May 18, 2016 – Bread on Your Head

Bread on Your Head

“There is a basket of fresh bread on your head, yet you go door to door asking for crusts.”

Rumi (1207-1273) Islamic scholar, Sufi mystic

   It happens to all of us sooner or later: looking all over the place for something that is right in front of us. How could I miss it? “If it were a snake, it would bite you!” your mother probably said to you.

That’s about looking for your misplaced book or keys. What about when you misplace your patience, your forbearance, your equanimity, your mindfulness – (yes, this is my list!)

The next line in Rumi’s poem is: “Knock on your inner door. No other.” Attending to the health of your inner life, you will be more likely to see, to recognize, that when you need them, these misplaced items are more available to you than you expected.

This week maybe do something specific — read some poetry? Take a quiet walk? — to feed your inner life. And not miss the “bread on your head.”