It may be that...

Reflection by Kristine Mackenzie-Janson

Photo by Bryan Dickerson on Unsplash

I deeply appreciate the ambiguity and seeming contradictions in Wendell Berry’s poem, “The Real Work.” The first few words already make my heart glad: “it may be that…” Lately, I’ve been reading more newspapers than normal, and I’m noticing how many harsh opinions are bandied about on a daily basis. I know all too well from my own experience how easy it is to seek refuge in so-called definite truths.

What if most things are a whole lot more tentative, circumstantial, and ambiguous than we would like them to be? What if we could meet the world with a bit more humility and courage? What if, instead of pontificating opinions as The Truth, we start the conversation with “it may be that…”?

To me, this poem is honoring things not being clear cut, that there’s richness in the truth of not-knowing. That there may be another way of knowing, beyond the virtual reality in my head, a heart or gut sense of direction rather than destination. Does water know where it’s going? Yes: down – but how it will get there is a live mystery and moment-by-moment unfolding.

I’ve often heard my Buddhist teachers say that “obstacles are the path,” which is encouraging to remember when despairing over obstacles seemingly in the way. But I love how the poet’s version takes it a step further: “the impeded stream is the one that sings…” – not just grinning and bearing, or resigning that obstacles are part of the journey, no, they create song, in other words, beauty and joy! Hallelujah…¹

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Kristine Mackenzie-Janson

I have been practicing Tibetan Buddhism since 2000, and learned much during the four years I spent working and meditating on Holy Isle. I have been teaching mindfulness and compassion through the Mindfulness Association since its early days, including on the MSc in Mindfulness Studies with the University of Aberdeen, and love facilitating the Work That Reconnects. I also relish offering retreats, supervision and one-to-one mindful mentoring through Earthy Mindfulness.

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What’s Your Story?

I stumbled on Kristine Mackenzie-Janson’s blog post on Wendell Berry’s “The Real Work,” right after I tripped over Judy Sorum Brown’s post on the same poem, reprinted as Being Baffled on my Substack. That’s what happens when you go down rabbit holes, you trip, you stumble and often come up with treasures you wouldn’t have discovered any other way. Though often lambasted as a waste of time, I find that rabbit holes not only provide serendipitous bits of gold, but they also give my mind a break from the more predictable pathways I might have chosen and offer moments of wonder and delight.

So, it was with Judy and Kristine’s blog posts about Wendell Berry’s poem. Though just six lines long, Berry packed in enough meaning for these two and many more reflections. Not that it’s a dense poem that needs to be picked apart, but like many good poems, it has something to say to each of us. And we are richer for hearing about each other’s discoveries and reflecting on our own. By sharing them, we learn something about Judy, about Kristine, and about ourselves. Finding what we have in common or gaining some understanding about how we differ and why - we can begin to build bridges across our divides.

Consider writing and sending in your own reflection on Berry’s poem. Or at least give it a read, at 6 lines, it won’t take you long. But watch out, you may be forever changed by what you find there. Who knows, you may discover The Real Work² that is yours to do.

How to get started on your reflection? Click on the button below for guidelines and next steps. Questions? Feel free to email mscribner.buildingbridgeswbw@gmail.com. I look forward to working with you to post your reflection.

1. Adapted from Kristine Mackenzie-Janson’s “Words of Wonder” post on the Mindfulness Association website.

2. I don’t have permission to post Berry’s entire poem. Standard practice is that you can post a line or two without permission and include the link to the poem - which I have done. Interestingly, the poem is posted on many sites, under “The Real Work” and “Our Real Work.” I believe that “The Real Work” is the accurate title, though “our real work” is the wording in the second line of the poem. I’m going to purchase Berry’s essay book, Standing by Words, where this poem appears and find out which is correct and will note it in an updated version of this post. I’m delighted to do this research, as the book looks to be another wonderful rabbit hole to explore!