A friend held a ceremonial bowl in one hand and a drumstick in the other.

"The sound is already there, but you cannot hear it. By striking the bowl it becomes finite, and you are aware of the sound." With that he struck the bowl and its mellow ring filled the room. I say "its", but is the sound a child of the bowl, or the stick, or the air, or our ears?

"The infinite Divine is already present, but it is through the process of becoming finite, that you can experience it. That finite manifestation of God is all around you, in other people."

We are engaged in the act of becoming. The potential for compassion, generosity, and forgiveness are poised within us, like the drumstick suspended inches away from the bowl. 

Each of us are completely surrounded by air, but we cannot see it. Then when we consciously, or unconsciously breathe it in, it transforms us. All life depends on taking in what is both invisible and available. 

There are stories of people who for a wink of time were able to hear spiritual music. They describe it as... indescribable. 

It will be a blessing to hear the sounds of everyone around me, resonating with the joy of being struck. 

But in the meantime I can busy myself with being pounded, and translating that pain into a song whose words are mercy.