Convergent Lines

In our lives, we are often confronted with the dichotomy of distinct events within the endless flow of experience. We are endlessly enamored by arrival and departure, and indeed design our lives to this cycle of beginnings and endings. Yet, over and above those sharp edges is a smooth, open and ceaseless flow. When you behold a sunset over the ocean, you are suddenly aware of these two levels simultaneously. A stark and unmistakable end to the day - in it the promise of a quiet reflection and a fresh beginning. And yet, the waves crashing down on the shore seem to be utterly undisturbed by this arrival of darkness. As if it were the epitome of an eternal flow - unchanging and waiting to be experienced whenever we can turn towards it. The evening glow lit up our faces As we looked into our own shimmering form, Being broken into a thousand pieces, Arriving at our sand-soaked feet. The part of you that just went hiding Over the waves and behind the clouds Will remember its parting colors ...

It is spring. As the cherry blossoms, white and yellow wildflowers emerge into life, they invite us to investigate the season of life we are currently living through. The great refuge offered by nature is in its recognizable shape amidst constantly changing contours - just like ourselves, in our journey through life. Stopping to notice the unfolding of this churn outside our windows forces in us a deeper introspection of the place we are passing through in our journeys. This little piece is about having that realization. Wait a minute. Look around carefully. Those are your windows looking out Into the wild beauty that can only inhabit dreams. As the evening glow draws you inward, You can see that these landscapes Reflect your inner mountains. The radiance of these city lights Twinkling like stars in your own past horizon. Every sip of your morning tea Steeped in all the incarnations and Warm emanations of the past. The scene well-lit that was your everyday Reveals its deeper contours i...

We learn, apply and master creative work throughout our lives. I use the term ‘creative work’ very broadly to mean any activity or discipline that has an element of learned proficiency and an aspect of open-endedness to its outcome. This includes but is not limited to the arts, scientific research and any vocation within the knowledge economy in general. Generally, to succeed in one of these fields you need to acquire skills and learn the craft of the discipline. These words skill and craft are often used interchangeably but are not synonymous, and in this case, I use them to mean two distinct aspects of creative work.  Skill is proficiency in the technical aspects of the discipline - a combination of natural talent and learning through practice. A musician’s ability to hit the right notes again and again in the correct rhythm; a scientists’ ability to evaluate existing knowledge and carefully design experiments to push the boundaries - that’s skill - acquired through a combination...