Learning a new skill...

In his latest book entitled Breathing Under Water, Richard Rohr quotes the poem that inspired the title and theme of his book.  I find that both the book, and the poem, have much wisdom to share:

"Breathing Under Water" by Carol Bieleck, R.S.C.J.

I built my house by the sea.
Not on the sands, mind you;
not on the shifting sand.
And I built it of rock.
A strong house 
by a strong sea.
And we got well acquainted, the sea and I.
Good neighbors.
Not that we spoke much.
We met in silences.
Respectful, keeping our distance,
but looking our thoughts across the fence of sand.
Always, the fence of sand our barrier,
always, the sand between.


And then one day,
- and I still don't know how it happened -
the sea came.
Without warning.


Without welcome, even
Not sudden and swift, but a shifting across the sand
   like wine,
less like the flow of water than the flow of blood.
Slow, but coming.
Slow, but flowing like an open wound.
And I thought of flight and I thought of drowning
   and I thought of death.
And while I thought the sea crept higher, till it
   reached my door.
And I knew then, there was neither flight, nor death,
   nor drowning.
That when the sea comes calling you stop being
   neighbors
Well acquainted, friendly-at-a-distance, neighbors
And you give your house for a coral castle,
And you learn to breathe underwater.


Taking under water breathing lessons,
Kim