The 14^th century mystic poet Hafiz encourages us in one of his famous quotes to  ”run like hell from anyone likely to put a sharp knife into the sacred tender vision of your beautiful heart”. The 14^th century and we’re now in the 21^st century and there are people and belief system trying to put a sharp knife into the sacred vision of our beautiful hearts.

Sharp knife? Today’s political climate? What was the sharp knife in the 14^th century? Were the political leaders of the day always disingenuous? Obviously, many have used sharp knives over the years to cut out any dreams of the masses. Is that what is behind all the gun violence, bombings, racism, ageism, poverty, elitism, sexism in the world? Is that why so many people are addicted, depressed, stressed, suicidal, ill from incurable diseases?

What is the sharp knife in my life and who is at the other end? Is it time for a phoenix rising? Has the time for resiliency knocked on the door of my beautiful heart?

Cases in point

A friend stated to me recently that the man she was dating decided to stop dating her and she was left with many questions as to what was his reasoning to call it quits? Is that an example of a sharp knife? Hmm.

A woman applied for a job and was asked back for three interviews and subsequently not offered the job. Can that instance of not receiving the job offer be categorized as a sharp knife? Hmm.

A government official repeatedly sexually harassed the female members of his staff. Were his actions the example of a sharp knife? Hmm.

Two friends who had a long-term relationship doing many social activities together until the one friend just stopped calling and taking the calls when the other friend reached out. Did one friend just decided to “cut away” from the relationship? Hmm.

A sacred tender vision is my belief which is placed in your heart by our creator – God. Sure, many people or situations will try to sharp knife the vision out of you – I think that is why the poet tells us to “run like hell”.

Yesterday I was out for a beautiful outdoor workout – running, walking, strength was included in the workout. It was a glorious day. People were out with pets, families walking together laughing. As I turned the corner to my block there were numerous police vehicles, and my first thought was “wow what happened”? An  elderly neighbor walked up to me and stated – “someone jumped, or they were pushed from that open window” as she pointed to a fourth floor open window. Initially I didn’t see (and really didn’t care) as she took me by the arm to make sure I see the open window from where a woman was pushed or jumped to her death! Misery loves company – or was it because she seeing the horrific tragedy was like a sharp knife and needed someone to also witness it? I definitely wanted to “run like hell” away from the scene of a dead body on the street.

As I continue to examine this whole thought line of a sharp knife – I must revisit  the elderly woman who stopped me to look at the open window from where a woman jumped or was pushed. I was a stranger. She and I had never spoken but I could see she was shocked and traumatized and just needed comfort even if it was from a stranger. Is that what the poet Hafiz meant by sacred? He uses sharp, sacred, tender and beautiful in the same sentence. Was the moment sacred and tender for both the elderly woman and I to come together in agreement that we both witnessed a horrific tragedy? Sometime as much as we’d like we are unable to “run like hell from anyone likely to put a sharp knife into the sacred tender vision of our beautiful heart” as the scene from the tragedy on the street yesterday was depicted.

Here’s the Thing – we can always keep the sacred tender vision of our beautiful heart in the forefront of our existence. We can find comfort in supporting that vision just as my elderly neighbor demonstrated. When we are cut in anyway (small punctured to a huge gash) by the sharp knife we always need immediate comfort. And it can always be available – if we seek.

If we use the framework of “a sharp knife” actually so many things can be clearer. Often people just need to cut away in the instance of relationships.

In global matters – it boils down usually to POWER; plain and simple.

What does it mean to be resilient in the midst of an emotional storm? I have heard “these are challenging times” but when did they start? Isn’t it a matter of perspective?

If we take the advice George Carlin the comedian stated so eloquently “My advice: just keep moving straight ahead. Every now and then you will find yourself in a different place”.

Here’s the thing:

We can certainly be resilient in any of life’s storm and rise above the ashes like a phoenix.