impossible things

one of my favourite lines from through the looking glass is the white queen's - "why, sometimes i've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." just prior to that pronouncement she had been chiding alice for proclaiming that one can't believe impossible things with: "'i daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the queen. 'when i was your age, i always did it for half-an-hour a day.'" it was children's day on tuesday, and i found myself in a conversation about the buoyant nature of a child's spirit. and how we ought to hold onto that as adults. i couldn't help but think as i listened that the buoyant spirit of my childhood is still fairly close to the surface. i am thankful for that undercurrent of joy and silliness. and glad i don't take myself too seriously even as an adult. and then i recalled alice and the scene with the white queen,* and realized that i still have a lot of practice believing in impossible things. in fact, i may have believed at least three impossible things before breakfast this morning. it really improved the walk to the bus.

curiously, things are not crazy at work this week. or next. in fact, these might be the quietest two weeks i've experienced. it's a little unsettling. and has me magical thinking, believing the impossible, and over-thinking. if only i could make a career of that. actually, to be fair, i am keeping myself otherwise occupied. as per usual, however, once i have a little bit of time to devote to my myriad ideas for side projects / creative endeavours, i get caught at the outset, unsure which to pursue. the trick of course, is just to pursue. kind of like faith. we can spend far too much time strutting and fretting about finding or choosing a spiritual path or a faith. really, it's not the form so much as the substance that matters. a thought i collected somewhere on this:

listen to jesus and to buddha and to mohamed, but do not get caught up in the names. listen to god's breath.

i recognise that many would not agree with me on this point. the main reason we humans seem to murder or abuse each other has to do with disagreements about faith. clearly no one involved in such conflicts is listening to god's breath. speaking of which, i was awoken the other night by an amazing thunderstorm. it was simply radiant. all sound and fury, wind and love, lightning and hope, branches thrashing, rain falling, hearts dancing. i opened my curtains and turned off the air filter just to allow it to wash over me in my bed and listen more closely. (i of course contemplated running out to dance in the downpour, but reason conquered passion and i appreciated it from under the covers.)

and with that, i shall delay no further, keep listening, believing impossible things, and pursue.

*incidentally, this is also the scene where, shortly after this exchange, the white queen turns into a sheep. i wonder how much time sheep spend believing impossible things.