Seven years ago today my son, Aidan, died. He was fourteen and his short and limited life continues to have profound effects on me, my family and people who have encountered him. A piece I wrote on the second anniversary of his passing tried to capture his presence:
We had to catch ourselves from characterizing him in terms of what he could not do, that list was so long. He could not stand, he could not walk, he could not see, he could not speak… But we came to understand the many things he could do through his mere presence. He could define our love. He could change our vision. He could inspire people around him to demonstrate their humanity. And he could make his father stronger.
He did make me stronger, in various ways. And I strive to hold on to that strength in his absence.
The Daodejing helps me in this regard, by reminding me of the utility of absence, its tangible effects. Here's passage 11 (Hinton):
Thirty spokes gathered at each hub:
absence makes the cart work.
A storage jar fashioned our of clay:
absence makes the jar work.
Door and windows cut in a house:
absence makes the house work.
Presence give things their value,
but absence makes them work.
The apparent emptiness is productive, it provides the essential complement to presence, without it existence would wither.
That is Aidan's continuing effect: he not only generates meaning in my life; he, in his absence, defines my presence.
This piece touched me deeply. Also the words from the ancient wise man provoked me into deep thought. Thank you.
Posted by: Bing | March 20, 2013 at 02:00 AM
I thought of your son when I saw this clip of the new pope blessing a man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ7N9lM1OMA
Posted by: Carl | March 21, 2013 at 03:01 AM