Just how resilient are you? Am I? About the time you think that life is too difficult to bear, the night is too dark and long, as you doze wondering how on earth you would ever have the strength to make it to daylight, you fall into a peaceful sleep. You dream. You dream dreams that are fantastic and beautiful! It is your reality. That darkest hour, the one prior to your slumber, comes to each of in many ways...
We didn't get accepted into graduate school... He broke my heart, and I will never fall in love again... Why didn't that driver see my puppy? Worse, why did that driver have to drink and drive? Houses are lost to foreclosure... Jobs end, businesses fail... Health eludes someone who was once vibrant and lively... We all know the many challenges that come our way in this life... Resilience... Like a secret key...
This song was written; lyrics, composition, arrangement and performed by Elton John as a tribute to John Lennon. I love the garden metaphor. Now, I know some would say (especially my dad) that John Lennon, through his music, wrought a destruction upon the generation of the 60s and thats ok. Not every artist is admired by everyone. I happen to think John Lennon was a genius and while I may not agree with many of his personal views, I can well understand this tribute song to him. But I want to focus on the garden.
The two most important gardners in my life (and there have been many) are our Saviour Jesus Christ and Val. Nurturing, caring, pulling so many toward them upon a simple invitation, "Come, follow me..."
Those little purple/blue flowers pictured above? You want to talk about resilience? I planted some of those 8-9 years ago. I had hoped they would spill down over our rockery (as they are now) and become a beautiful part of our "park like" back yard. Unfortunately, we have a very active back yard, tons of visitors and guests, dogs and other animals that take short cuts through the spaces where I planted these little flowers. And they were gone in one season. Just today, as I was preparing the pool and pond for the oncoming summer, I noticed these little guys. I was astounded! These guys took all those years of abuse and sure as shooting, they made it back! And they are gorgeous and their contrastiong hues are breathtaking. Hey, I am no gardner, trust me. I am clueless when it comes to such things, yet, here these little guys are! I am so thrilled.
I somehow see the future that way too... Who knows the mysteries of life, yet, when we look up, "there they are!" No longer mysterious to us...
7 years, 10 months and 23 days... This cancer was supposed to have ended Val's life long ago. She doesn't know when to say "no" to anyone, about "anything". Lunch? YES! Shopping? YES! Can the chicklettes come over? The drumsticks? YES! A friend just asked me this afternoon, "Dan, should I not invite her to go and do things?" I said, "Of course you should invite her, just be aware that she will never complain, unless she wants to go to the ER..." She likes to make everyone happy.
The pool...
Our 14th season... I told Val today... "Well, you made it to another summer with us." (Now we'll see if she can make it to and through the holidays...) Someone said the best way to eat an elephant is, "one bite at a time." I think the best way to deal with whatever we are dealing with, doing so living, "one day at a time." Val is as resilient as these beautiful flowers now cascading over our rockery. I will always think of her when I look at them. Maybe those flowers have been gone so I could learn this lesson about being tough and coming back afterall? Gotta love the lessons!
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