Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

I feel renewed from a Buddhist retreat I participated in this weekend, and also from seeing my husband sing in his chorus.  I am reminded of my vows, and my resolve to expand my compassion and love for all sentient beings.  I also am determined to look inside myself more deeply and discover the dark places which are inside all beings.  Finding my humanity, in fact.  Instead of judging others, I will feel their suffering.  When we are unaware, our own suffering touches others, and so I am struggling to be awake and aware with my words and deeds.  It might seem like the retreat and concert were opposites, but the chanting and singing we did in the retreat expanded into chorus and orchestra in the concert.  They sang pieces from Rachmonioff, and the passion and power of the music sent chills up and down my spine, especially the selections from "Romeo and Julliet".  It was as if the soul was singing.