I rarely comment on other blogs, but this is one that I peek in on from time to time and have been so impressed with the honesty and vulnerability of such a young woman going through a devestating illness. In living colours Kacee talks about the pain of her father not being able to give her what she needs - simple love and acceptance.

Such powerful and profound feelings - such a resonnance with my own troubled relationship with my father - such a feeling of fury at a man who is so self indulgent in his own fears and pain that he can't pull together the strength to be there for his own daughter. Wondering if he has any idea how painful it is for her to feel rejected.

Yet, the realization too, that his pain is very real - it's hard to imagine the inner wounds that someone has suffered that would lead them to have no other recourse but to run away from the people they love. I know deep within my heart that Kacee's father loves her, just as I know that my father loved me, but that they just don't understand and are doing the best they can.

More important than understanding or finding some rationalization, though, is keeping that "tension" between the opposites - knowing that in those men is Buddha nature - yet, doubting that this could be so, given their behavior. Not explaining it away - not softening the hurt with platitudes. Keeping that "tension" of bring the truth to consciousness. Seeing the inter-being for what it is - and having compassion flow naturally from the heart.

We all deserve such compassion - yet we're so hard on ourselves and each other.