Things Don't Last

Today at 5:00 am, our oldest son, Rohan, came into our bedroom and threw up. Not the ideal way to get my day going and yet...

Although I don't enjoy these moments of life I've grown, and continue to grow, to embrace them.

A big reason for this is because I'm slowly realizing that things don't last. Much of suffering is caused by the belief that things should last. For instance, if I cling to the belief that my sleep shouldn't be interrupted or that my children shouldn't get sick, I've set myself up for suffering. Living a life with the belief that things should go smoothly all the time is like believing it should be summer all year long. When the first snow of winter hits we find it more difficult and colder than we would have if we embraced the reality that seasons always change.

Christ told us that life was not all smiles and happiness. That doesn't mean that we won't experience happiness, it just means that happiness is just a one of many experiences that we have here on earth. The irony is that when we live with the realization that we are allowed to experience everything we can have peace in the midst of everything.

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NLT)

What in your life do you believe you shouldn't be experiencing?

What do you think would change for you if you lived your life with the belief that things don't last, seasons come and go and that we are allowed to experience all aspects of life?

Peace to you.

Lazarus Encounters

The Lightest Touch

by David Whyte

Good poetry begins with the lightest touch,
a breeze arriving from nowhere,
a whispered healing arrival,
a word in your ear,
a settling into things,
then like a hand in the dark
it arrests the whole body,
steeling you for revelation.

In the silence that follows
a great line
you can feel Lazarus
deep inside
even the laziest, most deathly afraid
part of you,
lift up his hands and walk toward the light.
----


I think that’s what art does best; it connects to the Lazarus within us, calls us out of our hiding and ultimately leads us towards worship.

The arts play dirty. They don’t ask for permission to be invited into our hearts, they just enter. Whether it’s a movie, song, book or painting I’m often caught off guard when my heart is deeply impacted. This is a reality that I’m grateful for because all too often I work hard to keep my heart closed off from those tender, wounded places within.

May you find space for beauty, regardless of where it comes from and pay attention to the impact it has within your soul. Maybe you too will be caught off guard with your own Lazarus encounter.

Peace.

beginnings

reflections and conversations is a blog consisting of short reflections i've had throughout my life regarding life itself, the pursuit of wholeness and God. i hope that you find these thoughts encouraging and thought provoking.

also, i hope that these reflections spark conversations within yourself, others and God.

i'm honored that you've chosen to take a look at how i see life and i welcome your comments about my reflections and look forward to hearing your thoughts about life as well.

let the conversation begin.

blessings.

mark r. lafleur