Against All Odds
Against All Odds
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. (Matthew 7:25 ESV)
When things seem to fall apart, they also fall forward. The present is a doorway to the next moment, but we must walk through the door. Mental strength is the courage to walk through a door, expecting joy and a new vista. Against all odds, life presents us with new awareness, believing in us and loving us into each new moment.
The foundation for change is the concept that everything is temporary, except for love. Nothing exists forever unless it is built on the principles of gratitude, awareness, loving-kindness, and a belief in peace of mind.
I had an affirming conversation with an elderly man in the supermarket recently. He was waiting in line at a counter to pick up the slices of cheese he had ordered. When he noticed my presence, he apologized, mentioning that he did not mean to get in front of me but was waiting for his cheese. I replied, "No problem," then asked, "How is your day so far?" His face lit up with a smile, and the wrinkles of experience crinkled around his eyes. His reply spoke volumes about the impermanence of life. “Any time I look back at the bed in the morning and see that I’m not in it, I am thankful." I understood. With a mindset of gratitude, life empowers us to survive another day, against all odds.
Nearly four years ago, I faced a life-threatening health challenge that required an eight-hour operation. When I lay in a hospital bed, a friendly nurse asked me if I had a goal to focus on in order to go home. I replied that I wanted to get home to my dog, Zoe, who was waiting for me. Thanks to excellent care, I left the hospital earlier than expected. I realized that focusing on another life, rather than dwelling on the negativity of my perceived reality, gave me the energy to survive and heal against the odds. Peace of mind and healing come from the willingness to envision a joyful future.
We have consistently defied the odds. Consider our circumstances at conception and birth; we survived the birthing process against all odds. Although infant mortality has always been a concern, the location of a birth impacts the live birth rate. While the maternal mortality rate rose slightly this year in the US, Southern Sudan still has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. Simply being alive is a testament to overcoming the odds.
When life seems uncertain and negativity surrounds us, we can recognize that life is here for us even in its unsteadiness. There is a constant call for us to move through the anxiety to the “table prepared for us in the presence of adversity.” With the blessings of continual breath, goodness, and unfailing Love and faith, we will find comfort.
Self-compassion positions us for the resilience required during challenging times. According to the famous Sufi mystic, Rumi, “You are searching the world for treasure, but the real treasure is yourself. Do not grieve. Anything you lose comes around in another form.” Anything temporary can leave us, but the Love holding us in a spiritual embrace assures us that we can not only survive but thrive. Against all odds, we have endured loss, disappointment, discounting, and disturbances.
Looking back, we might wonder how we made our way through the turmoil or fearful drama. But we did, against all odds. When life falls apart, it is not the end; it is the beginning of something new. Citing the miracle of an unfolding universe and changes, Thich Nhat Hanh said, “Yesterday was a cloud. Today it is my tea.” How we perceive our reality depends on our trust in what is present now, instead of what is not present.
Accept what is. Imagine being thrown into a river. If you resist and thrash around, you will drown. If you calm yourself, you will float, and the river will carry you. Life is like a river flowing freely; it cannot be controlled. Perhaps we believe there is a responsibility to act forcefully in the face of injustice, like stopping a waterfall as it cascades into a plunge pool over eroding rock. Loving what is can be a force for good. Much of what brings negativity and suffering stems from reaching for more of something, never feeling satisfied, or clinging to what we have and what others possess. Instead, we can tap into the flow of life with awareness that the journey is more important than where we land.
When we love what is, embracing all its gifts and opportunities, we choose wisely, practice mindfulness, and develop innovative ways to coexist with others. We begin with lovingkindness and curiosity about whatever we witness. We listen with our ears, but also with our hearts. We pay attention to our feelings and intuition. We experience events in our lives for a reason.
Everything we are or have been has prepared us to endure. We must hear the still, small voice that reassures us that even if we walk with trembling steps against all odds, Love will be with us, solid as a rock, unmoved and unwavering.
Peace and blessings,
Eleanor
