On Pain

And a woman spoke, saying, Tell usof Pain.

And he said:

Your pain is the breaking of the shellthat encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit mustbreak, that its heart may stand in thesun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonderat the daily miracles of your life, yourpain would not seem less wondrous thanyour joy;

And you would accept the seasons of yourheart, even as you have always acceptedthe seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenitythrough the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which thephysician within you heals your sickself.

Therefore trust the physician, and drinkhis remedy in silence and tranquillity:For his hand, though heavy and hard, isguided by the tender hand of the Unseen,And the cup he brings, though it burnyour lips, has been fashioned of theclay which the Potter has moistened withHis own sacred tears.