Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

How is it that some find Wings?

French Brocante

What does your heart hold on to? What keeps you going, encourages you to take the road less traveled? Where do you feel that feeling of expansion, yet centered at the same time?

Some call it home, or community, some say faith, most of us would say love.

The base is can be that, but how to enter that state of mind of peace, contentment, the belief that all is good? How to be there and eventually share it when the road ahead is a dead end, or what we held true- falters, how do we stay true to the beauty of ourselves in times of darkness?

 

French Brocante Eye glasses

 

Lately, some friends of mine have struggled with depression, despair and others grave illness. I have listened, and prayed with them. But it is their courage to continue to fight the feeling of hopelessness, their ability to speak such wisdom when nothing around them encourages it, to find peace and take hold without fail, that makes me ask the above and stand in awe of the message they share even we they are hurting.

 

Love by my side

 

It is as if they have been pushed off a cliff and yet they fly.

And so I ask how do some find wings and others do not?

 

 

A medal on her heart

 

I think it comes to the day to day choices, to see through the message of the current moment to focus of the truth of love. We are beautiful, deserving of happiness, and have the source of light within us.

This moment, this beautiful all consuming moment, is what we have and it is worth living fully.

Finding inner peace.

What do you say/do when the darkness tries to sip in?

 

Angel-18th-century.handsNotes:

Thank you for the wonderful, generous comments, FB messages and emails yesterday. I have taken note of your helpful advice and hopeful won't pass out with fright. Your loving kindness is truly a blessing.

 

Calm.

 

 

 

Comments

15 responses to “How is it that some find Wings?”

  1. LieseLotte

    When I feel really down I go for a walk and watch nature around me – find moments of luck watching a busy bird or finding some seeds that have resisted stormy weather .. they can restore my inner peace and make my sinister thoughts feel less important. Love, LieseLotte

    Reply
  2. Jeannie

    I think we all have wings, but not everyone can harness the inner determination to spread them. I have a chronic disease. Most people don’t know it. It will not kill me. It does cause me incredible pain. When diagnosed, I knew I could crawl into my den and hide from the world for the rest of my life or I could choose to live. For me, the den really wasn’t an option. Granted, there are days where I retreat, but on the whole, I suck it up. I learned this from my Grandmother. She died of multiple myeloma, a form of bone cancer. She LIVED every second of every day until she took her last breath. She learned to paint with oils and watercolor, she learned to play the organ. We would make trips to the fabric or yarn shop. She allowed herself to follow her heart down whatever path arose. Like LieseLotta, I am in nature everyday, it lifts my spirits. I create. It might be two stitches on a project as that is all the body will allow, but I took those two stitches. I choose to LIVE!

    Reply
  3. Chris Wittmann

    For me it’s faith and the fact I’ve been blessed with an odd ability to find a silver lining in the darkest clouds. Life is a learning experience, good and bad we learn from them all. You have to learn to calmly ride the waves and not let them wash over you. I believe our lives were planned long before we were born, and everything happens for a reason…even if you can’t imagine what that reason is at the time. I have known people who suffer from severe depression, my own husband was one when I first met him. I don’t understand it because I’ve never experienced it, and sometimes find it hard to have the patience to deal with those who do, but I’ve gotten better over the years. Faith is so important in my life. Good diet and certain vitamins also helped my hubby alot 🙂

    Reply
  4. christine

    i am dealing with a serious health issue with my husband of 25 yrs and i am struggling for sure. i will be curious to see others responses since this is such a thoughtful tribe you’ve gathered here.
    Christine

    Reply
  5. Sharon Penney-Morrison

    I listen for that comforting voice that says,”Give me your burdens, and rest,”….again I say, “Give ME your burdens and rest.”
    After my mind wonders with the, what if’s, I give them to HIM, and say take them for only you can fix it.
    I should write a book about the miracles in my life.
    I have faith, I pray, and then I work really hard at leaving it alone.
    s

    Reply
  6. monica

    Faith.

    Reply
  7. LIl

    My brother has ALS and is now in a hospital on a ventilator. He’s 65 this week. He was an airline pilot flying commercial planes internationally until a few years ago. He was the most mobile person and now has a disease that confines him to a wheelchair and a ventilator, YET he is the most mentally active person I know. He hasn’t spent one minute, that I know of, pitying himself. I went to see him a couple of weeks ago and wondered how it would be, but from the minute I stepped into his room I was swept up in his projects, such as working on the family genealogy or trying out some new technological gadget. He’s still a man on the go, working within his new parameters. And wherever he’s ever lived, he’s made lots of friends. Now at lunchtime, he goes to the lunchroom, even though he can’t really eat there, so that he can spend time with his new friends, the other patients at the hospital. He’s pretty incredible.

    Reply
  8. Delphine

    Rare illness and the responsibility of caring for someone else who is chronically ill makes life difficult. The tears fall and bathe the pain. Conversations with God flow, for there is no one else to talk to, and peace comes. Then there is the conversation with myself. I tell myself I can cope, I can do and it will be all right. I focus on the good and the happy in this world, breathe deep and keep an inventory in my head of what I achieve daily. Like Jeannie said, just two stitches, sweep the floor, make a nice meal, achievements. My husband can’t do this. He has chronic illnesses and is very depressed but angry also and that feeds the demon within. To control it, you must chain it down with positivity,however small.

    Reply
  9. Jenna

    I don’t know. It would be wonderful to know so it could be shared with everyone.

    Reply
  10. mimi

    This is a really difficult subject. It is impossible to understand depression unless you experience it. I watched someone suffer with manic depression for years. It was heartbreaking. She finally had shock treatments. It has helped.
    When I went through a serious illness I became severely depressed. NOTHING could compare to the utter despair I felt at that time. There was a part of me that realized something was seriously wrong, yet I did not understand what was happening at the time. Signs are lack of appetite, not feeling joy, sleeplessness. I took medication for a while and all is well now. The advice I have for others dealing with a depressed person is LOVE them – even when the person is difficult. Remind them that this is a season of their life. But, it will pass and they will feel joy again. Give hope for a brighter tomorrow. A candle shines brightest in darkness.
    Sometimes a change of scenery or environment can help too. This can put things into perspective when you are feeling overwhelmed. Hope this helps (a little).

    Reply
  11. TEXAS FRANCOPHILE

    Oh LIL that disease is the worst. I will pray for
    Your brother. I admire his spirit. Perhaps the
    Memories of soaring thru the sky keep him
    Charged!

    Reply
  12. Paulita

    Corey, It’s funny that you ask this question, when so many of us definitely think this is a skill that you have. Your optimism, your outlook and your joie de vivre are all inspiring. After all, you find joy in old papers!

    Reply
  13. Pamela RG

    This is very uplifting. Thank you for that. First of all, faith and prayer, then gratitude, being thankful for what we already have. I always think of the good in people and in things. Then as the Bible indicates, ” faith, hope and love” really must be the ones that should keep us going. Have a wonderful weekend.

    Reply
  14. Bev

    It’s a big and open-ended question. All I can and do say is that God suffers with the person. God understands deep hurt and suffering. I also find comfort that the number one commandment repeated in the Bible is not “love God” or “love others,” it’s “Fear Not. Don’t be afraid.” In fact my text for Sunday’s sermon (which is not done yet:) is Joshua 8:1 “Fear not and don’t be discouraged.”

    Reply
  15. peggy braswell

    Faith-in something bigger than me- gratitude,giving thanks for all that surrounds me(what I have). These are the things that help me when my monkey mind is running amok!(which it often does) xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

    Reply

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