I was reading a collection of poems by Rumi and I came to this:
"Curing a hide, the tanner
rubs in acid and all manner of filth.
This makes a beautiful soft leather.
What does the half-finished hide know?
Every hard thing that happens
works on you like that."
It is from the poem Disciplines (Rumi, Bridge to the Soul, translated by Coleman Banks).
Somehow, I feel like this will be a good thing to remember.
Wow. I really needed to hear that tonight. Thanks for sharing it.
Posted by: Jessica | 05/26/2010 at 04:05 PM
Yes, certainly a good thing to remember. Thank you for sharing it.
Posted by: Josiane | 05/26/2010 at 04:50 PM
What they ^ said. Thanks; I needed that.
Posted by: steph | 05/26/2010 at 11:21 PM
Elisabeth this reminds me of how cool I thought it was when I learned the way a pearl is formed: In response to an "irritation" the oyster secretes something call nacre to keep coating that irritation over and over until a beautiful pearl emerges from what was an irritation.
Who knows what is good and what is bad right?
Posted by: Pearl Mattenson | 05/27/2010 at 03:39 AM
If you fancy a break from reading Rumi, here is a delightful presentation by Coleman of his poetry... :)
Posted by: mella | 05/27/2010 at 05:41 AM
oops, here's the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14Ft1Oo3cQQ
Posted by: mella | 05/27/2010 at 05:42 AM
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Julie M. | 05/27/2010 at 07:30 AM
@Jessica, Josiane, Steph, Julie: You are most welcome.
@Pearl: Oh! I remember hearing that a long time ago! Thank you for the reminder. That is beautiful - and a beautiful thing to remember.
@Mella: Cool - I will check it out. Thanks.
Posted by: elizabeth -- | 05/31/2010 at 09:30 PM