Pain.......

I was having lunch at school with my son and his friends. The school is having a poetry competition that had them memorizing and performing a 25 line poem- this exercise is mandatory. They were all excited because the semi-finalists came out today.

One of the girls recited her poem for me and it was entitled "Pain" by Ellen Kang.

I have been having some personal and spiritual growing pains of my own- so I saw it as a message- and I was very focused on what she was saying..

Her poem was dark and shocking; it dealt with someone wanting to silence the pain and run from it through addiction and suicide- but it was much more than that.

For me it identified the many painful places that I (not so long ago) had and still have on some level... I welled up as she finished and was amazed and her emotion as she recited it. I gave her a high Five and told her that was beautiful.
(She probably thinks I'm a weirdo...lol)She said no one really liked it because it was about suicide. I told her it is about more than that. Her poem makes people uncomfortable with the pain of others and their own pain.

I've been reflecting on this during this New Moon-
Pain is necessary- whether physically,emotionally or spiritually; it is designed to stop us and have us look at the source of the pain for the lesson, the learning.

Then we will choose to allow it- accept it- and grow from it... OR
pain can also causes us to blame- to wallow in it and to deny it..and rid ourselves of the experience of it.

Pain is a change in the making- a change of consciousness- or a change in our physical way of doing. But the loving force of the Divine; allows us the free will and allows us to feel the pain- like a parent who knows what's best and allows us to do it our way. Knowing the pain will come. Knowing the pain will teach
Now that is purely unconditional love....


The thought for the day is From The Prophet- by Kahlil Gilbran
Pain

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.

Kahlil Gibran