November 01, 2023 – A

The people in Stonington, Maine
eke out a living as best they can,
like 99% of the world's population
from the beginning--
and, if they are lucky,
foster an inner life
that enables them to live
with joy, resolve and resiliency
amid the ebbs and flows 
of their outer life.

How many world-wide through all of time
have been that lucky,
and have known and benefited from
the inner peace, calm, balance, harmony
of a vital inner life?

How many live in the outer world
out of the vitality and vigor
of their inner life?

Returning regularly to the silence
in order to "recover from the past
and store up for the future" (Robert Ruark),
and do what needs to be done
amid the noise of the day-to-day? 

How many live daily out of the vibrant secret
of an adamantine foundation in their inner life?

And if we did not have that,
where would we go to find the way
of developing our capacity for it
and maintaining our connection with it
throughout the time left for living?

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