This Too Shall Pass
“I knew it wouldn’t always be that way” said my friend discussing a particularly rough patch in his life. I didn’t hear much of the rest of what he said as I was so distracted by that statement. How could he have known that?
I remember my son Patrick telling me about an experience he had while sailing. He felt terribly seasick one day while on Galley duty. The cook, such the kind man that he was, sent Patrick below to sort the good potatoes from the bad. As Patrick recounts the story he said he felt just terrible, but got through it by reminding himself it was only for now, that once back on deck and on to other things he’d feel different.
Patrick and my friend knew it wouldn’t always be bad because their past experience as human beings, and that of other humans around them, told them so. It’s incredibly rare that any crisis in our lives stays acute for any real period. Sometimes it’s just time that changes or heals, but often it’s gaining a different perspective or point of view once we dry our eyes and lift our heads up to look around.
When I finally tuned back into the conversation it became clear that my friend’s realization that he wouldn’t always feel the way he did was the first step in him not feeling that way. He could look at his crisis just a little bit more objectively and take some steps to weather the storm and set a path beyond it.
I like to live in the moment, but I also tend to wallow in the moment. I so appreciated the reminder that while the reality may not change, the true impact of that reality and my response to it certainly can, and probably will.
February 10th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Spoken (written) like a true parent. This is the only way I’m getting through the “little kid years”…knowing they are always changing and me with them. Indeed my own way through some dark times have started with the knowledge that change (of one sort or another) will inevitably come.
February 10th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Once, when I was in grade 8, I borrowed my father’s stop watch. He made movies, so he had a stop watch (this was in the days of 16mm film and tape that had to be matched up with frames). I took it to school and lost it. I felt terrible, and even worse, my dad was “really disappointed” in me. It was one of the worst moments in my life. And at that moment I realized that this would pass, and there would be a time when this moment was the past and it would be over. I have had many ups and downs in my life since then, but for some reason the “stop watch incident” sticks with me, not for the magnitude of the problem but for the moment in time and the realization that “this too, shall pass.” I find myself thinking back to it every once in a while - like now. Thanks.
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Great post Rory. It’s such a good reminder for me, right where I’m at. Very appropriate for this Lenten season.