On Not Being Swayed by Joy or Sorrow

Hello, dear Reflections friends, I hope this post finds you well — in thought, in spirit, or simply in quiet presence.

While reading @livingword’s post “Life Doesn’t Wait For Us To Be Happy,” I was reminded of a cherished passage by Kahlil Gibran that I had once saved on my blog. I think it was this part of the post that stirred the memory:

“I have experienced a good life. And I enjoyed it. I have also been through a not-so-good life, and I lived. I've also been through hell, and thank God, I didn't get burnt — to ashes, I mean.”

To me, Gibran speaks of how joy and sorrow are ultimately inseparable in our lives. And perhaps that’s why we don’t need to be swayed too much by either — no need to be overly elated or overly disheartened. In response to @livingword’s reflections, I’d like to revisit Kahlil Gibran’s On Joy and Sorrow once more — along with my Korean translation.

On Joy and Sorrow

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

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