So don’t be frightened, dear friend, if a sadness confronts you larger than any you have ever known, casting its shadow over all you do. You must think that something is happening within you, and remember that life has not forgotten you; it holds you in its hand and will not let you fall. Why would you want to exclude from your life any uneasiness, any pain, any depression, since you don’t know what work they are accomplishing within you?
– Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
Once again, from the beautiful blog A Year with Rilke
oh lindsey, thank you for this. feeling the shadow of sadness today. and hoping/trusting that is it ‘accomplishing something in me’.
It isn’t *quite* sadness…but something else equally uncomfortable. This is a nice reminder. Because sometimes I forget that canyons are being carved inside me.
Yes, I love this one a lot.
A really good question.
Thanks!
I just bought this book recently. Haven’t read it yet, or anything by Rilke actually. I’m really excited to do so now! Thanks for sharing Lindsey!
I’m a fan of Rilke, but haven’t read his work in quite a while. It’s lovely to have the chance to get reacquainted with it.
Thank you for re-acquainting me with this lovely from Rilke. It weaves in nicely with some written ruminating I was doing earlier today about the difference in hope and keeping vigil. Kinda’ closes a gap for me.
Holy moly, did I need to read this today. xoxo