The 60-Second Sabbath

awareness

  • Identity

    "We're Christians,"she said,"not Jesusians." And a few more shinglesblew off my roof. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • The Passion Is Enough

    She pops up unexpectedly–beneath the darkening canopy of treesin the deep woods,from behind a stack of boxesin a corner of the basement,or like now,in a quiet gallery at the back of the art museum:  "Beautiful, yes?" "It is," I answer.… Continue reading

  • One Day

    To feel okay about myselfI need to feel superior to others:    I'm better organized.    I eat better.    I attend church.    I give to charity.    My opinion is more considered.    I don't waste money.   … Continue reading

  • Your Own Suffering

    Unawareof his own suffering,covering itwith a sticky shellacof bravado,he formed a crustthat buffered him from othersas well as himself,a mantleof insulating indifference. Unawareof his own suffering,unable to touch it,to heal it,it festered,until finally,sickened by the infection,he could no longer pretendhe… Continue reading

  • Confrontation

    He ranted.I listened.Something clicked:     He feels these feelings.    He believes these beliefs.    He thinks these thoughts.    They are his, not mine.    That is him, over there.    Over there seethes anger, drama, ego.  … Continue reading

  • This Quiet

    This quietembraces,wraps me in stillness; in our new spaceI welcome silence,long-lost friend,and hear thingsfor the first time– the metal wall clock that I purchaseda decade agoticks audibly–tick, tick, tick, tick;ten years passedwithout hearingits heartbeat– when the cats pad across the… Continue reading

  • Toward Healing

    I peeled back the bandage."This is my wound,"I said. "It looks like it's healing,"he said. "Yes, it is.It still hurts some,but nothing like before." "What's made the difference?" "I stopped pretendingit didn't exist,stopped telling myselfI shouldn't be hurt that badly.I… Continue reading

  • Conditioning

    I, the tiger,lean and sinewy,pace my cage–    ten steps to the east,    ten steps south,    ten steps west,    pause,    ten steps north… Then one day,the cage is gone–    no more bars,    no more… Continue reading

  • Pinning Blame

    Who's responsible for this mess?     The "mess" in question is me. Who's to blame?Someone must pay!     Who is it    that wants    to pin the blame? Is it Stillnessor is it Ego?     Why… Continue reading

  • On the Loss of a Friend

    I take stockof sadness. How is itmeasured? At timesit fills this chipped cup. At timesit fills the sea. Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading