Not long ago, I had the good fortune to spend time on retreat. Part of the experience included exploring several poems. My favorite was The Layers by Stanley Kunitz.
The leader read the poem as we followed on our own copies. A particular phrase sat heavy in my ear
Live in the layers
Not on the litter.
The leader read the poem as we followed on our own copies. A particular phrase sat heavy in my ear
Live in the layers
Not on the litter.
While our discussion opened up several insightful interpretations, the one that I wish to share here says something like…
Choose to live, claiming all that has gone before,
knowing that we recreate ourselves every day
Choose not to dwell on comparing and labeling experiences,
constructing our own palettes of death
Self-forgiveness claims every moment of my life and names it “me.” It offers no excuses, no argument, and no debate. Each experience a layer, I live in them all, denying none, exalting none; only grateful.
Forgive yourself…be yourself.
Quotes
I am what I am and that’s all that I am. Popeye
I am who I am [or] I will be what I will be. Common translations of YHWH – name of God given to Moses (Exodus 3:14)
Web
Jen Weigel offers a brief article on the power of forgiving yourself. (read article)
Choose to live, claiming all that has gone before,
knowing that we recreate ourselves every day
Choose not to dwell on comparing and labeling experiences,
constructing our own palettes of death
Self-forgiveness claims every moment of my life and names it “me.” It offers no excuses, no argument, and no debate. Each experience a layer, I live in them all, denying none, exalting none; only grateful.
Forgive yourself…be yourself.
Quotes
I am what I am and that’s all that I am. Popeye
I am who I am [or] I will be what I will be. Common translations of YHWH – name of God given to Moses (Exodus 3:14)
Web
Jen Weigel offers a brief article on the power of forgiving yourself. (read article)
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