Dear Ones,

Once more, I wasn’t planning on sending anything out on this one-year one-month of Cynthia’s passing, but Alexis sent this poem below by Hafiz, the 14th-century Persian poet who had such penetrating and timeless insights.

I am still feeling well surrounded by caring people, as I go from one circle of covenantal love to another; but moments of aching loneliness come up regularly.

We will know loneliness at different times, even if we’ve not lost someone close.

A certain kind of loneliness shows up even when we’re in committed relationships, surrounded by family, close friends, or respected colleagues.

Loneliness is the constant companion of leadership

Of pioneering

Of all dimensions of creativity, therefore of all the arts

Of prayer

And of thinking.

Many of our generation fear it, flee it, try to fight it off by staying online, in touch, ‘connected’.

I find myself more and more doing as Hafiz suggests, embracing it:

Don’t surrender your loneliness

So quickly.

Let it cut more deep.

Let it ferment and season you

As few human

Or even divine ingredients can.

Something missing in my heart tonight

Has made my eyes so soft,

My voice

So tender

My need of God

Absolutely

Clear.