I’m fine…

My dear friend and fellow artist Rhoda sent this to me as a text this evening after she was done teaching art. It was created by her 6th grade students at Propel School in their art program.

To me, this is a deeply profound piece of work. If given the time and ability to organize my thoughts properly, I could write a book on the implications of this piece. It really does remind me of lyrics from the song “The River of Dreams” by Billy Joel:

I know I’m searching for something
Something so undefined
That it can only be seen
By the eyes of the blind
In the middle of the night

If you listen with your ears to someone saying they are ok, then you might actually believe them when they say they are ok in response to your inquiry to how they are doing. BUT, if you listen with your soul, then you will know if they are truly ok, or if they are secretly begging for help inside. This is what Billy Joel is saying when he says “it can only be seen by the eyes of the blind, in the middle of the night.” I am so guilty of this. There are very few people who I will actually admit to when I am struggling inside and begging for help. This is especially true if someone asks me what is bothering me. My dad has told me so many times that I need to develop a thicker skin and stop being so sensitive to the world that I have learned to just keep things to myself instead of telling people how I really feel. As I said, if you merely listen to someone with your ears, you might actually believe them when you ask them if they are ok and they say they “are fine.” However, if you truly know the person, then you will be able to listen with your soul and know if the other person is actually in need.