Internal Monsters

 As I was sitting in "my room" last night, I noticed unfamiliar patterns displayed on the ceiling and wall. I was intrigued and mesmerized by the different movements of the pattern and how it engulfed the entire room.  When looking to see what the origin of this pattern might be, I found a very tiny lady bug dancing across the surface of the night light in the room. When I stopped to think about it, I guess I should have been releived that it was a ladybug and not the bigger-than-life monster as it appeared to be. Lucky for me, I don't usually run into real live monsters. However, like everyone else, I have little internal monsters which, if not controlled, can become all consuming. Those monsters differ with each person, but we all know what they are.  I think as we grow older and wiser, these monsters have less influence on us and do not rear their ugly presence. We learn and discover what is important to us in life and those monsters decrease in their size and strength.   I read a book once that referred to the internal monsters as "The Skunks of Mrs. D".  I kind of like that name because it reminds me of a quote from Abraham Lincoln:  "What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself".

Life's Stories

In the theatre of life, we tell ourselves stories in order to live, and we then live in those stories. When circumstances change, or a key figure is no longer a character in that story, we then have to reconstruct our understanding of life. Such was the case 40 years ago on Father's Day when a railroad freight train rolled through a small community town leaving war-zone devastation in its path. That particular chapter of this writer's life is one that is filled with emotions, tears, fear, anger and grief. Grief of things that are no more....a home that marked our beginning,  personal belongings never to be found, baby's first pictures burned, and treasures never to be replaced.  Since that famous day so many years ago,  lives have changed, challenges conquered,  and new chapters written.

As my husband and I lead the parade in the original fire truck summoned to that scene, we will again block the pain of that father's day and instead celebate the blessings. 

Upside Down

I am sure you have heard the expression, "It turned my world upside down!"  This can be a bad thing, which is what we usually think of, such as a death, loss of a job, a natural disaster to name a few.  However, it can also be a good thing, such as a daughter's wedding, a day with the grandchildren, or an anticipated retirement.  Whatever those emotions are that surround the event, they ripple out to touch others around us.
It is from that ripple that we become attentive to other's needs and we become present in their world.  We cry with them; we laugh with them; we celebrate the good and mourn the bad.... we turn ouselves upside down in order to share their experience. 

I am reminded of the story of Winnie the Pooh where Eeyore had his tail stolen.  Eeyore was so upset that Winnie decided he would join Eeyore in his dilema and search for the missing tail.  Winnie turned his world upside down in order to retrieve the missing tail and return it to make Eeyore a very happy donkey.

It is experiences such as these that allow us to grow.  The successes and downfalls that we experience can create who we are.  Sometime we have to let the world turn us upside down so we can live right side up.

.