PEBBLE
Darkness deserves gratitude. It is the alleluia point at which we learn to understand that all growth does not take place in the sunlight.
~Sr. Joan Chittister, shared by Ann in Cleveland, OH via Cornerstone of Hope
BOULDER
To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
-Wendell Berry, shared by Terri in New Hampshire
PONDER
Last week we were discovering our light, so I thought this week we could get a little more comfortable with the darkness that is an inevitable part of a full life.
Just as darkness is part of the growth cycle of most living things, experiencing significant challenges is a difficult-yet-important part of being human. And while it makes sense that we’d take steps to avoid unneccesary amounts of hardship, we also don’t want to deny ourselves the growth opportunities that come along with facing the hard stuff that shows up on our doorstep.
Today’s quotes encourage us to resist the temptation to run away from, or hastily scurry through, the darkness. Instead, we can choose to stay present, to summon the necessary courage, strength, and wisdom to show up, experience it, and learn from it.
And just as Christopher Robin reminds Pooh during Winnie the Pooh’s Most Grand Adventure https://youtu.be/9tRepZdoRmY”You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
Peace,
Paul
P.S. If this issue resonates with you, it might also be helpful to peek back at Ripples #1082: Gifts of Adversity.
