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On Children by Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Hat Tip: http://www.katsandogz.com/onchildren.html

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The Formative Faiths and Stories that Raised Me

As a child, I was taught and raised with a joy and respect for each faith. My parents would tell me stories about all faiths, and their folklore.

I attribute this to my father’s joy of storytelling, but more than that I think there was a profound respect and belief that my parents and even grandparents had in other faiths. Perhaps, it was because my mom’s side of the family was raised in South Africa in neighborhoods relegated to immigrants. With Jewish, Christian and Muslim neighbors in a new country, I imagine our neighbors became our community. I have heard countless stories about the grouped helped one and other.

On my Dad’s side, I imagine my father being educated in New Zealand and also his love of poetry ensured my sister and I would be exposed to all faiths.

I never thought about it consciously, but I am one of many faiths (not God per second, but an exploration of the human condition). Sarika was raised Jain. I was raised Hindu. We both practice Buddhism, but also have strong affinities to anything sacred.

Yesterday, we had the joy of watching Walk With Me, a documentary about Plum Village and the Thich Naht Hanh at the Rubin Museum.

Today, we had the joy of going to Riverside Church to enjoy the weekly service.

I am grateful for the role and influence of the many faiths and beliefs that have created my personal narrative and those Sarika and I hope to pass to Lila.