Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Oledan: All things come to pass
By Radzini Oledan
Spice of Life
"Sometimes, an illness leads to better understanding of oneself. Over and over again, we are made to realize that there is no time to waste and that each day is precious."
ALL will be well.
There are silent tremors in the heart while facing an inevitable loss and of dealing with a health crisis that brings out our own fears of embracing death and losing the people we love and friends that we deeply treasure.
One good friend recently wrote about the courage of letting go and living life to the fullest. He is awaiting results of his medical tests recently and the coming months will undeniably define the chances.
Cancer is a nasty disease to start with but there is work to be done and it does not include dealing with the statistics that often defeat people before their journey begun.
No point of getting defeated.
Sometimes, an illness leads to better understanding of oneself. Over and over again, we are made to realize that there is no time to waste and that each day is precious.
Indeed there is fear of dying and the joyful affirmation of the pleasures, challenges and responsibilities of our earthly existence makes the inevitability of death more difficult to confront.
The fear stems from the terror of the unknown and the emptiness and of identifying ourselves with that nothingness.
The contemplation of their passing forces us to confront the inevitable and our own vulnerability of losing those with whom our lives are inextricably bound.
While reading the letter, there was hope that death can be simply wished away but it cannot. Sometimes, it announces its coming in long illness and sometimes, it comes unannounced with shattering, unexpected suddenness.
Life is fleeting and too short. Daily, we are challenged to honor ourselves and everyone around us by taking the risk of being true to ourselves.
It is this process of honoring ourselves that opens up the possibility of working with local communities and help them empower themselves to fully take ownership and control of their own lives.
The greater sense of community is shown on the way we treat the people we meet, no matter what their economic status or race, gender, sexual orientation, cultural background, religion, mental and physical capacity, or life history.
In various situations and events, we are reminded that it is okay to say "no", change our mind and let go of toxic and potentially damaging friendships. There is no need to operate from a sense of obligation and guilt. Life is too short to be wasted on superficial people.
Then we let go, let things be and face the inevitable. All things will come to pass and one can only hope that some people could also catch up with wellness, if they learn their lessons well and consider the question of what they are doing right now that pushes people away.
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