I wrote a short poem a while back about living life with open hands:
I will live my life with Open Hands
Courageously – taking what I'm given
Humbly – supporting what I have
Peacefully – giving what is taken
Faithfully – trusting what will comeI will live my life with Open Hands
This may sound defeatist, but I believe that much of life's happiness comes from contentment. Being content, regardless of your circumstances, is the only path to peace. This doesn't mean you give up. You still scrap and persevere to gain what is needed for life. It isn't taking the easy road. It's knowing that at the end of the day, or at the end of life, you've done your part and kept commitments to love an live at the highest level you could.
At the time of this post, Cathy and I were both in the process of losing our Dads. Each has been a different path. My Dad had Parkinson's for a decade of slowly deteriorating. Cathy's Dad was in a fight with cancer that until the then he was winning. Both were losing their battles quickly.
So how does contentment fit in when you are losing someone you love?
I will live my life with open hands
Courageously - taking the pain along with recognizing that death is part of life
Humbly - supporting them through this process along with the rest of the family
Peacefully - giving through grief what will be taken whether I let go with peace or anger
Faithfully - trusting that they will be accepted into something much greater than thisI will live my life with open hands
Contentment is the essence of living with things that cannot be changed.
Courage and humility are the keys to changing how I react to thing with which I struggle.
Peace and faith can be the outcome of the process, it's my choice.
Simply,
Tim
