THT: Week 5

Kamilah, Kahlil's mother. Painting by Kahlil Gibran

Its time once again for Treasure Hunt Tuesday! One of these day’s I’ll come up with a logo to add to these posts, but for now, you’ll have to settle for whatever images strike me as appropriate.

Today I found an old gem, stuck at the bottom of the chest and dug it out just for you: Kahlil Gibran on Joy and Sorrow. Many of you will probably recognize it; if not, I’ll be pleased to introduce you to it.

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 between 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.

I don’t think anyone will need me to explain why I consider these words a treasure.  Do you have a favorite Gibran quote? If I had to pick a favorite, I think it would be this one (on Self-Knowledge):

Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.
But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart’s knowledge.
You would know in words that which you have always known in thought.
You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.

Soul Food

Spending time on the water is like soul food to me.  Sure, as a writer I tend to spend way too much time indoors, so anything that takes me out into the sun is a bonus, but this is something deeper.  Perhaps its the Pisces in me, yearning to be where the air tastes like salt and the wind and waves turn into a symphony.  No matter the reason, being on the water renews me, as if the water washes away the dark places and the clutter from my brain, simplifying the world into a sea of tranquility.

When you combine this lure with my love of photography, it is pretty easy to see what many of my photos consist of.  This morning was no exception.  While my husband and son passed their time fishing, I captured some of the inspiration around me, hoping to immortalize it and to share it with you.

These photos were all taken today, out on the Indian River Lagoon.  If you’re not familiar with it, you should check it out- it really is paradise.  You can, of course, check my Flickr page to get a better view- and to see the thousands of other images I’ve uploaded.