On Pain

 

On Pain

Kahlil Gibran, 1883 – 1931

And a woman spoke, saying, Tell us of Pain.

And he said:

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

Much of your pain is self-chosen.

It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.

Therefore, trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility:

 For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen,

 And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.

 Pain has a way of creeping up on us when we least expect it. My week has been all about managing physical pain. Those things you take for granted such as taking a deep belly breath? Try it just as you read this. If you can, give a big shout of gratitude. It doesn’t come naturally and easily for all of us at all times.

 Have you been complaining about the heat lately? How would you like to change places with someone currently battling chills?

 If you have been well, my prayer for you is that you remain so and remember to be thankful for your health always. If we’ve been walking this road of pain, my prayer for you is that you hold on as the bitter potions are administered for your healing. May you at least find rest in the season of forced downtime. You never know, maybe you’ve been ignoring your internal sirens for a while and now they took control. Get better soon.  

“Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?” ~ John Keats