The last few days I have been with several people who are dealing with some big things in their lives. Family issues, personal issues, mental health issues, relationship issues, job issues. There’s been a lot. For each of these individuals, I have thought about the flooded bench images from the last few posts. There’s something about this bench that keeps drawing me in because the shifts in how this bench (and the area around it) is seen is so much like life. The other day as I was walking on the non-flooded path above and rounded the corner from where the bench was, I looked down and saw just the tip of this bush poking up out of the flooding waters and a letter started to form in my heart.
Stream of conscious here (apologies, in advance). The first time I really registered this feeling of physically, mentally, spiritually being underwater was well on 40 years ago while I was a grad student. For the first time that I could remember, I was not prevailing. I was not winning the best in show, the highest grades, the most Girl Scout badges, etc. I was truly feeling out of my element. I remember the terror, the unfamiliarity of it all.
God must have been there for me, because I literally had no strength to fight. But. Life did go on; maybe I didn't prevail in all things, but I did get stronger.
I have a much more recent incident of this same feeling of paralysis, from a very bad fall with my forehead hitting the concrete, as I was walking the dogs in dusk. I wasn't paying attention, as the pack had increased by one in the last few days. I've been in recovery since then- since 11/27.
Your letter has lifted my spirits.
I am, once again, reminded that you cannot fight the currents and the cross-currents. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow, swim underwater for a bit, reach the River's Edge.
Thank you, Ed.
Stream of conscious here (apologies, in advance). The first time I really registered this feeling of physically, mentally, spiritually being underwater was well on 40 years ago while I was a grad student. For the first time that I could remember, I was not prevailing. I was not winning the best in show, the highest grades, the most Girl Scout badges, etc. I was truly feeling out of my element. I remember the terror, the unfamiliarity of it all.
God must have been there for me, because I literally had no strength to fight. But. Life did go on; maybe I didn't prevail in all things, but I did get stronger.
I have a much more recent incident of this same feeling of paralysis, from a very bad fall with my forehead hitting the concrete, as I was walking the dogs in dusk. I wasn't paying attention, as the pack had increased by one in the last few days. I've been in recovery since then- since 11/27.
Your letter has lifted my spirits.
I am, once again, reminded that you cannot fight the currents and the cross-currents. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow, swim underwater for a bit, reach the River's Edge.
I am grateful this spoke and I’m praying you are healing in body and in spirit
Perfect metaphor.
Thankyou.
You are welcome. Not alone.