The Sadness of Men

 

All men hold an ancient sadness, a primordial remorse for those we have enchained or slain in ages past, and women who carry our wounds. When our collective sadness melts and swells up into the heart of one, it touches all men with hope. It is a sign of transformation, from sadness to compassion. A sign of repentance, which is a sacred energy, not of blame but self forgiveness, and responsibility. This is a holy sadness, for it heals other men. I feel your sadness healing me. We do not become women through this sadness. We become true men. Only through this sadness do we wander into the Dance.

Sink deeply into your sadness, friend. Yes, deeply into your darkness, until no-thing is left but that vast grieving night within. Have courage. Linger there. See what happens. Is there not a glow of first light? Is your very darkness not the womb of dawn? The Gospel says, "Light shined in darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it." 

The scripture does not say, "Light came down into the darkness." Nor does it say, "Light made war against darkness, and the darkness could not defeat it." But rather, light welled up out of the fertile void, and the void began to glow. For darkness is not the absence of light, but the Mother. Don't try. Allow. This work is not heavy. This burden is light. Allow your heart to sink more deeply into dark energy. Here, you forgive others as you allow yourself to be forgiven, because forgiveness is the very ground of your Being.

Sabbath morning. Listen to the silence between heartbeats. Listening is faith. Silence is abundance. Here, in a mirror clear and empty, see the face of Christ.

Image: by Rembrandt