Persistence is the Way … (08/06/12)
“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.” ~ Carlos Castaneda
It is true that we are to avoid “pushing the river” … When our efforts to do a certain thing in a certain way (or be with a certain person in a certain way, or create a certain life in a certain way) cause us repeated experiences of pain and frustration, it IS wise to let them go and do something else (with someone else and with a different intention).
THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, we humans have an uncanny knack for quitting far too soon.
We “Love an enemy” once, and then shun them anew when they don’t respond with immediate Kindness.
We forgive one who has wronged us, but then turn from them when they choose not to accept the same.
We make ourselves vulnerable to another, only to close our Hearts the very next time we are hurt.
That is not how real LOVE works, my Friends.
For great change to come — both to us as well as to others nearby, we must PERSIST in LOVING … We can’t erase decades (if not eons) of fear with a few moments of bravery. Big Change just doesn’t happen right away …
And yet if you have the courage to calmly continue to swim in that river — even if the going is slow, you WILL get to Peace … you will become an agent of Change
Yes, I know, the water is freezing at first, and you will probably not be able to see the bottom. You might even struggle against the current and feel like you are going to drown …
AND YET, if you keep putting one arm in front of the other — if you remain calm and simply keep on Loving, you will find that you can swim quite well — you will find that, at least for those who have the guts to LOVE, it really does turn out OK.
So come on in, folks, the water really is fine!
“I am not what happens to me; I am what I choose to become.” ~ Carl Jung
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