A peace to reside

			My soul is lifted above the clouds -
			Given peace.
			A small thread remains
			Between it and my body -
			Through which slowly feeds the pain.
			I live in the physical world
			Unaware.
			My soul has retracted from that world,
			Drawing in all tendrils
			That usually invite others to interact.

			It means
			That although I am not present
			For others to see,
			I am working things through -
			Coping.
			The danger is that of the desire
			To sever that thread -
			For if I spend too long
			Away from the world
			Then I forget what joy it holds -
			I only remember the pain.
			I also forget 
			That peace does not exist
			Only up here.

			I return
			And I miss the relative solitude
			Of the place that I have left.
			Now
			I must let the peace that enfolds me
			Also flow out of me -
			Inviting others back.

			But what is the measure?
			What is the length of time
			That I should reside away from the earth for?
			At what point does it change from healing
			And become selfish?
			After how long 
			Do my relationships begin to suffer 
			From my absence?
			It is almost immediately -
			So my sojourns must be brief
			So that I may appreciate the love
			That God has given me
			Down here.