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From all sentient angles 6/16/2008 4:39:34 AM
Life, in its ever changing facets, is constantly presenting us with situations we cannot control; death is one of them, as are many of those natural catastrophes that entail huge losses, even when they don’t cause any actual deaths. At times, we may feel overwhelmed by too many of such circumstances affecting us, and/or our loved ones, simultaneously – and feelings of helplessness, of despondency, may easily engulf us, or even drown us, irremediably… if we do not bring to mind and take advantage of yet one more of Life’s amazing presents to us: the power to control how we react to those circumstances we cannot control.
This may not work for all, as everyone is different, but I personally have been finding great strength in considering such circumstances from what I identify as all “sentient angles”, both the negative and the positive ones – and disregarding absolutely none of them. Allow me to share a couple of current illustrations of this:
My mother would have been 68 years old tomorrow, and I miss her terribly; some of the negative “sentient angles” of this, are a feeling of unfairness – because she was much too young, and enjoyed life so much, and still had so many projects, so many dreams to fulfill – and a deep sadness – because it is no longer possible to give her lots of hugs and kisses, not just while wishing her a Happy Birthday and going on to celebrating it together… but ever again. Now, for the positive angles: relatively short as it may have been, my mother’s life was a full, intense, vibrant one; she was a beautiful person, inside and out, and such beauty touched many people’s lives, in innumerable and marvelous ways; so, there is this luminous, warm feeling of gratitude and, yes, of pride and joy, for all this – and also for being her daughter, as well as for the privilege of having enjoyed her glorious presence for so many (even if it feels like they have been so few) years.
Joseph’s mother and one of his brothers are among the many affected by the unprecedented floods in the US Midwest. Located in the downtown area of the city of Cedar Rapids, and only a few yards from the river banks, their home of a lifetime, which they were forced to evacuate last Wednesday, during the night, taking only some very essential belongings with them, is still immersed in water almost up to the roof. Although it is still impossible to actually assess it, the damage to be expected may not be far, unfortunately, from total loss; and even if it were possible to forget, for just a little while, about all the material repercussions of this disaster, which, of course, it isn’t, the emotional weight of such a loss would still be - and is - in fact, and by itself, almost too great to bear. However, there are positive sentient angles, for which we are deeply thankful, to these seemingly all-negative circumstances: Our loved ones have not been hurt; they are safe, staying with loving relatives, and surrounded by all the support and affection of family and friends; and their determination to go forward, and rebuild even what seems now impossible, is quite extraordinary, indeed – and reminds us, really, of… the sunshine, bursting through the clouds, after the storm.
Yes, within all the “sentient angles”, the negative ones can be much too sharp, indeed, and give cause to a lot of pain, but to ignore them would be both futile and imprudent; yet, to consider them exclusively would leave us, and then yes, totally defeated. It is Life’s gift to us that we are able to consider, also, the positive angles; let’s take such gift, with gratitude, and “sow” it – Life will always return it, and thus it will grow, a thousand-fold… and so will we.
