In early-childhood Fate grabbed me by the throat, hurling me into a concrete wall of despair. I met an undiagnosable crippling illness, and after years of searching, many operations. After the seventh brain surgery went horrifically wrong I faced either surrender or finding some means of moving forward.
Across the decades we're all battered by struggles. They may be heart-wrenching and cause great despair, or the struggles and joys of day-to-day life. Fortunately, we can survive great sorrow without annihilating our Will.
The way I have found to confront challenges is by turning to the kinds of inner resources we all have. We gain strength from the character traits learned in early years. Through prayer and reflection, through meditation, we find deep peace of mind and the courage to go on. Since only the unknown lies ahead, our destiny may be simply forging on.
Sometimes life washes our eyes with the acids of adversity.
But disasters seldom destroy us; their challenges
steel our explorations.
Strengths of character gleaned during early
years are manifest when the flames of misfortune sear.
Stay the course and the greater world throws itself
behind our will—redeems and reinforces it.
With the virtues of patience and fortitude
we overcome adversities that Clotho's loom has spun.
From the light of our deepest self, the shelter of the soul,
we find an ultimate peace, a majestic understanding.
Prayer and meditation
help our passage to grow resilient, self-reliant.
By surviving despair, we keep appointments with destiny.
