Strength

This week as I prepared to speak at the Speak Out Sunday event at Ainsworth United Church of Christ, I realized how much strength the darkest experiences of my life have given me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying fate sent those experiences on purpose. I just believe that even the most undeserved, negative situations can give rise to something positive. 

Kahil Gibran said, "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." When we are in the middle of our struggles, we can't see how we are growing, learning and gaining strength. 

For me becoming strong wasn't about being stoic, further burying my heart, my emotions, my passions. It has been about learning to stand tall while feeling all of my emotions. It is risking my heart and  trusting myself.

Looking back gives me a chance to see that growth within myself. Gives me an opportunity reinforce my confidence and prepare for the adventure I choose next.

Beauty in the Chaos

I'm frequently surprised at the tenacity of nature. It will blossom and grow in the least likely of places.

This morning I spotted this little beauty this morning along my walk. Amid the dead weeds, barren soil, and trash of its surroundings, this lavender flower had broken through to shine. It didn't worry about finding the perfect place to bloom. Didn't care if it was wasting its beauty on an unworthy audience. It was going to shine and seek the sun.

Too often, when we find ourselves in situations like this little flower, we hold back our personal growth and limit the expression of our potential. We say to ourselves, “When everything is perfect, then I'll shine."  Or “I wouldn't want to throw ‘my pearls before swine.'" Or “When I get to the other side of this transition, then I'll focus on unlocking my potential."

Sometimes the best way to light an unfamiliar, imperfect path is for us to shine in spite of where we find ourselves. We have to let go of our expectations that we can only be at our best when we are in the ideal situation, the best organization, perfect family, etc. If we are always waiting for the perfect time and place to blossom, we may never get the chance.

If we are going to blossom in inauspicious circumstances, we need to shift our focus from our surroundings and instead focus our attention on the end result. My little flower gave all of its energy and attention to breaking through the hardened soil and growing toward the sun. It had to send its roots deep into the ground to find water and nutrients. And once through the ground it oriented itself so that it could receive the ideal amount of sunlight. We need to do the same. Identify what will support and nourish us as we grow. Figure out where we can find them. Start growing despite how hard and dry the ground may be so that we can gain energy and momentum.

As we start to grow and allow ourselves to flourish, we begin to transform the space around us. Our actions may inspire others to grow as well. Those who try to distract us with their negativity will eventually lose interest as they find their efforts to hold us back aren't working.

I'm sure that little flower would have preferred to grow in a beautiful, well groomed garden. But it didn't let the lack of one stop it from bringing its beauty to the world.