A treasure hunt

Treasure is stored in the ruined places. Do not break the hearts of the poor and heartbroken people.

                              Rumi

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see that one over there?

the one we would describe a ruin of person

that one torn apart by alcohol

or drugs

high on anger

violent

that one

not so clean

a little ( or more than a little)

rough looking

that one who has lost his job

or is estranged from her family

in that one

a treasure lies

hidden perhaps beneath the rubble

but there,

infinitely precious

I can of course

judge this person,

I can reject

or shame

I can pile heartbreak on heartbreak

or I can see the hurt

the pain

the despair

I can feel it

and see that this is an precious, precious soul

and enter the desert of this pain and failure

not to correct

or teach

not even to liberate, to save

but to love

and in the love

create that space

where treasure can be found