Making Love over a Cup of Desiderata

The art of making love is not just about the physicality of the act; it's inevitably also about using words to heal and soothe and encourage, without using to many "ands";-)

So there Sandra and I were the other day talking and contemplating about the Desiderata, a poem that is reputed to have been found in St.Paul's Church, Baltimore in 1692 but is also reputed to have been written by by one Max Ehrmann.

I've been told that it's important to feed the soul every now and then, and in my estimation, the Desiderata is the greatest exponent of soul-food there ever is -- and probably will be.

She had never heard of it, but was humbled by the wisdom exuding from these important words:

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

When we decide to tie the knot, it's going to be a veritable staple of our emotional and relationship diet. The world sometimes moves far too fast, and if we can be slowed down by such sagacity, I'm all for it, whilst remembering these even wiser words:

be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

I came across an old post from two years ago which goes like this:

The violence that is flaring up on our streets and in many corners of the world is the inevitable expression of the hostility in our hearts. Hostility is like an infectious disease. Whenever we indulge in a violent act or even in hostile words, we are passing this disease on to those around us. When we quarrel at home, it is not just a domestic problem, we are contributing to turmoil everywhere.

Maybe, just maybe, this poem can help reconcile justice and peace of mind with the incredible injustice and chaos in the world.

May it work for you as it has done, and continues to work for me...