Forty early mornings alone

January 22, 2008

Rumi says

A new moon teaches gradualness

and deliberation, and how one gives birth

to oneself slowly. Patience with small details

makes perfect a large work, like the universe.

What nine months of attention does for an embryo

forty early mornings alone will do

for your gradually growing wholeness.

In our world of busyness, striving, competition, relentless media, and endless to-d0 lists, the most healing choice can be to have some solitude every day. It’s worth getting up half an hour earlier if you must. Here’s my outrageous promise: read (Coleman Barks’) Rumi for 100 days, and whatever hurts will begin to heal!