Growth
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Where Emptiness Leads
early morning darknesshouse chill from winter's nighthe sits on the couchalone, sadtentatively tasting an emptinesshe can't yet labelhe waits for the padded arms of the couchto wrap and hold himassure him the emptinesswhatever it iswill passor fillor perhaps take himsomewhereanywhereinto… Continue reading
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Your Thoughts
A constant parade of thoughts–your thoughts–passses by your front porch: anxious thoughts, angry thoughts, fearful thoughts… You nod to some,wave to others,but you do not have to invite them in. Let them grumble on without you. Text and image © 2012 by Dirk… Continue reading
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Odd Company
You hang with questionable companions: loneliness, suspicion, fear, anger, hurt… Why cultivate such company?With these kinds of friends,who needs enemies? Say, then,"I've lost interest in you.I have a life to live,and you're taking uptoo much time and… Continue reading
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The House
I built the housesolidlyand strong–heavy shutters guard the windows,strong bolts secure the doors–an unmovable house,unshakably safe. I stand on the street,admiring my house,my sturdy, inpenetrable house. An old woman creaks by,leaning on her walker;"Quite the house," she says. "Yes," I… Continue reading
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Post-Election Analysis, 2012
Do you live from fear?Do any of these statements sound familiar? "The nation is falling apart.""They are against us.""We have the answers–if only they would listen.""Protect yourself at all cost.""She's an idiot.""He's trying to rob us of our freedom… … Continue reading
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Survival
"Go, if you must,"I say in disgust."I shall, I will survive." But quickly I learn,as silence returns,"surviving" does not mean "alive." Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Leap-Faithing
Allow your curiosityto best you–flip switches,mix chemicals,assemble mismatched parts,let the cart lead the horse,give the sleeping bear a poke,chew through the wire. The mess you make,likely won't kill you. Oh, you may retrace steps,redo work,replace something broken,apologize. But you will… Continue reading
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Failure
Success buildson the rubble of repeated failure. No collapsed venture is wasted. Art, relationship, occupation–it's all the same:only those who gleefully fail,succeed. Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Looking for Truth
Religion is,at heart,the story of grace. Whatever codes, creeds, morality, doctrinewe've piled on top of that story–it's all peripheral,optional,not central,not foundational,only created to assuageour insecurity. And if, by chance,these trappings slow you downon the upward climb to compassion,it's time to… Continue reading
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Grief
In that moment–that split second of inexpressible loss–she felt herself both diminish and expand. And while her mind yet reeledat the harsh actuality of it,something shifted deep within,reoriented in the direction of truthand therefore freedom. She would not understand this… Continue reading