It's true. Life can be challenging sometimes. So very challenging. And sometimes we are able to meet the challenges head on without a pause. Other times, the challenges might get the best of us, temporarily. Sort of a spin on the old saying: "Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you."
Shortly after my last post, my Mother-In-Law entered into Hospice care. (What an amazing organization, Hospice.) It was not totally unforeseen, as she had been battling cancer for some years. And shortly before Christmas she passed away, her family having spent her last days close to her, loving her. I suppose, in some ways, it was as 'rich' a passing as one might hope for, if you can briefly ignore the indignities of a failing body.
I have witnessed a family in loss before, on different occasions, and I have to admit I was scared this time. You can never be quite sure how someone is going to react to the loss of a loved one. I believe, to some degree, it depends on the circumstances of the passing. I've seen the tragic and unexpected loss of a young man, and the anticipated loss of an older family member. While neither would be missed any more or less than the other, there is a difference.
Whatever the case, the passing of a loved one represents our greatest challenge. And that's seems to make sense. Or does it.
It seems that, from what I have read in Buddhist based books and articles, our self-inficted misery is largely based our tendency to cling to things, people, ideas, etc. We hold on for dear life. And then, when we lose control of these things which we hold so dear, misery ensues. What if we learned to appreciate and welcome things into our lives when and while they are there, while learning to let go easily and freely once they are not there?
You can see where I'm going with this. How do you feel about it? Do you hold dear? Are you able to let go freely?
