<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>A Circle</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span><br></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>There is something hopeful about a circle.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>It has no beginning and has no end.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>It keeps a balance,</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>a steady rhythm.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span><br></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>The roundness of a circle</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>offers comfort.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>It is not compressed or expanded;</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>equal on all sides.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span><br></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>Standing on the earth—</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>our mother circle—</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>we can’t see too far ahead,</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>or behind.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span><br></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>The sun—that bright globe</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>in the sky—gives us warmth.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>Its sister, the moon, unveils herself</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>waxing and waning, black and bright.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span><br></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>Circle making is a practice of Zen masters:</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>a telltale sign of centeredness.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>Try making one when you’re energized, tired</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>or sad—it speaks.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span><br></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>It is a vast space lacking nothing,</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>holding nothing in excess,</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>symbolizing enlightenment, </span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>oneness, simplicity, peace.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span><br></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>There is something hopeful</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>about a circle.</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>When you need it most—</span></font></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Helvetica"><span>it is there.</span></font></div><div><br></div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Sherrie Lovler</div></body></html>