I've been musing, this morning, on the interconnectedness of our strengths and weaknesses—how a virtue can be a vice subdued, sublimated or in disguise. Also, I've been reflecting upon a related paradox, how by meditating upon our wounds, we might heal and become more compassionate towards the wounds of others. Our wounds, properly perceived, might in turn become peepholes for us to view the worlds wounds.
I realize these are difficult, subtle, elusive matters to discuss since, like all esoteric truths, they require initiation and that readers bring their own experiences to the table. What fascinates me is how truth agrees with itself, across time and space. Take, for example, this marvelous Japanese practice, kintsukuroi, which involves repairing pottery with gold in order to honor that what is broken becomes more valuable.
Below, are five more echoes, that examine this paradoxical truth from different perspectives, disciplines as well as faith traditions: literature, philosophy, Christianity and Islam.
'It is often our mightiest projects that most obviously betray the degree of our insecurity.'
—W. G. Sebald
"My wound existed before me, I was born to embody it." —Joë Bousquet
'The wound is the place where the Light enters you.' —Rumi
“There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.” —Leonard Cohen
"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh... For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities... Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions... for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
(2 Cor. 12:7-10)
