Fr. Don's Daily Reflection
Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”
I was going to write that any significant event in our lives has both joyful and painful aspects but, on second thought, leave out the significant. On third thought, all that seems too great a generalization. There are moments -- a walk in the woods on a beautiful fall day, a musical performance that completely sweeps us off our feet, a good dinner with congenial people -- when everything seems perfect for the moment, when no pain mars the occasion.
In the other direction, maybe the same thing: lying in bed with pain pounding away in the joints, we are totally miserable, feeling completely out of sync and out of sympathy with the situation to the point of tears.
But so often pain or joy which seems to be in control is possible only because we forget for a moment the opposite. The people who are enjoying time with friends under a starlit autumn sky are content because, for the moment, the difficulties with that fifteen-year-old have been put aside, the painful situation at the office is forgotten, as is the disappointing outcome of the basketball game earlier in the evening.
Our work might be really satisfying, something that challenges and rewards, but it too has irritating aspects. We can probably see the value of enjoying those great moments untroubled by the thought of pain elsewhere in our lives.
But how do we face the primarily stressful and even agonizing moments? Is perspective the key? Reminding ourselves that this is only part of my life, only one of the experiences of an otherwise happy life. Can we perhaps tell ourselves that even months of Covid-19 will become history? (Of course, if we’re 95 that gets to be a pretty big chunk. We will need some support.)
In some things all, in all things none are crossed;
Few all they need, but none have all they wish;
Unmeddled joys here no man befall,
Who least, hath some; who most, hath never all.
(Robert Southwell)
(Unmeddled = unmixed.)
Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”