Of Home and Homecoming

Home- a word that brings up so many instant associations. For some, it is a symbol for feeling safe, being welcome, belonging, warm wholesome food, a place of familiar smells and sounds. For some others, it brings up the longing for a home that never was. Whether we actually lived in a nourishing home or not, we all carry within us an inner home, a personal refuge where we shape and reshape ourselves as we continually make sense of ourselves and the world. And there are times when this inner home does not feel like home.

There is a beautiful story narrated by the Sufi mystic, Rumi in his?Discourses?– A caravan was in search of water as it made its way in the desert. The travellers finally came to a well that was little more than a hole in the ground but had no bucket. So they tied a kettle to a rope and lowered it into the hole. They drew up the rope only to find there was no kettle. They lowered kettle after kettle into the hole, but each time??they had neither the water nor the kettle. In futility, they decided to lower men into the ground, but the men disappeared just as the kettles did. At last, a wise man in the group volunteered to go down in search of water.

When he reached the bottom of the hole, he was confronted by a demon. “I will never escape,” the man thought. “But at least let me keep my wits about me and not lose my senses, so I can see what is going to happen.” The demon told him, “ I will let you go if you can answer my question.” “Ask ,” said the man. “Where is the best place to be?” the demon asked. “I am a prisoner and helpless,” the man reflected, “If I say the name of some beautiful place, I might insult his home town.” Then he answered the demon,” The best place is wherever we feel at home, even if it’s a hole in the ground.” “Well said, well said,” cried the demon and said to him, “You are so wise that not only will I set you free but I will also free the other men on account of your blessing. From this time on, I’ll shed no more blood. I bestow this gift on all the people of the world out of love for you.” Then he gave the people of the caravan all the water they needed.?

This powerful little story can be reflected upon at many levels. What is most striking is the demon’s question and his reaction to the wise man’s answer. Sometimes we are unconsciously against a part of ourselves, while in our conscious minds we may be defending that aspect of ourselves. Perhaps the demon was unable to claim the hole in the ground as his home until he heard the response of the wise man. Embracing an invitation to integrate that wished away part can open the doors to hidden potential –??like the abundant generous nature the demon found within himself once he valued his choice. Returning to oneself is another kind of homecoming. It is said that one can embark on a very long journey when one is at home in oneself.

Today is Diwali when we celebrate the homecoming of Lord Rama to his kingdom, Ayodhya. What if we were to celebrate that journey metaphorically with an??internal homecoming by following this beautiful blessing written by John O’ Donohue:

May all that is unforgiven in you

Be released

May your fears yield

Their deepest tranquilities

May all that is unlived in you?

Blossom into a future

Graced with love.

Happy Diwali!