Much of the bad that happens in my life seems to come with
Silver Linings
I would hesitate to point out silver linings to anyone in the throes of grieving loss or dealing with setbacks or chronic illness. While someone is in the midst of a dark night, the last thing they need is someone suggesting that they look for the bright side.
During those times, it’s important to simply reach out and say, “I’m here. I care. Let me know how I can help.”
But during my life I’ve learned the most and changed the most because of the experiences that have been most challenging and difficult. The appreciation I feel for those times did not always occur immediately. Sometimes it took months, years, and even decades to distill the lessons from hard experiences.
I remember telling a friend many decades ago during the challenging time when our oldest daughter was suffering from chronic liver disease, “I feel as if I am standing at the top of a tall mountain, being carved by the storms of life into some kind of new shape.”
Indeed I was being carved into a new shape by those experiences. Still, even in the midst of all my worry and sorrow during that time, I found exquisite moments of appreciation and transcendence. And I began calling that time of my life bitter-sweet, because in the midst of so much pain, there was also so much beauty and hope. Every moment with our daughter was a gift. The mundane became more unimportant as I walked through the fear that we might lose her during her childhood.
Thirst
Another morning and I wake with thirst
for the goodness I do not have. I walk
out to the pond and all the way God has
given us such beautiful lessons. Oh Lord,
I was never a quick scholar but sulked
and hunched over my books past the hour
and the bell; grant me, in your mercy,
a little more time. Love for the earth
and love for you are having such a long
conversation in my heart. Who knows what
will finally happen or where I will be sent,
yet already I have given a great many things
away, expecting to be told to pack nothing,
except the prayers which, with this thirst,
I am slowy learning.— Mary Oliver
Pandemic Silver Linings
Moving forward to current times, as I look at what I learned or changed during the pandemic, I see many silver linings. There are habits and behaviors that I have changed, activities that I’ve decided no longer serve me, and appreciation for the simple pleasures of life.
When I began writing this blog post I started by writing a list of things that I had been doing before the pandemic that I no longer feel the need to do and a list of things I want to do more of because of my experiences during the pandemic. But I decided not to share my lists.
Instead I invite you to reflect on what silver linings you have found during the pandemic. What stands out for you? Are there activities that you used to do that no longer serve you? And are there things that bring you great joy that you want to continue doing?
Your list may be similar to mine or it may be radically different. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you reflect and discover what has most meaning for you. What are your pandemic silver linings?
May you walk in beauty.
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