FOR WARMTH

by Thich Nhat Hanh

I hold my face between my hands
no I am not crying
I hold my face between my hands
to keep my loneliness warm
two hands protecting
two hands nourishing
two hands to prevent
my soul from leaving me
in anger

I love this poem. While I am not buddhist, nor do I necessarily think buddhism will lead to Christ, Brother Thicht Nhat Hanh exudes much gentleness and peace when he speaks and that I respect. I also respect his point of view and his perspective on life and how it is lived. It is very much in line with how Christ taught us to live and how a life without suffering is not a realistic expectation. We live in a world where suffering is prevented at all cost and if we are presented with an opportunity to suffer we work as quickly as possible to remove the suffering from the picture and never look deeply into or embrace the suffering. We miss many opportunities for growth this way. There is no learning without suffering. No compassion. No forgiveness.

The poem above does not necessarily deal with suffering but it does speak of how to refrain from acting in anger, on how to feel what you are feeling, acknowledging it, holding it and when you are done, there is no anger. Only peace.