Namaste

I learnt a new word this week from Meredith of Graceful Presence. By the way 'Graceful Presence' is a very unique blog. Deeply simple, down to earth, inspiring, gentle wonderful reflections. If you only have time for one blog today, leave mine and go there - it is truly wonderful.

Anyway, I think I was supposed to learn what this word means. Meredith signed off her comment on my blog, 'namaste' and I wondered what it meant. Last night, I read the first chapter of The Barn at the End of the World, which ends 'Namaste, I honour the god in you'. A quick flick around on google uncovered the following,

'In India when we meet and part we often say, "Namaste," which means...
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me,
there is only one of us.
Namaste' ~ Ram Dass, Grist for the Mill (from here).

That is a wonderful concept and a gentle reminder to me to seek to recognise and affirm that of God in others. I am often opinionated and keen to tell my stories. This can be a strength, but it can also be a weakness as it is easy to get caught up in my own mind and forget that others have minds too. Sometimes I need to slow down and listen and recognise the beauty in light in the lives of those around me.

This week, my poetic juices appear to be leaking out after a couple of months of really not writing anything. Here is another offering. It is about my reaction to a man who sat behind me at a conference on Tourettes' sydrome.

Namaste

Shut up bitch
Fucking bitch
Shut up
Shit shit
Talking shit
Shut up

Coughing, spluttering, twitching,
Fidgetting, uncontrolled jerking and moving
Intrusive

Shut up bitch,
Fucking bitch
Fucking talk
Shut up, shut up.
Ha ha ha!
Shut up.

And you are really starting to irritate me now.
Me, the one who does not twitch or swear.
I, who am normal, in control of my body.
I am not a patient, I am a professional.

But you are grating on me, making me nervous, irritated, uncomfortable.

And I turn around,
Ready to stare
To observe this phenomenon,
And make note of the symptoms
Your behavioural profile.

What will I see?
Tics?
Tourettes?
Madness?

No.

Two brown eyes and a gentle smile.
I am sorry. I smile back, then lower my gaze
In humility towards that which is sacred.

Namaste.

(In part inspired by Heather's poem which she published on talkback.)