March 9, 2016 – Keeping Quiet

Keeping Quiet

An excerpt from Pablo Neruda’s Poem titled “Keeping Quiet:”

“If we were not so single-minded

about keeping our lives moving,

and for once could do nothing,

perhaps a huge silence

might interrupt this sadness

of never understanding ourselves

and of threatening ourselves with death.

Perhaps the earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive.”

(English translation by Alastair Reid)

Sometime this week choose a time to “do nothing.” Repeat weekly forever.

Give a “huge silence” a chance to interrupt the sadness of not understanding yourself — and to turn threats of death into invitations to life.

What would “doing nothing” look like for you? Imagine it now. Do it this week.