“All the world is a narrow bridge. The goal is not to fear at all.” –Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
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really?
not to fear at all?
what if the goal were “to fear less?”
for we know how fear has spread over you, dear one,
like a thousand bittersweet vines,
twining, tightening through your branches,
quickening your breathing,
quivering the corners of your mouth,
until the thick canopy conceals where you end
and fear begins.
o, dear one, what effort it must require of you,
what courage,
to walk even one small step along that narrow bridge.
would it help you to know that no matter how narrow—
even when life feels no wider than the sharp edge of a razor—
still there is room enough for us to stand on either side of you,
in step with you,
the weight of your arms,
the salt of your tears,
upon our shoulders?
o, dear one,
would it help you to uncoil even the thinnest vine of your fear,
to release even the barest exhale,
to know that we are your ancestors?
and we will walk with you across your narrow bridge
and we will hold steadfast, even during the most fearful, panic-stricken moments
and we will whisper in your ear, gentle as a thousand summer tides:
“it’s ok. you got this.”
