Blossom

My copy of Rumi has a broken spine. Over the last 8 months I have read the same poem so much that the book now falls open there. It's called "Joy at Sudden Disappointment". The poem tells the story of how when Mohammed removed his shoes to pray, an eagle scooped one up. Mohammed was aggrieved, but then the eagle turned the boot over and a snake fell out. The poem is two pages and not everyone loves Rumi like I do, so I'll spare you all of it. But part of it is relevant today.

"...Look carefully around you and recognize
the luminosity of souls. Sit beside those
who draw you to that.

Learn from this eagle story
that when misfortune comes, you must quickly praise.

Others may be saying, Oh no, but you
will be opening out like a rose
losing itself petal by petal.

Someone once asked a great sheikh
what sufism was.

'The feeling of joy
when sudden disappointment comes.'..."

I love the luminous souls around me now. The gentlemen with white or silver facial hair who mentor me and teach me up close or from a distance. My little sister's soothing presence, my co-workers' sharp minds and sharper wit, the circle of friends always up for adventure in Salt Lake, and the friends that stay connected to me via my free cell phone minutes on weekends.

I am lucky for this time. Without it, I wouldn't have learned what I have about my body, about myself, about my worth - to myself and to others. Petal by petal.