The space in between

There is a distance between us, a gap that is invisible to the casual observer. The space between two people and the space between two buildings and the space between an artwork and a viewer and the space between an artist and their materials and the space between the physical and the divine and the space between the sensuous stuff of life and the rational intellect of our minds. It is in this place that great questions are formed, philosophy has its way, art of all kinds is birthed and religion finds a home. When we expect an answer that ends the questions we leave the gap and move on. So many do not even know that the gap is waiting for them to be enriched by the struggle for meaning, challenged by the transcendent nature of meeting the other in the space that lies in between.

Letting it in.

How often when we hear of someone's suffering, we throw out a one liner that makes us feel better and then move on as quickly as we can. Feeling the pain of others is an uncomfortable experience. It makes us feel vulnerable and unsettled. I sometimes wonder if we hear and see so much horror on the news that our sensory receptors are dulled. The endless footage of accidents, murders, war and tragedies of all kinds. It is too much to take in, so we practice holding it at bay and enjoy our meal while we continue to watch. The call to feel with someone, to hear their story, to embrace their pain, to be thankful for the rich lives we have as individuals and as a community, that is love. So, let it in, feel deeply with those you share this journey with.