We are like instruments.  I always read “instrument” in the St. Francis prayer as a musical instruments.  All musical instruments are hollow..  For the sound of an instrument to ring pure, it needs a hollow center, that allows the materials of the instrument to vibrate and resonate with the sound vibrations sent by string, breath, or percussion.

In the same way, we need an empty space at our own center to ring true to our unique sound, for our being to resonate with the breath of existence.  When empty we are free to give ourselves to the sound so that it reaches other’s ears.  We cannot vibrate with peace, or joy, if we are carrying around all sorts of things inside of us.  We will give a muffled sound or distorted at best, if we can produce a sound at all.

The question is how do we empty out?  We are so full thoughts, memories, beliefs, judgements and so on, occupying the space in us that is meant to be hollow.

I know I am not hollow because my body tells me.  It feels solid, constrained, and heavy with emotions.  When I am aware I am not hollow, I reach inside to take out whatever is there.  I reach a hand inside and feel and touch the things in the darkness, so that I hold them and recognize them.  There is not really another way, we need to hold something in order to release it.

The more we have the experience of hollowness the more we begin to recognize and truly appreciate who we are, how we sound, the beautiful instrument we are.


The more hollow we are, the more we can listen to sound of life, expressed through others and the world around us and understand how all of us fit in this greater harmony.