THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS

A printout of an old e-mail from a dear friend hangs beside my bed. Among other things, the e-mail contained a prayer from a name I cannot recognize, and could not find online (it reads E.N. Forshey, to the best of my knowledge. Anyway, the prayer or poem is called "This, Too, Shall Pass." I've always loved it, and I'd like to share it with others now.

"Dear God, How comforting to know this, too, shall pass, even though my mind and heart are troubled at this time.

I shall be patient and faith-filled, knowing Your spirit is working through all conditions in my life.

I shall wait undisturbed and confident, ignoring appearances and resting in the assurance that You will be my guide, my guardian.

Thank you, God.

I know nothing is impossible, all conditions will be right and good at the proper time,

And I will know!"

Hopefully that hasn't been mutilated too badly in its 3 or 4 passings! Now, I am still not into the (traditional) 'god' thing, especially this country's crazy zealot-based hateful pick-and-choose version of it, but I do believe in something greater than me. The power of a friend's love to give me hope. The power of compassion. The power of our own mind to heal. The awareness that a spiritual plane exists, and probably isn't all that concerned with how you spell or say 'its' name, what with it being omnipotent and all!

And one thing I have learned as I have faced down minor life issues (such as joblessness, loneliness, addiction, suicides of others, grief, my own feelings of worthlessness and despair, etc.) is that if I can ride it out, it does get better.

Depression is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Our mood and mind are altered, and we perceive all input as the same; pointless. The same possibilities that exist for others exist for us, if only we can see it.

Everything comes back around again, including fresh starts. And they can happen at any time, anywhere. If you don't know it from your own perspective, just accept the possibility that what I'm saying is right. My belief is hard won, and I've come through the mountain to get here.

If all you have left is yourself, then you still have a blessing. It's life. And it's okay to be discouraged and scared. If we could only understand how everyone else struggles with the same heartaches; some are just better at hiding it than others. Sometimes a change of thinking can get us started on the right path. But will we accept our worth and virtue and hope... as vehemently as we have embraced our prior dark lot? How willing are you to be happy?

While you figure it out for yourself, hold on to these related songs and poems for a little realization that we all ride the same boat. Don't worry about what's being used for a life preserver, as long as it's a positive influence (god, the universe, your inner self, higher consciousness, fitness, nature, support groups, books, music, collective consciousness, etc.)

Namaskar!
Roberto


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This Too Shall Pass

If I can endure for this minute, Whatever is happening to me,

No matter how heavy my heart is, Or how dark the moment may be-

If I can remain calm and quiet, With all the world crashing about me,

Secure in the knowledge God loves me

When everyone else seems to doubt me-If I can but keep on believing,

What I know in my heart to be true,That darkness will fade with the morning

And that this will pass away, too-

Then nothing in life can defeat me, For as long as this knowledge remains,

I can suffer whatever is happening, For I know God will break all of the chains

That are binding me tight in the darkness, And trying to fill me with fear-

For there is no night without dawning, And I know that my morning is near

...Helen Steiner Rice

The Buddha himself said: -
When faced with all the ups and downs of life, Still the mind remains unshaken, Not lamenting, not generating defilements, always feeling secure, This is the greatest happiness.

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"This Too Shall Pass" Mark Lowry

Woke up this morning with the years I've spent

Hanging heavy on my mind.

At times I see So much in me,

I wish I'd left behind. But the one thing I've learned

As the years have turned, And they sure have traveled fast.

I don't have to stay where I am today because

This too shall pass.

Chorus; This too shall pass.This too shall pass.

And the tears that fall like raindrops now

Will finally dry at last.This too shall pass.

Sometimes I'm laughing with a crowd of friends,

And still I feel alone.There's a place inside

Full of tears I hide, That I've only cried alone.

But I know that He's near,

And I know He hears,

And I know these tears won't last. This pain today

Will be swept away because This too shall pass.

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"This Too Shall Pass" by India Arie

I've achieved so much in life, but I'm an amateur in love

My bank account is doing just fine but my emotions are bankrupt

My body is nice and strong, but my heart is in a million pieces

When the sun is shining so am I, but when night falls,

so do my tears Sometimes the beat is so loud in my heart

that I can barely tell the voices apart

Sometimes the fear is so loud in my head

that I can barely hear what God says,

but then I hear a whisper that this too shall pass,

I hear the angels whisper that this too shall pass

my ancestors whisper that this day will one day be the past

so I walk in faith that this too shall pass,

The one that loved me the most

turned around and hurt me the worst,

Been doing my best to move on

but the pain just keeps singing me songs

My head and my heart are at war

cause love ain't happening the way I want it,

Feel like I'm about to break down can't hear

the light at the end of the tunnel is when I pray

for healing in my heart babe put back together

what is torn apart and I pray for quiet in my head

that I can hear clearly what GOD says

but then I hear a whisper that this too shall pass,

I hear the angels whisper that this too shall pass

my ancestors whisper that this day will one day be the past

so I walk in faith that this too shall pass

All of a sudden I realized that it only hurts

worse to fight it

So I embrace my shadow and hold on to the morning light

this too shall pass...

I hear the angels whisper that trouble don't have to last always,

I hear the angels whisper even the day after tomorrow

will one day be as today I hear my angels whisper,

I hear my angels whisper this too shall pass

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"It'll Be Easier In The Morning" by the Hothouse Flowers

If the lonely night surrounds you

Yeah you're weighed down by gloom

No you don't like what it feels like

in Your dark and dirty room

It'll be easier in the morning

It'll be easier in the day

Sun will shine on through your window

We got light to lead the way

Looks like the bottle has run empty

Yeah your heart is torn and dry

Lord you don't like what it feels like

Your sad and lonely eyes

Looks like the highways never ending

Yeah your legs they feel like lead

Lord you're twisting yeah and turning

In your wide and lonely bed

It'll be easier in the morning

It'll be easier in the day

Sun will shine on through your window

We got light to lead the way

Looks like you got no one you can talk to

No one left to talk to

And your heart is torn'n'blue

Yeah you look in no direction

No direction...

I guess these words might pull you through

It'll be easier in the morning

It'll be easier in the day

Sun will shine on through your window

We got light to lead the way

It'll be easier in the morning

It'll be easier in the day

Sun will shine on through your window

We got light to lead the way