| Tay
You are making huge strides by reaching deep within. Your personality (and mine) is classic. Wanting, needing to control everything. Sh*t, who is better than that than we Americans. We're trying to herd cats all over the bloody world and can't figure out why it isn't working and everyone hates us.
Think on the word "serenity." Why that word? Why not "peace?" Why not "knowledge?" Grant me .....the serenity. It is such a simple concept. Like Dee said "just give up, just let go." What do we really control. What do we give up by trying to control things we cannot?
Analogies and metaphors are great for understanding, I think. How about childbirth Tay? Does that strike a chord? In this excruciating series of events, is there not a point when you just surrender? Just let go? Give up to the processes of your body? A point where there is no turning, no looking back? Giving up control from your mind to the natural processes of nature? Perhaps if men gave birth we'd be a hell of a lot more serene.
Surrender and forgiveness take letting go of our problem solving, control freak minds. Recognizing that while our minds are good at what they do, they have limitations, and when our mind reaches its limits, the crunching of gears results in toxic feelings. That energy has to go somewhere. Thus anger, resentment, hostility, bitterness, struggle. It is ambient energy that has nowhere to go. We drink to neutralize that energy. In the beginning it works!
I believe that letting go is as natural as childbirth. It can be as difficult. But, when done, it is just as rewarding. We have created something very worthwhile-serenity. Our bodies are free from that energy. We can relax and recover.
The prayer is emphatic-control what we can! It doesn't suggest we surrender to EVERYTHING. Quite the opposite. It simply suggests that we focus our energy on the things that matter, the things we CAN change and control. And neutralize the power that the uncontrollable has on us, by simply letting it go.
I once had a field fire get away from me. I nearly killed myself trying to control it. Running here, there trying to head it off, cursing the wind. I was in tears as the flames hit the treeline, rising 60 feet in the air. I reached the point where I simply surrendered and looked in awe at the energy being released. I was one powerless human and I had to accept it. When the fuel was consumed the inferno dissipated and all was calm. In weeks the burnt area was greener than it had ever been. It had been cleansed of all the dead brush and weeds and ugly stuff. In its place was reborn growth. Healthy growth. Serene and green. It is what we need to do once in a while.
warren |