire

in the darkness.

a newly trans(cendent)formed

one

can help illuminate

those illusory, 

seemingly separate threads,

reawaken

hearts

by the millions

simply pouring flame

blessed, liquid fire

from inward 

outwards

to inwards again

to repair,

to lift,

to transform

the all 

through 

the simple 

formless heat

of one.

this is how we burn,

this is how we bless.

this is how we heal.  

.

.

.

from 16 march 2011, (c) Alx Uttermann

random act of kindness: the quarantine edition

quarantine story:

A beautiful young friend goes shopping for B and me sometimes; she is happy to do it. This morning, she got our list for two stores, Trader Joe’s and Ralph’s (grocery chain in SoCal). 

She texted me after coming from both places, saying the CRAZIEST thing had just occurred - while in the check-out line at Ralph’s, she remembered a neighbor who needed a few things, too, so she left the cart to go get them. 

By the time she returned... the young man ahead of her had PAID for our grocery items and just left, refusing to let her pay him back.  

Of couse he was masked, so there was no way to recognize him again! 

Wow. Needless to say, we were speechless. Who does that? ✨🙏🏽✨(Thank you, Baba!) 

As she’s driving toward our home, she mentions that her best friend (who was with her for the shopping/driving adventure) wants to pay for our Trader Joe’s groceries, as well - the best friend was so moved by the random act of kindness by the guy at Ralph’s!!!!!!!!!! 

WHAAAAAAAAAT??????! 

So - these two ridiculously, unnecessarily kind people paid for our groceries today. 

Such beautiful gestures, and testimony to the open hearts in our world. 

We are so grateful, and humbled. 

I thought I should post about this in case these two strangers’ actions might inspire others to do the same. 

Stay safe, all, and remember that though these times may be chaotic and stressful, there are also beautiful people with open hearts in our world, quietly blessing others through simple kindness. 

Maybe you’ll be the next one?

💖💖