The Circle

Circle. 
A perfectly round shape with no beginning and end. 
A link between what was and what is.
A connection between you and me. 

You and I, we are both in this circle. 
Revolving around life. 
Sometimes a bit closer, sometimes a bit further apart. 
At times we dance, in other moments we fall.
We will return to the circle because we know that it carries us all. 

In this circle, I cannot not see you. 
I cannot not pay attention to the steps you take or look away when you fail. 
I cannot not hear your sufferings and cries of agony. 
Your life flows into mine and mine into yours. 
Your burdens will be my pain and your triumphs will be my joys one day. 
You and I – we are two parts of the same circle. 
Of the same humanity. 
I cannot not care or leave without breaking apart this inextricable connection between us. 

So I struggle with you all the way over here. 
My heart breaks as you walk through the valleys of death. 
Your screams of pain resound deeply in my soul. 
I wring my hands in worry and despair. 
I cry for help on your behalf and fear that it’s lost in the big void.
I grow weary, mad even, that no one seems to understand that 

In this circle, I cannot be without you. 
We are in this together, all of human creation. 
We cannot exist one without the other. 
And it’s only together that we can stumble – slowly but surely – toward the light. 

---

Writing for Five Minute Friday today. 

It’s difficult to watch the news these days and not despair at the state of the world with its crazy leaders, wars and so much suffering. Yes, we might enjoy ourselves on the bright side of life. Yes, we might have the privilege to turn off our phones and TVs. 

However, we have to realize that we’re all part of this. The people on the other side of our screens are part of the same humanity. And therefore we cannot not see them or ignore their pain. 

Please don’t stop making a difference for the circle in whatever ways you can. Read (like this inspiring piece), watch, talk to others, speak up. 
Please don’t stop holding space for both, the weird ambiguity of life. 
Please don’t stop caring and feeling all the emotions – no matter how complex they are.