The Treasure-Keeper

Then a woman said, Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow.

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises

was often-times filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being,

the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit the very wood

that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart 

and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow

that is giving you your joy.

When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart,

and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that

which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow",

and others say,

"Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come,

and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other

is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and silver,

needs must your joy or your sorrow rise and fall.

Joy and Sorrow

from

THE PROPHET

by

Kahlil Gibran

I shall be taking a little pause 

until sometime in May.

Tread gently on Life's journey

and gentleness will accompany you.