Adieu until when?

Quote of the day

By propagating knowledge thus, an ideal scholar clears the darkness of ignorance and as a result the society treads on the path of peace, progress and prosperity. [508 Samaveda, Second of the Four Vedas. 1,500-500 B.C.] Holiday greetings from AERA

It is time to get to the final works before setting out to the much anticipated Christmas season with life partner and family.

• Final grading to be finalized
• Book to review
• Chapters to write
• And, yes indeed ... even Jury duty awaits!

So, I do not know when I will squeeze in visits with my blog. To those 20 or so readers (are there that many?) out there - hang in there with me ... if you like.

And, remember, a good time was had by all. 

God Bless the Whole World, No Exceptions

While you wait for my return, here is my favorite meditation [of February 12], from Melody Beattie's Daily Meditations for Codependents: The Language of Letting Go. I have cherished this book of meditations for the past 15 years. It is always at my bedside, and often accompanies me on my travels to different states and countries. Indeed, I believe these meditations have saved my life at times, and given me wisdom and comfort in some of my darkest hours. I will always be grateful to Patti Young, who offered me another option.

Picture a bridge. On the one side of the bridge it is cold and dark. We stood there with others in the cold and darkness, doubled over in pain. Some of us developed an eating disorder to cope with the pain. Some drank; some used other drugs. Some of us lost control of our sexual behavior. Some of us obsessively focused on addicted people's pain to distract us from our own pain ... We did not know there was a bridge. We thought we were trapped on a cliff.

Then, some of us got lucky. Our eyes opened ... we saw the bridge. People told us what was on the other side: warmth, light, and healing from our pain. We could barely glimpse or imagine this, but we decided to start the trek across the bridge anyway.

We tried to convince the people around us on the cliff that there was a bridge to a better place, but they wouldn't listen. They couldn't see it ... They were not ready for the journey. We decided to go alone, because we believed, and because people on the other side were cheering us onward. The closer we got to the other side, the more we could see, and feel, that what we had been promised was real. There was light, warmth, healing, and love. The other side was a better place.

But now, there is a bridge between us and those on the other side. Sometimes, we may be tempted to go back and drag them over with us, but it cannot be done. No one can be dragged or forced across this bridge. Each person must go at his or her own choice, when the time is right. Some will come; some will stay on the other side. The choice is not ours.

We can love them. We can wave to them. We can holler back and forth. We can cheer them on, as others have cheered and encouraged us. But we cannot make them come over with us.

If our time has come to cross the bridge, or if we have already crossed and are standing in the light and warmth, we do not have to feel guilty. It is where we are meant to be. We do not have to go back to the dark cliff because another's time has not yet come.

The best thing we can do is stay in the light, because it reassures others that there is a better place. And if others ever do decide to cross the bridge, we will be there to cheer them on.

Today, I will move forward with my life, despite what others are doing or not doing. I will know it is my right to cross the bridge to a better life, even if I must leave others behind to do that. I will not feel guilty, I will not feel ashamed. I know that where I am now is a better place and where I'm meant to be. (Pages 41 and 42)

Comments

[tamarika]

LOL MaryB! I love you too!

[MaryB]

Cheers, Tamar! I understand completely - we'll be here when you return. Mainly because I'm too lazy to change the bloglist on my own blog. ;-)