The Tao doesn’t take sides;
it gives birth to both good and evil.
The Master doesn’t take sides;
she welcomes both saints and sinners.

The Tao is like a bellows;
it is empty yet infinitely capable.
The more you use it, the more it produces;
the more you talk of it, the less you understand.

Hold on to the center.

—Verse 5

I look forward to discussing the words of the Tao te Ching with friends tomorrow evening.  The Tao (translated “way”) is an ancient text.  The collection of 81 verses is widely recognized as a treasure belonging to the most important of texts that we have from antiquity.  I’ve turned to the Tao te Ching many times over the years for solace, and a kind of therapeutic reminder of just how wide and deep is my membership with others and with the Earth.

Life is certainly a journey, but are we not already home?

This tune and lyric by Styx is ineffably congruent with the texture of the words of Lao Tsu, the Old Master..

Show Me The Way

Every night I say a prayer in the hope that there’s a heaven
But every day I’m more confused as the saints turn into sinners
All the heroes and legends I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay
And I feel this empty place inside, so afraid that I’ve lost my faith

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away
Please, show me the way

And as I slowly drift to sleep, for a moment dreams are sacred
I close my eyes and know there’s peace in a world so filled with hatred
Then I wake up each morning and turn on the news to find we’ve so far to go
And I keep on hoping for a sign, so afraid I just won’t know

Show me the way, show me the way
Bring me tonight to the mountain
And take my confusion away
And show me the way

And if I see your light, should I believe
Tell me how will I know

Show me the way, show me the way
Take me tonight to the river
And wash my illusions away

Show me the way, show me the way
Give me the strength and the courage
To believe that I’ll get there someday
And please show me the way

Every night I say a prayer in the hopes that there’s a heaven…