4/28/08 Five Hands

Daniel said that if you put all of his childhood birthday presents together
they wouldn't equal all the stuff Cookie got for his birthday this year.

On one hand, there's so much heavy sadness and longing in Daniel
left over from his childhood that maybe should be dealt with.

On another hand, it is interesting to always be reminded at odd times
of the ridiculous affluence and excess we live with every day.

Then there's another hand, where it should be okay to be thankful and
accept all that we have and be generous with it.

And of course, there's the hand where stuff has so little value really.

And the hand where we are safe and healthy and have full bellies and love,
which are the truest blessings and measures of affluence.

There are lots of hands.