Earthdate 20230614.0820
A lot of bad things happen to good people. The Church knows that better than most.
When bad things happen, don’t let it get to you. We can focus on the bad and bring ourselves down, or we can take a moment to recognize that this particular moment is just one point in time. Identify the boundaries of the bad situation, seeking clarity and try to move with it instead of letting it push you. Every bad situation is a learning opportunity. Bad things and conflict help us grow. Kind of fundamental to our dogma — there’s a reason the Trickster elements are present in every religion.
Perspective is developed over time, and we’re not born with it. It’s harder for some people than others, and one of the reasons why we need to help each other. Don’t be a fool about it, though, some people don’t want to be helped or can’t be helped and we need to accept that. Try, but don’t make their karma part of your karma. People need to come to awareness in their own way and time. No kicking them when they’re down, though, that’s not good.
If we can maintain a perspective above the crisis we are far more effective than when we’re lost inside it. The Judaeo-Christian’s have (we’re paraphrasing) “this too shall pass[1]”, and yes it will. But we want to smartly navigate those waters.
Use perspective to steer away from the rocks and towards a nice beach with good food, nice waves, and friendly people. Maybe a roast beast of some kind.
If you are in a very tough place, where day after day is pain and difficulty, keep fighting towards the horizon. Keep fighting to get to a better place and never give up. That’s how you get to Valhalla. Rail against the storm, don’t give in to it. It’s not everywhere, and when we can elevate our perspective, mentally climb above the clouds, we can see which way to go. Then we can take positive action and start rowing towards the beach.
[1] 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”