Good Night

Dear Son,

I just got home from my class, the same class that you used to tag along with me to. The ladies would spoil you and you would usually end up asleep in my lap. I told them about this blog and they all seemed to think it was a good idea. After all they all know you and miss you as well. Because of you they got to see the human side of me. They saw me cry over you and fight for you, then they saw me try to cope with out you in my life. They witnessed the pain turn to understanding then eventually into an even greater awareness of my universe and my place within it.

I'm telling you all this because I think its important to know how much one life can impact all others. All of them, every single one of them was influenced by you. Your smile your natural Buddha like nature, your youth. They were also inspired by our life together as well as our life apart. This shows that one life, no matter how unimportant it may seem, has a lasting impact on all that it touches. It is up to us to decide what that impact will be. We can either cause great pain or foster great compassion. Most people sit somewhere in the middle thinking nothing of it. Leaving their memory in the hands of what fate has throne them. The truly great people of our time are remembered for the conscious choice to cause harm or compassion.

I decided long ago to try to live a life of compassion and try to heal as much suffering as I could. This is by no means an easy thing. I feel that if I make it through the rest of my life causing more help than harm than I have done a great job. It has made me a much more peaceful person just trying.

Just remember son, that suffering causes suffering. People hurt one another out of there own need to avoid their own suffering. So if someone hurts you, try to look at the suffering that is at the heart of it. Avoid the instinct to lash back and in this way little by little, Buddha by Buddha we will begin to chip away at the huge mountain that is the human tragedy. When suffering yourself, think of it as a great teacher and ask it what it has to teach you. Sounds crazy, but I have found many angels among the demons in my life. If nothing else if we are dwelling on learning from our suffering we are not using it to hurt others.

Good night buddy. I love you.

Caleb Storms