Edge of the World

It has been a month since I last blogged, and it seems like a constant whirlwind of activity has been going since then. Our vacation to the caribbean cancelled, the hurricane and its aftermath. Our spontaneous trip to california..my husband very ill. Then school starting, the finishing touches of our recording and the non-stop care of my special needs son.

As my husband has learned this month, there is a link between suffering and compassion, between pain and understanding. The ability to empathize only comes through experience. We are innately available to serve when we are offered the opportunity to suffer.

Oh, but it is so hard! Trying to reason through pain. Trying to "figure it out" and solve it ourselves. It never works. It never will.

Mostly because pain doesn't come to bad people or because we do wrong things. This is one of life's hardest lessons; pain is no respector of persons, or time, or money. It comes to us all in its' own measure.

After we suffer, we want to close ourselves off. Take no risks. Make safe choices and be careful to not offer too much of our hearts and minds and souls. Failure might happen and pain with it. But right then, right then, is the best chance we have to make a choice to risk again, and be so useful to others as well as ourselves.

I look at my son and I realize that everything he does is a risk. Life itself is a risk to a special needs kid. A risk to try since he has so many fears. A risk to love, as he is so intensely involved in others souls that he cannot extricate himself. A risk to fall and a risk to fail. But he takes the chance everyday, and he is strong, strong, strong, and I love him for it.

I hope he continues to chance and risk and love. I hope he sails to the edge of his world and beyond. Most parents want that for their children. I want him to be happy, but I know he will share in suffering in this world. When he does, I hope that he continues to sail, and continues to keep his heart open. Thank God that He allowed His own son to suffer for us.

There is a lot of open water. Want to dive in?

Edge of the World

Go to the edge of the world
Out where the ocean is crowned with island pearls
And the sirens are singing free
They are calling to you and calling to me

At the edge of the world
Ride with me, let your wings unfurl
Keep the horizon in your view
the edge of the world is out there waiting for you

go to the edge of the sea
Walk down the shore and into the deep
Treasure is waiting there for you
If you hold your breath and dive into the blue

Go to the edge of the night
Catch a ride on a chariot taking flight
Before that golden orb comes into view
The edge of the night is out there for you

Columbus knew, and I do, too
That the edge of the world is just a point of view
Sure it is safer when you stay
But adventure is yours when you sail away

at the edge of the world
Ride with me, let your wings unfurl
Keep the horizon in your view
The edge of the world is out there waiting for you.