When things go wrong

Sometimes we can spend more energy in the surprise and/or despair that life has gone pear shaped than we do in bringing things back on track.  Life is always going pear shaped in one way or another, yet we seem surprised when it does!

Even though there is so much learning to be had in the sludge of the lake (look at where the lotus blooms) we still try and avoid it - when in fact, what is called for is to roll up our sleeves and get to work. For when need meets intent meets grace that the magic really happens....

There are some lines from 'The Invitation' by Oriah Mountain Dreamer that really resonate with this potential place of stuckness in face of problems:

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.
I want to know
if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

I want to know
what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I also found this, which sums it up perfectly : Perhaps if we were to rename and redefine the shadow archetype as “teacher”, we would find the motivation and courage to face what is in the darkness of our collective basement. And learn.