Crystal Turtle, a Gift

...where god lives

I am standing outside a Chinese restaurant

beneath a striped awning

I am speaking with an older Asian woman

She says, “Look. Here. Look!” and she opens her palms

revealing beautiful crystal turtles

They are treasures!

I make sounds of deep approval and awe

“Here,” she tells me

and places one in the palm of my hand

I take the turtle and go home

only to realize that I have accidentally thrown it in the trash!

I reach into the trash can and fish it out

I am relieved:

it’s still beautiful and unharmed

Here is the treasure I have been gifted with

I treasure it and then I trash it

The tension of these opposing sides of me:

I am wonderful and I am garbage

I have a gift

I throw my gift away, or think it should be thrown away

only to reclaim my gift and smile

And then, after balance, more danger; after danger, more balance

Learn this: hold the tension of the opposites

This

This is where god lives