On Not Being Swayed by Joy or Sorrow

Hello, dear Reflections friends, I hope this post finds you well — in thought, in spirit, or simply in quiet presence.

While reading @livingword’s post “Life Doesn’t Wait For Us To Be Happy,” I was reminded of a cherished passage by Kahlil Gibran that I had once saved on my blog. I think it was this part of the post that stirred the memory:

“I have experienced a good life. And I enjoyed it. I have also been through a not-so-good life, and I lived. I've also been through hell, and thank God, I didn't get burnt — to ashes, I mean.”

To me, Gibran speaks of how joy and sorrow are ultimately inseparable in our lives. And perhaps that’s why we don’t need to be swayed too much by either — no need to be overly elated or overly disheartened. In response to @livingword’s reflections, I’d like to revisit Kahlil Gibran’s On Joy and Sorrow once more — along with my Korean translation.

On Joy and Sorrow

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

• 기쁨과 슬픔

기쁨이란 슬픔의 또 다른 모습, 웃음 번지던 바로 그 눈가에 때로는 눈물이 맺히지 않나요.

슬픔이 속 깊이 파고들수록 그대 기쁨은 더더욱 커질 겁니다. 그럴 수밖에 없는걸요.

지금 술을 담고 있는 예쁜 이 잔도 도공의 불가마에서 타들어 가는 열기로 만들어졌잖아요.

상처받은 영혼을 아름다운 선율로  어루만지는 저 피리 구멍들도 나뭇가지에 칼로 낸 자국이잖아요.

기쁨으로 가득 찰 때, 가슴 깊이 들여다보세요. 지금 기쁨 안기는 그것이 예전에 당신을 슬프게 했던  바로 그것이니까요.

슬픔에 잠길 때, 그 속을 다시 가만히 들여다보세요. 예전에 기쁨이었던 것들이 지금은 울고 있잖아요.