We skipped Ash Wednesday. Literally, it disappeared sometime over the international dateline, while I was contorting my body into my mininscual coach seat to attempt sleep. We left Seattle on Fat Tuesday, and then arrived into Australia on a Thursday morning.

I did not purposefully plan this trip to cover the whole of Lent, but it does feel like a good idea to adopt a practice of some sort to honor the meditative rhythm of this journey. My challenge from Andy to do something creative - like painting, drawing, writing, poetry, photography - all practices which seem like a good place to start. Today, I drew a picture on my ipad that looks a bit like something I would have done in 3rd grade. Judgment aside, I find that just a few moments of playing around with colors and shapes loosens something in my brain. A much needed loosening after 20 hours of traveling and jet lag. I will commit to do something creative every day.

On that note, a favorite Hafiz poem of mine for creative inspiration (from The Gift, Daniel Landinsky translation)

The

Difference

Between

A good artist

And a great one

Is:

The Novice

Will often lay down his tool

or brush

Then pick up an invisible club

On the mind's table

And helplessly smash the easels and

Jade

Whereas the vintage man

no longer hurts himself or anyone

And keeps on sculpting

Light.

And now, real sleep. Goodnight.