refuge in what is

Life feels crooked
when we want it straight,
and empty
when we want it full.
We sometimes get what we desire.
We sometimes lose
that which is most precious to us.
The future cannot be predicted,
and therefore it frightens us.

Taking refuge in what is,
we find relief from all our struggle.
No longer demanding something different,
we find a simple peace within.
Not trying to control events,
we preserve our energy.
We are no longer in opposition to life
so our strength is fully available
and our spirit is capable of all that is needed.

- From, "The Caregiver's Tao Te Ching", by William and Nancy Martin