Tuesday, November 22, 2005
DETOURS ARE TEMPORARY
In Death Valley, California, there is a place known as Dante's View.
From there you can look down to the lowest spot in the United States,
a depression in the earth 200 feet below sea level called Bad Water.
But you can also look up to the highest peak in the contiguous United
States, Mt. Whitney, which rises to a height of 14,500 feet.
Our lives also bring us to such places - where we can either journey
into the depths of despair and depression or rise to incredible
heights - depending on the direction we head. Yet, the mountaintop may
not be where we want to reside, either. In a letter to a suicidal
person, Al Hillman shared some exquisite wisdom:
"Sheila," he wrote, "I know all too well the battle you are
engaged
in. You see, I spent many years in the deep, dark valleys of mental
illness. Most (people) want to be on the mountaintop. I don't. I have
climbed mountains up to 17,000 feet. Not a pleasant place to be.
Bitterly cold, roaring winds, nothing grows there. Just snow, ice and
rocks. Very uncomfortable. Even the view is dismal, for all one can
see is clouds.
"I have also been in the deep, dark valleys where the walls are so
steep that nothing grows; there is complete darkness and one is all
alone. A terrifying place to be.
"I enjoy being in the valley (with) the green pastures and (where) the
streams are gentle and calm…."
Naturally, there are often valid medical reasons for mood shifts and
depression. And it may require all of our resources to climb back out
of our private "Bad Water": support from the medical community,
friends and family, as well as our spiritual resources. We are not
alone.
But I also like the counsel of Abraham Lincoln, who was similarly
afflicted. In a letter to a friend, he once wrote: "You cannot now
believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are
sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it, will make
you less miserable now."
It is true that few of us seem to stay in that peaceful valley for
long. But, as someone aptly said, "The truly happy person is one who
can enjoy the scenery while on detour." Detours, after all, are
temporary.
__________
This reading can be found in Steve Goodier's book:
PRESCRIPTION FOR PEACE
(We gift-wrap for FREE!)
http://lifesupportsystem.com/presforpeac.html
From there you can look down to the lowest spot in the United States,
a depression in the earth 200 feet below sea level called Bad Water.
But you can also look up to the highest peak in the contiguous United
States, Mt. Whitney, which rises to a height of 14,500 feet.
Our lives also bring us to such places - where we can either journey
into the depths of despair and depression or rise to incredible
heights - depending on the direction we head. Yet, the mountaintop may
not be where we want to reside, either. In a letter to a suicidal
person, Al Hillman shared some exquisite wisdom:
"Sheila," he wrote, "I know all too well the battle you are
engaged
in. You see, I spent many years in the deep, dark valleys of mental
illness. Most (people) want to be on the mountaintop. I don't. I have
climbed mountains up to 17,000 feet. Not a pleasant place to be.
Bitterly cold, roaring winds, nothing grows there. Just snow, ice and
rocks. Very uncomfortable. Even the view is dismal, for all one can
see is clouds.
"I have also been in the deep, dark valleys where the walls are so
steep that nothing grows; there is complete darkness and one is all
alone. A terrifying place to be.
"I enjoy being in the valley (with) the green pastures and (where) the
streams are gentle and calm…."
Naturally, there are often valid medical reasons for mood shifts and
depression. And it may require all of our resources to climb back out
of our private "Bad Water": support from the medical community,
friends and family, as well as our spiritual resources. We are not
alone.
But I also like the counsel of Abraham Lincoln, who was similarly
afflicted. In a letter to a friend, he once wrote: "You cannot now
believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are
sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it, will make
you less miserable now."
It is true that few of us seem to stay in that peaceful valley for
long. But, as someone aptly said, "The truly happy person is one who
can enjoy the scenery while on detour." Detours, after all, are
temporary.
__________
This reading can be found in Steve Goodier's book:
PRESCRIPTION FOR PEACE
(We gift-wrap for FREE!)
http://lifesupportsystem.com/presforpeac.html
