the armband has become nearly ubiquitous. a bright yellow circle of promise, with the words "LIVE STRONG" lightly etched into the side. in a way, it's a challenge; the words exhort us to live hard, live well, live with strength and dignity.
great goals to be sure. but what about depth? the words say "live strong," but it says nothing about living deeply, in and beyond the moment. it's fine to rush along on top of the waves of today, but if that's all you do for the rest of your life, can you really say that you've lived life to the fullest? for living to the fullest does not only imply breadth but also depth.
how many of us live deep? have you explored not only the shores of emotion but also the abyss of the soul? have you dared to sit in the solitude of your thoughts and face whatever may come? have you lived not only in the moment but also beyond the moment, with body, mind, and soul? can you say that you grasp the depth of Humanity's nobility, treachery, virtue, and fury, and have seen the same in the dark corners of your soul?
but such is the human condition; to fear what is unknown, to seek the comfortable, and to build a fortress of security around what little we have. let us dare to wade out until we are in over our heads, and when we are there, to find that we are human.
