How hard would it be to have faith that life was wonderful, even in the midst of challenges and those inevitable ‘dark nights of the soul’ if you knew that there were blessings and gifts with your name on them waiting for you?  On a daily basis, I encounter people who doubt that anything will improve in their lives, so fearful that they will be stuck in the muck forever; feeling like victims of God, their families, their jobs, their bodies.  Although I can’t recall ever believing I was a victim; even in the midst of the deaths of loved ones (husband in 1998, dad in 2008 and mom in 2010), loss of home in Hurricane Andrew in 1992, (same year as an ectopic pregnancy), health challenges last year, I have still lost myself in shadow. The thing is, on some level, I held on to a certainty that I would come out clearly on the other side of the chasm into the brilliant sunshine.

What kept me going in the midst of some confusing times?

1. I recalled what a friend has said numerous times- “Don’t judge your life by how you feel in this moment.” Everything is fleeting. Feelings change. In alignment with the Buddhist idea of impermanence:  Nothing lasts forever in the form it’s in.

2. Many Divine dialogs that have asked “Have I ever dropped you?”  “Has anything NOT worked out better than you, even with your vivid imagination, could have created alone?” Of course, I have had to smile and agree.

3. A team of ardent cheerleaders who have been with me throughout. Mostly yay-sayers. Very few naysayers.

4. Reminders of who I am when spiritual amnesia kicks in.

5. Counting and re-counting all of the blessings I have already received, so why should I questions that others are waiting in the wings?

Why should you?  Is your bowl big enough to receive them all?

Photo Credit:  http://www.shiftoftheages.com/watch-now