Pain is often viewed as an unexpected and unwanted guest. We are unprepared for arrival, unsure of ourselves during the visit, and wondering when it will end. Rather than willingly accepting the inevitable once this guest has entered our house, we get steeped in the thought that what is happening in our house is wrong, so we send the guests away before we get to know them. We never allow ourselves to be open to the gifts they may come bearing. Just get them out of my house. Out of sight, out of mind. Or are they?
It seems that our guests have left some things behind. Now, even though they are gone, we are left to deal with the aftermath. What in the world is all this stuff? Why do I have to deal with it? I don't have time for this! It's not fair...etc. etc. etc. So, what do I do now? Clearly, this is my responsibility now. I cannot leave it unattended. I now, seemingly by default, must carry this with me wherever I go. That way, at least I stand a chance of sorting through it all and letting it go.
Here's where it gets interesting...
What happens if you put all of this "stuff", this pain, in a backpack?
You have quite literally taken it upon your shoulders to lug around, but at least you are attempting to deal with it by putting it behind you. You carry the weight of it rather easily at first. This makes you feel strong and proud. But, you notice that after time, it begins to weigh you down. The extra weight makes it difficult for you to get around and to do what needs to get done. Perhaps if you were stronger it would help, so you make attempts at building your muscles. This does help, but you realize that in the process, you allowed yourself to take on even more weight. Again, you can handle it. Again, you just need to continue to get stronger and stronger and to be able to bear more and more weight as time goes on. In addition, you begin to realize that perhaps your greatest challenge is maintaining your balance with this ever-increasing load. But that's ok. What choice do you have but to learn how to balance it all and still function? Some day, when you're not so busy, you will sort through it all, but not today. Today you just need to keep moving.
What would happen if you chose instead to put all of the same stuff, AKA "pain," in a basket?
Here you are with all this unwanted stuff to lug around. Oh well, how about finding a beautiful basket to put it all in? At first, you carry the basket with you wherever you go. You just don't know what to do with it all, but it is right there in front of you. Each time you pick it up by the handles, you can see at least some of what is in there. This allows you to literally "handle" its contents. Although the contents are indeed heavy, you realize that you can set it down. You also learn very quickly that if you do not choose to set it down, your shoulders round, your head is drawn forward, and your heart is closed but not really protected by the contents of the basket before you. Although you are busy, when you have the time, you choose to spend it looking through the basket to determine what to do with the contents. Some of what is in there you simply inherited from someone else and it has no value to you at this time. You remove it from the basket. Clearly this is not something that you would choose to continue to carry. Some of it, you realize, is not useful to anyone, and you choose to get rid of it. The basket continues to get lighter each time you set it down and sort through the contents. When you finally reach the bottom of the basket, or perhaps well before you get there, you find the unexpected treasure - the "gift in the garbage" as it has been called. You feel blessed that you had the opportunity to carry this basket on your journey, in spite of the temporary discomfort it may have caused you. You are grateful for what you have been given. You leave the rest of it behind.
In this lifetime, we all face a certain degree of pain. It is part of our earthly existence. Rather than carrying it like a backpack that weighs you down for the rest of journey, place it in a beautiful basket that you can sort through with full awareness and at your own pace. You too will be blessed with gems of compassion or wisdom or whatever your soul needs to find. You too will be able to lighten your load, live with grace, and move forward into the life that is your potential to lead. Don't get bogged down by pain. Carry, sort, and discover the treasure. Repeat as often as necessary. Joy awaits.
As always, I trust that these words will find their way to the right people, at the perfect time, and have the intended impact on the lives and hearts of my readers for the best and Highest Good.
With Blessings, Love and Light,
Nurture U
