Joy and Pain

"This too shall pass" is a wonderful saying. It's a life preserver of sorts. Those four words are a reminder that no matter how horrible or how ecstatic things are....it too will pass. The saying is a life preserver of sorts because people often are seeking some kind of comfort when they have hit their worse times, those moments when all seems bleak and you feel as if there is no hope. Mostly people are seeking comfort when things seem to be at their worse. People often don't seek inspiration or words of wisdom when they are flying high from a successful moment. I like the reminder that those words can help keep us grounded both when things appear awful and when life is a celebration. Often we all get hung up on those moments in life that are blissful, so much so that people then feel let down, disappointed and upset when life brings hardships. Both bliss and pain are a part of life but the saying reminds us that everything is temporary. Nothing lasts forever and in fact...pain is the prelude and the best teacher of joy. When we embrace pain, we transform it into into love. When we embrace joy, we transform life into heaven, one in which pain and joy are not separate....they are one. Often people in pain are desperate for it to go away. They fight the pain, run from their pain and blame everyone else for their suffering. Some even blame god and in the process, they oppose their own experiences and lessons. That only brings more pain and suffering. Ever notice that some of the happiest people are those who have transformed themselves through their struggles, not in spite of them. One's journey of experiences is our path alone and we honor our path by honoring our pain. This too shall pass is a saying of acceptance. Acceptance of life, acceptance of joy and embracing all of life's experiences and emotions. There really are no bad feelings. Experiences cannot control you if you just accept them as part of life. You might try to argue with yourself, "but I've been through terrible things." Gratitude for every experience that has come your way is true acceptance. No matter what you are going through...whether you are enjoying a moment of bliss or the toughest time of your life..."This too shall pass"~(1 Corinthians 10:12).