Last week like most weeks was filled with a variety of moments from those filled with grace to those filled with struggle. The struggles made me look harder at my life and led me to make some good change. The moments of grace make me want to repeat that action in positive, meaningful ways.
Moments of Grace
Moments of grace are moments when you are tightly connected to the good the world has to offer--your action during moments of grace seems just-right. These are the beautiful moments in life you want to repeat. Moments of grace this week included the following:
- A once somewhat narrow-minded man in my midst gave a humane, deep commentary on what it must be like to want to change genders. This man said, "Imagine what it must have been like for people living in a gender that did not feel natural for them before this was acceptable." His words represented great learning and a changed mindset. Powerful.
- I stood in front of a hospital and observed the many people from all walks of life there. Many of the people were clearly struggling with ailments and all were receiving good care.
- I watched a young woman enthusiastically help an older woman.
- I saw many families wholly invested in their children's joy at the beach.
- I enjoyed a beautiful public beach open to all people--it was clean, welcoming, and accessible.
- The beautiful sounds, smells, and sights in the natural world around me.
- The warmth of loving, kind, supportive, grateful relationships.
I want to focus more on these moments of grace in my life and work to repeat moments like this as much as possible.
Moments of struggle
The moments of struggle were tough teachers for me this week. First, recognizing that a paradigm I have always loved has become dilapidated and worn. There will be less pain now that I've recognized this and begin replacing that paradigm with something better.
Another struggle I am facing is that I'm trying to reach a tough objective which means casting a lot of old habits and ways aside. It is a matter or unlearning or learning anew which takes considerable effort and is filled with moments of unexpected consequences. It's like water skiing for the first time--there are moments of great exhilaration, some nasty falls, the need to stretch, a changing landscape, and lots of sore muscles and exhaustion after each time on this waterway of change.
And, the struggle to understand a few precarious, puzzling situations. I want to understand these situations well so that I can engage with these situations in ways that are positive rather than ways that create more struggle. I've been reading a lot about these situations to gain perspective. Now it's time to step back, observe more, listen, and continue to research. In time, I may gain better perspective.
Life is always filled with moments of grace and moments of struggle--that is the landscape of life. There are mountain vistas (grace), valleys (struggles), and a number of platueas and rolling hills too. Navigating life with a positive mindset, lots of love, respect/empathy/compassion for others, and a will to do the best that you can is the way to go. Onward.