On Parenting

To trust who our child is, and not who we think he should be or what the world wants him to be - that perhaps is the single greatest gift a parent can give. Faith in our child's own destiny, in the destiny of his soul - that's the one ingredient that will make the biggest difference in our parenting....

It is not enough just to value who they are; we must also get in their way when they don't want us to, and get out of their way when we don't want to. We must fumble around with that delicate balance between control and leniency, fear and trust, holding on and letting go, until the parenting adventure is over. The good news and the bad news is that it's never over.

Excerpt from Broken Open
by Elizabeth Lesser

Photo: Alex, Joanna, Mitch & Shayne
Christmas, 2008
Richfield, WI

The Holy Longing

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Tell a wise person, or else keep silent.
Because the massman will mock it right away.
I praise what is truly alive,
what longs to be burned to death.

In the calm water of the love-nights,
where you were begotten, where you have begotten,
a strange feeling comes over you
when you see the silent candle burning.

Now you are no longer caught
in the obsession with darkness,
and a desire for higher lovemaking
sweeps you upward.

Distance does not make you falter,
now, arriving in magic, flying,
and finally, insane for the light,
you are the butterfly and you are gone.

And so long as you haven't experienced
this: to die and so to grow,
you are only a troubled guest
on the dark earth.

Broken

Learn the alchemy
true human beings know.
The moment you accept
the troubles you've been given,
the door will open.
~Rumi

At this point over 100 posts have been made to Positively Inspiring. The purpose at the inception of this blog was to keep positivity flowing amongst those I missed most having been geographically separated from my husband, two sons, parents, numerous siblings and many friends to start a new job 1200 miles away. The accumulation of positive expression has been consistent. However, through many dark days, I've needed to search for even a glimmer of positivity. It is the effort applied to create the post that has offered relief - allowing me to feel a little less anxious, even somewhat better, if only for moments. Though these almost-daily entries have been helpful and the collection such that I value their reflection, perhaps it's more inspirational to be more candid, more real. Because, to put it simply, life can be hard. And, over the last year, life has been very hard.

Not all is lost, though. Stuart gave me a wonderful gift for Valentine's Day - a book (surprise, surprise) written by Elizabeth Lesser: Broken Open - How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow. This book is a blessing. Lesser puts into perspective the value of difficult times; the blessings and opportunities they represent if one is willing to engage them; to use the "broken" moments in one's life to transform and evolve from "Once-born innocence to twice-born wisdom". These opportunities should be treasured if one can see through the fog of disappointment, self-doubt and fear. I am getting better at this - far from perfect- but, I am getting better.