Dear Tom:
Forgive me for being so slow in writing. Last week was one of those lessons we so often need. A lesson I must learn over and over — I need to relish those times of good health and be aware that the gift I have been given can blow away as quickly as cool ashes leave a fire in a strong wind. Everything is fine now, and I have taken to heart the fragility of life.
My thought about blowing ashes reminds me of the Sufi wisdom — occasionally we need to blow away anything we don’t need that is sitting on the surface of our heart. Sometime an impression we receive from another person, whether positive or negative, can prove a hindrance to fulfilling our purpose in life. When someone blames us, it can set us back by diminishing our courage or causing us to waste time justifying ourselves. This does not mean we need to guard against every impression; then we might begin to close our hearts to others, a greater mistake than occasionally opening our hearts too far. However, we need to sometimes, to burn and forcefully blow away an impression because it has taken deep root and prevents us from seeing our way clearly. You cannot pollute the air by burning away a false impression. Its ashes may have another place to reside, but this particular impression’s time of residence with us is over.
Your friend, Webb
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