Thought For Today

Saturday, November 6, 2010

The Steady Light of Hope (revisited)









The Thought for Today is a rerun... but life has a way of going full circle. People I know are going though some very tough times right now. Health, financial, despair etc....  Yesterday I printed off a couple copies of the post I wrote last July to send to out to a couple people. I didn't get anything sent and was having second thoughts about sending it at all as it may be too presumptuous... and well... guess what the thought for today is? Exactly the same "Steady Light of Hope" that I wrote about over a year ago.... Coincidence? I think not.. I think it is the synchronicity of Life, a message of Life... to not second guess and just do.... So, with a few edits from the original version, here is my STEADY LIGHT OF HOPE-revisited:

STEADY LIGHT OF HOPE

 (This was my Steady Light of Hope the other morning)








Going through an old thought for the day I came across this one that unfortunately, sometimes hits home.

When illness strikes, loneliness, despair, pain, hurt, death, fear, etc….. Find your

STEADY LIGHT OF HOPE

“No Matter how dark the situation, let me always hold on to the steady Light of Hope.”
( www.thoughtfortheday.org.uk )

When I’m right in the thick of things, my darkest moments, my deepest despair; it seems impossible to find a steady Light of Hope. All you see is darkness. No windows, no doors, just deep sorrow, loss, despair, pain, loneliness, fear…. How can they say there’s even a glimpse of hope let alone a steady Light of Hope?

A lot of twelve step programs say you have to hit bottom before you can start the healing. Sometimes, that’s all too true. When your down and out and you can’t get any lower, and all  you feel you have is this dark coal of despair... It is at this point you feel life isn't worth it and you feel you have no choices, ... so low you are that you  even have to look up to see the rim of the gutter….. And there it is…."Look Up"... When all seems hopeless/darkest and the pain is so deep it hurts and  your chest physically aches, that is when you begin to crawl… reaching for whatever you can grasp…. , and you reach up to grab the rim of the gutter… all the sudden you're on your knees… "looking up". You are reeling with pain and despair you can't even talk... It is then that the mind screams out  “God /Creator/Universe/Devine; WHY, HOW, WHERE, STOP… PLEASE!??” That raw guttural plea turns into a prayer of desperation. It’s in that asking for deliverance that healing can begin. That dark coal in your heart starts to warm and glow. The ember starts to take hold. Your hand reaches up to grasp Hope. It’s then that things begin to change. Once the “prayer” or “cry” of desperation is uttered, there’s no going back. Coal may take a while to warm and glow but its fire heats deep and its glow lasts long and can be seen through the darkness.

Even in the darkest of dungeons, there is a glimmer of Light (hope) when they slide nourishment towards you. There is companionship in the quiet mouse that visits you every night. There is communication with the cricket that sings to you. All these small Steady Lights of Hope are around you even though you may feel alone. Look around see, feel, taste, touch, hear the heart beat of life, of Hope in the silence of despair. You are not alone. The Great Creator puts these unassuming beacons to guide us, to be with us even in our darkest days.

Focus on the glimmer of Light. Find comfort in the companionship around you. Listen to the songs of nature, taste the cool water that washes over you, easing pain. Touch the healing hand reaching down.
Reach up to the Light. Look up and see the steady Light of Hope beaming down on you. You are not alone.
That comforting smile from a nurse; that warm cup of tea/coffee being offered; that phone call that comes with the hope of work, the driver that motions for you to go ahead of them; that unexpected coin you find on the ground; the neighbor that waves good morning to you; the sunshine that warms your face; the breeze soft as an angel kiss cool on your cheek; the coo of a newborn baby; the chirp of a bird; the unconditional love given by your most precious pet; ... the list is endless for examples of the “Steady Light of Hope”. We may not recognize them at first when we are in our deepest darkest place, but they are there: ever present, always waiting for us.

Focus on the Lights that are around you and the darkness and shadows will fade. For up above the darkest storm clouds lies a Bright and Glorious Universe of Light. A Light so bright that it will fill your soul with Love and Peace. A Light of many colors creating a glorious Healing Rainbow of Hope. Reach Up and take the Hand of Love and you will find your Steady Light of Hope.

May you find healing and comfort even in your darkest situations. May you hold on to your Steady Light of Hope and find Peace and understanding. May your dark clouds lift giving way to the Healing Rainbow of Hope.

Love and Light, Nina P.

10 comments:

Beth Niquette said...

Oh Nina--this is beautiful.

Clytie said...

I am crying this time, just like I did last time. How often do I start griping, whining, moping, groping ... and forget to look up - at the small and steady lights of Hope. Of faith. Of love. Because they really are all around me!

So this day, Nina, YOU are one of those steady lights of Hope. For me. For everyone who reads these words and knows the truth about themselves, about their Creator.

Thank you, my friend.

Wendy said...

I came here to thank you for your not only kind words, but straight to the heart words, exactly right words, echoing my feelings,clarifying my thoughts on my post Welcome Home Son (homeofthefaeries).

As you must have guessed, my husband passed away recently. It was July and I haven't stopped crying for him. Yes, he was sick for a long time, but it doesn't matter. I miss him so.

But, I do feel his butterfly kiss on my cheek as I lie in bed weeping for him; the feather that finds me in the yard; the butterflies dancing together joyfully (in Thai belief a butterfly is a soul come back from the dead to tell us all is well). The other night I smelled coffee on my pillow. Coffee! I don't drink coffee in bed, but coffee was something special that hubby and I shared. Last night I smelled him - actually smelled his scent just before I dropped off to sleep,and during the night when my mind was going round and round in panic circles, I felt his comforting touch on my shoulder. No, I am not imagining these signs. There are far more than just these few.

So, your post today was exactly what I needed to hear. And I will print it up, if you don't mind, so I can read it often, when I'm in that black pit of despair. After all, he was(still is) my soulmate - why did he have to die? Makes no sense to me at all.
Love and Light and thank you for being such a kind and gentle spirit.

DB said...

This is excellent Nina. I have been in the pit of despair often. And I developed a habit that whenever I was someplace where the problems couldn't touch me, riding on a bus, sitting in a park where no one knew where I was or at night when no threatening phone calls were coming in or no dreaded knock on the door, I would simply say "Right now, at this moment, everything is okay." That moment of relaxation and peace gave me the strength to look for the light. That and the knowledge that no matter how severe the problem is the solution already exists somewhere.
DB

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Such absolutely beautiful thoughts, dear Nina!!! I'm so glad you reposted this!!! Just stopping by to say "hello," to you!! And to send you my love, Janine XO

septembermom said...

"All these small Steady Lights of Hope are around you even though you may feel alone. Look around see, feel, taste, touch, hear the heart beat of life, of Hope in the silence of despair. You are not alone. The Great Creator puts these unassuming beacons to guide us, to be with us even in our darkest days." -- beautifully written. Thank you!!

JANN said...

Love this post Nina, you always say the best. Thanks for sharing.

Terry said...

Howdy Nina P.
Thank you Nina P. for being the steady light of hope that you are.
I am so taken by your ability to grasp hold of such serious ,deep pain as well as profound joy and put it into simple easy to embrace and carry with you words.
Your talent is such a wonderful gift. I am so glad you choose to share it .
Thank you for your visits to my blog and beautiful comments.
I needed to read your post more than you could ever imagine ,but than again you probably can :)
God Bless you for being you !
May today day bring you abundant light and joy ,may your coming days over flow with peace and happiness .
Big Hugs from Texas
Until we meet again
Happy Trails

Granny Annie said...

This is a beautiful reminder for me of the medicine my mother raised me on. It was the medicine of "We always have hope". I feel sad for people who do not know that.

Binoy Mathew said...

Really touching soft mellow words, beautiful language, and i wonder how could i be so late to read this... u inspire.. there s some magic in your words...