Author Archives: Patrick Cole

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About Patrick Cole

Husband, parent and writer. Sharing stories with a little humor and wisdom along the way.

The Tears of Things

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I’m feeling sad today – how ’bout you?

Richard Rohr, in his book published last year (see book cover below), says it so well:

“There is an inherent sadness and tragedy in almost all situations: in our relationships, our mistakes, our failures large and small, and even our victories. We must develop a very real empathy for this reality, knowing that we cannot fully fix things, entirely change them, or make them to our liking …. all things have tears and all things deserve tears.” p.4 of The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr (c) 2025.

The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage: Rohr, Richard: 9780593735817: Amazon.com: Books

Fortunately, I’m also recalling the Buddha’s metta (loving-kindness) prayer: “May we be happy … may we be well … may we be safe … may we live with ease.”

Now if I can only hold the feelings of sadness and loving-kindness simultaneously. How ’bout you?

Picture taken by author at Magnolia Grove Monastery in Batesville, MS

Pain Management & Mindfulness

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A couple of years ago, I became deaf in one ear. It was bizarre and lasted for six weeks before improvement began. With the help of modern medicine and mindfulness I fully regained my hearing.

The procedure that led to improvement involved shots into my ear which required me not to twitch or move in any way as the needle was inserted. I did not look forward to the weekly shots, but I knew I needed to endure them in order to have any hope of my hearing returning to normal.

I share this, fortunately temporary, condition because mindfulness helped me enter the doctor’s office and accept the procedure that was coming. Through breath awareness and recalling the Five Remembrances, I was able to still my body and accept the medical procedure.

Below is a link to Lynn J Kelly’s blog where she shares what she has learned about pain management and mindfulness. I think you’ll find it interesting.

Transforming Pain

Walking Meditation ala Thich Nhat Hanh

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Lynn J Kelly shares her appreciation for mindful walking and the guidance offered by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in her blog post linked below. I have also found this practice especially helpful in times of high stress or overwhelming feelings. Moving slowly can be especially calming when your body needs to “walk off” whatever pain is being experienced in the moment.

May we walk mindfully for ourselves and for those who are not able to walk at this time.

Mindful Walking

Be Right or Be in Relationship?

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Some marriage counselors like to ask their clients, “Do you want to be right or in relationship?” This Socratic method approach suggests that “being right” may be more difficult and lonelier than you might initially think. In addition, being in relationship may not always include being “right.”

Below are two references that have crossed my desk today. The first is a is a Tricycle article on Zen Ethics which includes a second reference, the poem, “A Place Where We Are Right,” by the Israeli poet Yehudi Amichai.

May you find one or more of these words of wisdom helpful in your daily discernment.

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An Ear to the Ground

“A Place Where We Are Right,” a poem by the Israeli poet Yehudi Amichai, shows this consequence perfectly:

From the place where we are right
Flowers will never grow
In the spring.

The place where we are right
Is hard and trampled
Like a yard.

But doubts and loves
Dig up the world
Like a mole, a plow.

And a whisper will be heard in the place
Where the ruined
House once stood.

(from The Selected Poetry of Yehudi Amichai, translation by Chana Bloch and Stephen Mitchell, University of California Press, 1996, used with permission of the translators)