People are like stained glass windows:
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in their true
beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
When Our World Falls Apart
When it feels as if your world is falling apart,
know at your core that you are a strong being of light.
There are times when our whole world seems to be falling apart around us, and we are not sure what to hold onto anymore. Sometimes our relationships crumble and sometimes it’s our physical environment. At other times, we can’t put our finger on it, but we feel as if all the walls have fallen down around us and we are standing with nothing to lean on, exposed and vulnerable. These are the times in our lives when we are given an opportunity to see where we have established our sense of identity, safety, and well-being. And while it is perfectly natural and part of our process to locate our sense of self in externals, any time those external factors shift, we have an opportunity to rediscover and move closer to our core, which is the only truly safe place to call home.
The core of our being is not affected by the shifting winds of circumstance or subject to the cycles of change that govern physical reality. It is as steady and consistent as the sun, which is why the great mystics and mystical poets often reference the sun in their odes to the self. Like the sun, there are times when our core seems to be inaccessible to us, but this is just a misperception. We know that when the sun goes behind a cloud or sets for the night, it has not disappeared but is simply temporarily out of sight. In the same way, we can trust that our inner core is always shining brightly, even when we cannot quite see it.
We can cling to this core when things around us are falling apart, knowing that an inexhaustible light shines from within ourselves. Times of external darkness can be a great gift in that they provide an opportunity to remember this inner light that shines regardless of the circumstances of our lives. When our external lives begin to come back together, we are able to lean a bit more lightly on the structures we used to call home, knowing more clearly than ever that our true home is that bright sun shining in our core.
"Step on onto the ledge with faith in your heart and you will see that hidden beneath your fear are a fresh pair of wings waiting for you to take flight!"
- Mastin Kipp, founder of TDL
It doesn't matter who you are, what your status is in life, how much or how little money you may have . . . there will be times in everyone's life when it feels as our world is falling apart.
The news of the past few weeks have put me in a very anxious state . . . it is the helpless feeling when it comes to world affairs and natural disasters.
Perhaps there is a family matter that seems to be spiraling out of control . . . or maybe it is a health issue that doesn't want to go away no matter how much you would like to "wish it away" . . . it just is and it must be dealt with.
In these times, I personally find it difficult to keep the faith. However, that faith is what keeps me together and gives me hope that everything will be as it is supposed to be. I'm a strong believer in fate and destiny . . . so why do I fret over those things I have no control over? Like world affairs . . .
Hope and faith work together to keep that inner light shining when surrounded by darkness. It is in those times of darkness that being grateful for those little things that bring joy and happiness is so important. Being grateful and aware of everything that is good and positive is the fuel that fires hope and faith.
It is so important to not fall
apart when our world falls apart.
How do you cope with difficult times?
