Privilege
We’re in a grand hotel in Budapest. Not the Grand Budapest Hotel, but it’s pretty nice.
They’ve a swimming pool and spa that we can use so we woke up early had a swim and a jacuzzi before breakfast.
The hotel serves Champagne with breakfast, which I couldn’t quite get my head around. Maybe we’ll try it on a day where neither Chiara or myself has any work scheduled.
Last night as we were walking around the area I saw a couple living on the streets. The woman was sitting on the sill of a low shop window and the man was moving around their possessions, a collection of plastic shopping bags. The way he faultered. Picking one up and then changing his mind and moving another. The futility you feel when you don’t know how to make things better.
It happened so fast, in the blink of an eye as we walked to our sumptuous hotel after dinner.
The only immediate thing, besides offering money, seems to pray for them. Ask on their behalf that help comes to them and they can have a safe comfortable place to build a life.
A long time ago I wouldn’t have thought prayer to be anything at all. Maybe at best some kind of well intended delusion.
I hope my prayers are answered.
And that when I can be of assistance I will have the courage and awareness to help. Whoever it is.
Both Chiara and me have our little moments where we feel a sense of shame enjoying such privilege. The hotel. Tonight a party at the home of Ivan Fischer.
Programming.
There’s a pigeon feather caught in a spiders web in front of me.
I’m sipping coffee by small garden near the Liszt building.
Back home there’s the same. Another pigeons feather caught in a spiders web by our front door.
I kept looking at the one at home, thinking it would be a good idea to clean it up and then forgetting. It’ll probably be there when we come home.
It doesn’t matter that we get caught in the spiders web of our mental and emotional conditioning.
It just matters that we learn and we grow and put into practice what the Saints and Masters teach.
As best we can.
Good stuff comes.
Give thanks.
The tough stuff comes, be kind, patient. Humble enough to ask for help. Feel what you’re feeling. It will pass. Just as the happy moment passes, so will the low.
There’s a group of young Americans sitting behind me. They’re getting to know each other. One asks “Are your parents still together?”
The other says yes.
“Great” says the first. The surprise makes their voice rise half an octave.
“Everyone in NewYork got divorced two years ago.”
Turns out all of their parents are still together.
Maybe it’s just to love humans however they show up.
Including ourselves.
Till tomorrow
Love
Mikey