t seems that we often measure our journeys by two things, and two alone - these being by what we have lost, or that we 'survived'. They appear to be at two opposite poles and yet they are parts of the same...
When we lose something, an opportunity, a secure place, a cherished treasure, a person, or an ideal, we count the cost in high terms. The woe is great and the laments, loud and long inside us - our suffering foremost. All we feel is the loss. Something has been taken from us that we will never be the same without. It leaves us wading through a deep, yet finite universe of how we alone have been affected. It reminds us of the uncomfortable notion that nothing is constant but Change and that we are forever at its 'mercy' or lack thereof. Painfully noting that All is in a state of constant flux, we can lose our treasured inner bearings as well. Sometimes for a while and sometimes, sadly, for the remainder of our lives....
To survive the episodes in our lives can bring momentary feelings of triumph, but it can just as often be a begrudging affair as well. Within us, we can easily become jaded by the notion that having survived, a battle has been won, though not The War. We anticipate further confrontations. We become hardened warriors in a perceived constant struggle, never being able to rest. There is no joy in this, only fleeting satisfaction. There is no peace in this, only wariness. There is no Love in this....only a stance we create, fortifying our resolve that nothing shall ever be freely taken from us again. Therefore we do not give to Life, lest our offerings not be returned, and we hoard what is ours like a child who will not relinquish to anyone his favorite toy.
Here there is a third thing which we do not always measure, which we do not know to react to, which does not seem as apparent while we are consumed with loss and fleeting triumph. This Gift, which is often rebuked, is the learning that comes through our experiences. For when we have lost something, it begs us to continue searching for that which is truly constant within us. It is often called the Human Spirit. Through sorrow or joy, this Gift reminds us of the new plateaus and vistas presented for our view, even when weary. It reminds us that we are all fellow travelers, inviting us to comfort and camaraderie, and the sharing of our experiences as we give and gain. It shows us that mercy may not come in the form we have wished for, but which suits us best for our Highest Purpose.
It is that which inspires and encourages the petulant child to find his wings, instead of clutching at the chains he perceives as his security. It is not 'surviving'. It is Living........
