The Way of Pain

Today the Sacred is taking the shape of pain. My body, a fist, as if the tightness, the ‘No,’ will command it away. No. The ‘No’ intensifies everything, tears with claws that dig in. “I don’t want this. I can make it go away. I can’t make it go away. What if it doesn’t? I hate this. What if it gets worse? What if something more serious is going on?” Catastrophic thoughts and the big ‘No’ stacked like heavy books in my head – spinning. I was whimpering, now moaning. Pause.      Oh. I remember. I forgot the wisdom curriculum – how pain      illness      aging disrupt dismantle debilitate stretch us to our limits and – how they humble teach surrender reveal portals into the dark the quiet the slow awaken us to what life here, simply, is teach that suffering arises when we resist what is natural, inevitable, true. Brings me to my knees and I remember the Infinite the Unchanging the Divine. In this moment, I’m ok. Breath sinks from chest to belly. The body, with its limits and losses, it’s life and destiny, is alright now, as is. Crying, moaning, being afraid is alright, too and – I will rest easier when I remember that Love and the Infinite are also here, always Here.

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Questions for Contemplation

Has illness or physical pain been a part of your life? How have you been impacted emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually? What challenges have you encountered?

In addition to the difficulties, what have you learned about yourself and about life? Has the experience changed you in any meaningful ways? Would you consider pain to be a teacher in your life?

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