Confronted with loss of human life, livelihood, personal property and the possibility of loss of identity, human beings have the capacity for remarkable courage, spirit and grace. Often I think of freedom fighters such as Nelson Mandela who said that despite all he endured, the one thing his jailers could not take from his was his human dignity and spirit.
When nature threatens to overcome us, when life turns unexpectedly sour, when we lose relationships or when we feel threatened and unsafe; when all that we have known and loved and possibly taken for granted, is stripped wholly from us, we have an opportunity. After the initial shock, sometimes we see that we can respond in a whole manner of ways.
For those that are blessed enough to see in the midst of death, darkness and despair, a potential for life, light and hope, they can find their lives changed indelibly forever. No longer content with superficial living, they commit to seeking what is truly valuable to confront in a personal and potentially life-changing way, the eternal questions of the true meaning of life: Who am I? What does my life mean? What am I here for? For those that cannot see any way to endure let alone grow, there is the possibility of trust.
When all ahead only looks grim and grey and when all hope seems to be lost, human beings have a capacity for trust: trust in the divine, in the life-giving force, in spirit. It is the ability to open up to spirit which seems like a complete grace that offers millions of tiny everyday miracles and turns even the most difficult experiences into opportunities for growth and regeneration. Wherever there is life, there is death; and nature has seen this vast land of ours confronted with floods, fires and droughts, and still the human spirit survives and sometimes, thrives.
© Margie Ulbrick, Counsellor
If you would like some support with your relationships or creating greater happiness in your life, please contact me on 0403 814 477 for a free 10-minute consultation to discuss your needs.
