Shield of Joy

Sometimes the chaos

Is bigger than us.

It swirls through

Disrupting our peace.

What new initiation

Is this?

The sins arrive to the party:

Envy, self-loathing, jealousy, hate.

Why have they come

To this sacred space?

Perhaps they, too

Want to feel at home.

My heart has known pain.

Your heart has too.

But, at the very bottom,

Of our deep ocean of night,

I remember you.

I remember I have always loved you.

Joy rises again.

To transform our suffering.

Let’s make it a ritual.

Our Shield of Joy.

Just in case we have

Any more unruly visitors.