Energy and Persistence

           Two weeks ago my posts focused on ideas for relaxation.  Why?  Because I wanted you to experience the sense of renewal and peace that come as we clear our minds, relax our bodies, and center our hearts on all there is to be grateful for.  In additon, it is just plain healthy to allow our minds and bodies to rest from time to time. 
         However, most of the necessities of life aren't attended to while we're in a state of relaxation. There is a scientific law called entropy.  Simply stated, it teaches us that closed systems tend toward disorder unless acted upon by energy from an outside force (just think about what happens to your home when you don't pick things up for a day or two).  Benjamin Franklin told us that "energy and persistence alter all things."  In other words, it is only through work and consistent effort that our lives are saved from disorder.
         When my husband became ill eleven years ago my whole life changed.  I had always worked at home and in my church and community.  Suddenly, it was time to switch my focus and become employed for money away from home.  Until this past fall I was blessed to work in the natural health field, and I worked hard.  All that effort kept the bills paid and food on the table.  Now that my husband's Parkinson's disease has progressed to where he needs someone to be with him, I am at home again--still working hard.  My focus is most often on him and his needs.
         As I look back on all these years I feel enormously blessed that I have had the health, strength and intellect to do what I've needed to do to "keep it all together."  And in this mix of effort and emotion called life, I can't discount for one moment the blessings others have sent my way.  
         Sometimes people comment that they don't know how I do what I do.  They remark that my life must be discouraging.  After all, I've worked in natural health for years, yet nothing in traditional western or holistic medicine has helped my husband in a way that has made him healthy again.  True, it is difficult for us to travel, there are lots of doctor visits and tests, I'm always "on guard" watching for signs of low blood pressure or any indication that he is having trouble with balance and coordination, and let's face it, life isn't what anyone would consider "normal".  And no doubt about it, we aren't doing many of the things people our age usually get to do--wrapping up careers; traveling; pursuing hobbies, serving as community volunteers.  I can only say, I choose not to focus on those things. It would drive me crazy if I did.  Though, being human, I do have my moments of wondering what life would be like without Parkinson's disease in the picture.  However, I feel blessed to know that what I am doing is important. Although nothing has made an appreciable difference in Lynn's health, the path we have traveled has been an important and productive one.  For we are learning many lessons that, apparently, we are intended to learn.
     The French philosopher, Pierre Teihard De Chardin said, "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience."  I truly believe that all our experiences can draw us closer to our divine source, and make us more spiritually refined, emotionally resilient and compassionate, if we exert energy and persistence in looking for the good in our situation.
         As we have moved along through our experience, health, energy, the ability to persist, and blessings from loved ones and friends have all been given to me as needed.  I hope I never take any of these gifts for granted, because they are GIFTS--beautiful gifts wrapped in love and the desire to help us through a difficult situation--gifts that allow me to do what I need to do right now.  What would my life be like without them?  I don't even want to imagine!


TODAY'S GENTLE ENCOURAGEMENT:
Exert energy and persistence to focus on what you have, not on what you have not.