And is the Answer
Tiny Lights, Poem 16
“And…not or, nor but, or however. And opens possibilities, includes…”
The inspiration for this poem…
Writing/Meditation Prompts:
Think about a time when you heard the word “but” and cringed. Is there a time when you used it (or one of its derivatives) and regret it?
Now think about a time when you heard the word “and” and it opened up possibilities. Is there someone who needs to hear an “and” from you to make them feel its inclusion and open them up?
Are things too black or white inside of you? Can you open up to things being more black and white, which means accepting more of the mixed feelings that come when we realize we don’t carry all the answers and need to hold a balance of mixed feelings within us (or be able to listen to other points of view without denying our own convictions)?
Close your eyes and meditate on what it would be like if we could say to each other, as well as to ourselves, “I love you, and…”
“I love you, but…is nowhere near I love you, and…”
That sums up the power of the word AND. To be told “I love you, but…” means some reservations are coming, whereas “I love you, and…” means here come even more things that I love about you. “And” is about including, expanding, and adding to. This poem was inspired by Franciscan Father Richard Rohr whose writings are a call to move away from everything being either/or, me against you, or purely black and white thinking into a more inclusive openness. It doesn’t mean to leave your convictions at the door. It’s simply an invitation to be open to more AND in your life.