Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Problem of Pain

Yes, I know the title to this post is the title of a beloved book written by one of my personal heros C.S. Lewis, but there really is a problem to pain.

During a discussion someone once posed this question that went something like "Is happiness the natural state for a mankind?" I sat there in a stupor. My first reaction was "Of course, almost everything pursued in life is with the desire for happiness," but then I thought for a minute. The person who posed the question went on to describe just how many things are painful in life, from physical pain to the mental, emotional and spiritual elements. I realized then what I had been dreading: Pain is unavoidable. Pain is the price for living. To go through life without pain is a life that never had any substance, that never loved or cared. And in the midst of all these thoughts, another came to me "Why do I spend so much time fighting pain? If it's here to stay, what am I to do? Have I lost the battle?" but then I realized "Fighting pain is a lot more painful than just accepting pain."

"Much of your pain is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self." Kahlil Gibran

I stood in the dark and let myself feel darkness
I stood in the sun and let myself feel alive
I stood in front of you and let myself be there with you
And you said it was good to have you back
I replied "It is good to be back, I missed this"
We walked and never spoke much of the fire
because we both knew we had a sound understanding of each other
There were better things to discuss than trials and tribulations
We had the future to think about

"I was made for sunny days. I made do with grey, but I didn't stay. I was made for sunny days and I was made for you"- The Weepies

I think that there really isn't a problem of pain, pain is part of life and it is something worthwhile. The lessons are never in the reward. They are along the road, the road is the real treasure or better yet, the fellow travelers. Pain is there, but it isn't an enemy, it's just a part of life. And in the end, joy is just pain that has bloomed. And we will see everything for what it really is. Pain always comes into our life, but it never stays unless we ask it too, and too often pain is wanting to part ways with the soul but we afraid what we will do without it. We ask it too stay, often times much longer than it wants too. Sometimes we just need to keep traveling, for we will cross paths with pain many times along the way, but we were never meant to have it as our companion.

"There will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears. And love will not break your heart but dismiss your fears. Get over your hill and see what you find there, with grace in your heart and flowers in your hair."- Mumford & Sons

It's good to know that hard times are gonna come, but so are good times. And with every hard time, the good times only get richer.

Living,

A postcard from a traveler (who crosses the path of pain here and there, but keeps moving)

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

I'm doin alright...

"I'm writing the folks back home to tell them 'Hey, i'm doin' alright' " - The Format

It was on a porch swing on the 4th of July. I came to the realization that I was going to be ok. I can handle hard times and I don't need to always be doing great, being alright is just fine with me. I realized I needed to stop living my life by everyone else's plans and just breath for a minute or two and just enjoy the days and life I have been given. I stopped trying to fix myself and let time step in and begin to create something that will someday hopefully be worthwhile. I made peace with pain and accepted the fact that it is there. I found myself again in the conversations with friends, with my family, with God. I realized I am trying and that is all I really can do. Things work out.

"For the first time in such a long long time, I know I'll be okay" - Joshua Radin

I sat with you and felt the breeze
I accepted love and was realized
We all were home again, just like how we had always talked about
We all left our sand houses
We each found our way back to the rock
When we got there we all discovered we were missing the same thing
Each other and the anchors

I believe in good because I have witnessed many good things
I know that God is aware
I found out I was never really lost
I just forgot where I was going
But my letters found their way to you
and now I am sure of where I am going

It is a good feeling when you start thinking about the possibilities.

"Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again." - C.S. Lewis

Content,

A postcard from a traveler ( cause no one is ever really lost, they just don't know what they are looking for )