To Our Beloved Residents and Staff
You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.
—Maya Angelou
We could say that we are going through one of the greatest difficulties we have ever faced right now. We could designate this time as being essentially negative, a bad thing that we fear, or, we could adjust our perspective a bit.
It will help us if we consider what helped us get through other hard times in our lives. What helped you through? Hang on to that.
The difficulties we went through, whether they were emotional, spiritual, or physical, may have created scars in our bodies, minds, and spirits.
The important thing to remember is that scars are actually proof of wounds that have healed, even though they can still be seen and felt.
Rather than bemoan these reminders of a past hurt, we can embrace them, accepting that they are the emblems of our survival and signs of everlasting hope.
The good road and the road of difficulties you have made me cross; and where they cross, the place is holy.
~ Black Elk
A holy place has been created within you where you met the difficulties with all that you could at the time, you crossed them with all that you had within you to muster.
Maybe you even wrestled strenuously with these great challenges in your life, alternating between pushing back, hanging on, and letting go when needed, and persevering no matter what.
This immense effort, this faithful battle, created this holy sacred space that is now like a limitless reservoir of strength within you.
Think quietly for a moment on this sacred space you have created. It is yours. No one can take it from you or enter without your permission. Here is where you gather your strength and keep hope alive inside of you. Here is what protects you. Here is where healing is always possible. Here is where Love resides.
Think back upon all of it, through all of the challenging times you have been through.
Beloved, you came through it. You came through it; you persevered, because here you are today, reading this message, and all of that is behind you.
It doesn’t matter if it happened 10 years ago, last week, or 5 minutes ago, it is behind you.
Let it stay behind you. There is no need to bring it into the present, to make the present harder. Leave those troubles where they lay, but take from them the lessons they gave you.
There are lessons of hope in these past scars because they show us that we can survive and overcome great challenges, and not only do we survive, but we move forward to heal and grow. Though these scars can still be seen and felt, they do not have to keep hurting us. We can say no to the hurt. We can say yes to healing.
The existence of these scars, instead of being painful reminders that keep us trapped in the past, can be hopeful reminders in that they are proof that we have survived and healed.
When we have good reason to hurt, it will end sooner if it is allowed to go away.
~ Native American Indian Proverb
This internal strength we have gained through a lifetime can rescue us today. We made it through all of the tough times in our lives, before the pandemic.
We came all the way through everything to this time.
And that is why this time, today, is no different. The pandemic is something that we will come through, possibly with some scars, but we will come through this time, and be stronger for it.
When we long for life without difficulty, remind us that oaks grow strong under contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.
― Peter Marshall
We can dig down deep within our life experiences, our own sacred reservoir of strength and hope. We can gather up all of our lessons learned, marshaling all of our spiritual, emotional, and physical resources, to root deep into the earth, as solid and strong as oak trees, unmoved by the contrary winds of the pandemic.
This does not mean we have to “be strong” all of the time, constantly keeping a “stiff upper lip” for appearances. We are human beings who sometimes feel sad and weary, who need to rest and recover. We will have good days and bad days. We may have days when we will want to crawl under the covers and not come out, but we will come out. Love will save us.
Through it all, know that even when you are having a hard day, the essential ability you have within you to persevere, and grow, and to heal, and to hope, has not left you. It is a sacred space, the deepest pool of strength. It is always there within you sustaining, loving, and guiding you.
Whenever you start to feel discouraged, consider this:
“I am as strong as an oak tree rooted deep within the earth. I have withstood many storms in my life. Nothing can shake me.”
Know that you are so very strong and loved, as cherished as a diamond on the hand of a sweetheart promised a lifetime of love, as treasured as a victorious soldier, once feared lost, coming home after a long battle, as precious as a baby in the arms of parents who thought they may never have a child: you are loved; you are strong; you can come through this, undefeated, a warrior in your own right.
~
May your hearts be anchored in all that gives you strength and hope; may they be eased in gentle healing peace, and filled to overflowing with love, light, and laughter.
Strength and joy,
Chaplain Caitilin Hoy
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