Dearest Readers,
I quit the blog a while back to work on a new play I’m writing called GITA: God in the Army and I’m pleased to announce that I have finished the first draft. I’ve applied for a grant to workshop the piece in the spring and I’ll be performing a reading of it at a festival in May so momentum is most definitely gathering. Stay tuned.
Yesterday I began to work on a new painting to give to a friend on her upcoming birthday and it’s been on my mind a lot since I put the brushes down. I often work from photographs I’ve taken and this one in particular is a close-up on a dark cloud with a luminous gold lining. I thought painting it would be a breeze.
Not. Lemme tellya something: Clouds are not easy to paint!
Because the cloud turned out to be more of an impression I’m thinking of adding some writing to the painting. Distract the viewer from the fact that the puffy puffs are a bit of a dog’s breakfast. I’m going to add, “every cloud has a” and then let the eye wander over to the edges of light.
Those four little words have been running through my brain for the last 24 hours and so naturally I’ve found myself meditating on the entire proverb as well. “Every cloud has a silver lining.” Does it really?
It does if we choose to see it. That’s the challenge we face as humans. Are we willing to see the good? Are we willing to find meaning in difficult circumstances? Are we willing to look beyond the darkness to where there are edges of light?
It’s a choice. We don’t have to do anything. We can choose to see only hopelessness and futility if we like. And many of us do. Choosing the Light is diligent work. Maybe not for all of us. I’m always amazed when I meet people for whom joy is innate. But for me the conscious effort to see the positive and to find meaning in the day is just that. Conscious. Effort.
It takes a certain amount of energy, commitment and determination to do this each day and you know what? I’m up for it. Because I’ve seen the proof written in the sky.
Inspiring Message of the Day: I will make the effort to see the good in the bad, the beautiful in the ugly, the light in the dark. I will make meaning out of whatever I am given because there is always light behind the clouds.
I’m so glad you find comfort in these posts, Lisanna. It means so much to me, it really does. Making a connection with one another. This is one of the greatest reasons why we’re here.
Celia, I find these words incredibly comforting. I’m so grateful to you for continuing to share your wisdom.
I hear you, Fawn. I think there is a distinction between “everything happens for a reason” and seeing the good. For example, you mention your thankfulness and your gratitude and your other profound responses to epilepsy. This doesn’t put epilepsy in that “gift” category, which can be annoying for people who experience the pain of an illness, rather it affirms the triumph of the human spirit and how we can still find strength and courage despite our hardships. Thanks for sharing.
Happy to see a post again! Congratulations on the completed draft – whew!
I’d say that it not only takes a certain amount of energy etc. to look for the good each day, but certain days or certain events take way more effort. Sometimes it’s not about dwelling on futility, but acknowledging just how bad things are. And sometimes it seems that a particular cloud doesn’t have a silver lining, but the peripheral ones do.
I’m thinking of when Jade started having seizures and they continued to get worse and worse until she was an overmedicated and drooling zombie who could only be propped up on the couch. I still don’t see the good in that, honestly. I am thankful that my marriage has proven to be strong, grateful for the support of friends and our fabulous community, glad for some of the new friends we have made, proud that I’ve been able to survive and thrive, and amazed that we have found a way to bring our daughter back from the brink of destruction. I know that dark time has shaped me and continues to do so. But I still can’t say that I see much good in epilepsy.
But perhaps I am overanalyzing. (As usual.) Or possibly still somewhat traumatized.
Always happy to read!