“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” ~ Unknown
We fall down sometimes.
No matter how hard we try to stay on our feet, we can lose our
balance in an instant when we say the wrong thing; when we make the
wrong decision; or when we take a wrong turn.
One thing certain about our humanness is we are imperfect. It doesn’t
matter how many good things we do, it takes just one bad thing to cause
us to fall.
I made a mistake recently. An inappropriate comment has left me on
shaky ground. Searching for something to hold so I can get back on my
feet is hard to do when the undertow keeps trying to pull me under.
I close my eyes to look for the remedy that will help restore balance once again.
I look to the remedies that have enabled me to get back on my feet in
the past. I look to being contrite and humble. I look to addressing old
wounds to see how deep they really go. And I look to see if I have the
courage to tend to these wounds so the insecurities they ooze can be
healed once and for all.
But my natural tendency is to give medicine to everyone around me –
time, support, love, encouragement are dispensed in large doses and
without charge. When I return to the medicine cabinet to get a dose for
myself, the bottle is often empty.
With no remedy to sooth the open sores, I panic. This is when I most vulnerable to falling down.
Sometimes the simple path to finding your remedy begins with remembering to save some medicine for yourself.
So with coffee in hand and grace-filled music filling my mind, body
and spirit, I write this. The sun will not be up for another hour. I
made sure to wake early so I would have time to give some medicine to
myself.
Forgiveness has been given. Balance is returning. I’m ready to look
one layer deeper at what else needs some healing, too. I have the
feeling through this next round of personal exploration I’ll find a new
remedy that my soul has been expecting for a lifetime.
And when I find it, I’ll make sure to take the medicine exactly as prescribed.
