“All shall be well. All shall be well. And all manner of thing shall be well”
There are no promises in life but the words by Dame Julian of Norwich (c. 1342) can be of assistance when dealing with difficult moments difficult people difficult situations.
Used as … a prayer … a hope … a mantra … a wish the words can offer a snippet of reassurance that “everything is going to be okay.” And when we’re “in the trenches” of difficult moments, people, situations, even though Dame Julian’s words don’t say that things *are* okay, her words do say that all *shall be* well. And that’s a calming thought because when life gets to be more difficult than we think we can manage, surely a sense of calm is what is needed.
Whether or not Dame Julian’s words are whispered thought prayed shouted cried softly spoken sung let’s hold the words close to our heart this night and in the nights to come.
Who knows – they might bring a peace that is intangible … yet real a joy that is indefinable … yet palpable a hope that is unimaginable … yet possible.
“I believe,Tinker Bell and Green-Frog-peering-through-leaves. I believe” that “all *shall be* well in spite of the lies in spite of the fear in spite of the fraud. At some point in time “all *shall be* well.
An aside: tried to locate the creator of this image without success. If you know the creator, please let me know so appropriate accreditation can be provided.
It seems that my heart has been skipping a lot of beats lately. I’ve been gasping. And yes, while the air quality has been a major issue for my lungs, the ‘gasping’ is more than that. The gasping has been about the incredulity of words spoken by men in powerful positions the devastation caused by the force of Nature the unbelievable cruelty of human beings the “ism’s” causing hatred, violence, terrorism and more.
And none of it is stopping.
“Breathe, June. Just breathe” I’ve said to myself as history has continued to be made in recent days and weeks. “Breathe. Just breathe”
It’s not just me. Many seem to be having difficulty breathing deep, life-giving oxygen into their lungs especially when political situations seem overwhelming when health is compromised when fear escalates simply by watching/listening to the news when financial issues disrupt when grief overwhelms.
I remember a day long ago, when my breath was shallow and fast. I dreaded the thought of being strapped into the MRI metal tube with its loud noises and being unable to move. But, the test needed doing, so I took my own advice and focused on my breathing. As I did, I thought of my friend who, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the time, lungs barely functioning was in wait-mode for a double lung transplant.
It was a terrifying time for her. As I was trying to move beyond the panic that was settling in within me because of the claustrophobia I was experiencing in the MRI I intentionally breathed for, and with, my friend slow, deep, belly breaths over and over and over again trying to take the focus off of myself place it onto her and did some conscious breathing for us both.
When I find myself breathing short, shallow breaths because of the news or anything that causes stress within me, like visits to the dentist, I pray and I *belly breathe* slow, deep breaths from my belly gently expanding my belly, not raising my shoulders.
When I do that, oxygen begins to fill my body and mind, giving space for a sense of peace to enter my spirit.
I find a pattern of four breaths at a time helps … 1. As I breathe in, I am intentional about inhaling healing, wholeness, hope, peace, love. Sometimes I use the prayer of Dame Julian of Norwich and on each inhale, I think/whisper “All shall be well.” 2. As I breathe out, I am intentional about exhaling anxiety, pain, fear, grief, stress. Sometimes I use the next line of Dame Julian’s prayer “All shall be well.” 3. As I breathe in, I repeat the first breath’s focus and think/pray/whisper/say “And all manner of thing”. 4. As I breathe out, I repeat the second breath’s focus and think/pray/whisper/say “Shall be well.”
Dame Julian’s words don’t say things “are” well, but that they “shall be” well and that puts hope in my heart and mind and soul.
In – Out. In – Out. In – Out. In- Out. As I continue that pattern the results seem to be calming, healing, and soul-nourishing and surely in these days of more-than-unrest-and-fear we must do what we can to de-stress.
It’s not always easy to do especially in moments of crisis but there is a distinct difference in my stress level when I follow my own counsel.
We must remember to breathe consciously breathe gently, slowly, deeply so that our body can get the oxygen it needs.
No matter what lies ahead in our personal lives or in the world of politics we’re of no use to anyone if we aren’t able to get oxygen into our body so we can think rationalize distinguish between ‘real news’ and ‘fake news’ acknowledge the possibility of hope.
Breathe. Just breathe.
Each day regardless of what is happening in the world in the media in our personal ives we must remember to breathe and inhale goodness kindness thoughtfulness gentleness love joy peace self-control
A friend wrote “I know I am fading. I need help with fading. I will be staying at home for this part of the journey.”
A woman of gentle strength, courage, humility, wisdom, and hope, her post reminded me of this photo which for me, became symbolic of birth and death.
In it, I saw tall, strong trees standing on the edge of fresh running water that brings life. I also saw leaves from those trees falling to their demise as salmon swam upstream in the waters to their end.
Birth and death similar in a unique way.
When we are born, we change our address. We move “From Beyond” (where we grow in the care of our mother’s womb) to “This World” (where we grow through life’s lessons).
When we die, we change our address again … We move from “This World” (where we have grown through life’s lessons) to “Beyond” (where, like our time in our mother’s womb, we were oblivious about what is before us, but is a hope that we are not at our ‘end’).
Perhaps we might think of death as a beginning … another new beginning.
So many have died recently. They have changed their address.
So many are dealing with terminal illness and are dying. They are about to change their address.
When we were born, we made the transition “From Beyond” to “This World.”
When we die, we will make the transition from “This World” to “Beyond.“
And when that happens, it could be far more glorious than we can even anticipate or imagine!
I first heard the words from Sarah in a small northern Alaskan village.
The tiny, elderly, native woman spoke them slowly and carefully, all the while looking directly in my eyes. “How deeply you are connected to my soul, June.”
Deeply humbled by her words, I was thinking “this is not your common-ordinary-everyday conversation with a stranger.“ At that moment, I could feel the connectedness we shared and knew, even though we were cultures apart and our differences far outweighed our similarities, the ‘at-one-ness’ with each other was real. At that moment, our souls had connected.
One of the songs I learned in the tiny wooden building in that Alaskan bush long ago reinforced Sarah’s words: “How could anyone ever tell you that you’re anything less than beautiful? How could anyone ever tell you that you’re less than whole? How could anyone fail to notice that your loving is a miracle? How deeply you’re connected to my soul.”(Libby Roderick)
Though I was the stranger in her remote village, and our customs, language, traditions, life experiences were alien to one another, something indelibly linked us together.
And in that moment, I realized the possibility that two people who, on the surface have little in common with one another, could have a soul-connection.
It was then that the word ‘community’ took on a new meaning for me.
Yet when I watch and listen to the news, I hear the growing rhetoric expressed by politicians who don’t tell the truth, whose views and comments lead to an escalating almost-to-the-point-of-paralyzing fear. I see the growing intolerance and racism, misogyny and hatred, and can’t help but wonder and ask two questions: “Why can we not recognize the soul-connections around us? “Why can we not be community?”
I have no answers only more questions …
“When will it be time for those who speak or think ill of another – those who wound others with their words or thoughts – those who teach people to hate and fear – those who tear-down rather than build-up to recognize that we are all connected we are all part of the same community …the human community?”
Quote “We can work together for a better world with men and women of goodwill, those who radiate the intrinsic goodness of humankind.”
Author Wangari Maathai (1940 – ) is an environmental and political activist. Born in Kenya, she received the Nobel Peace prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. She was an elected Member of Parliament, founded the Greenbelt Movement which planted over thirty million trees in Kenya to help prevent soil erosion, was awarded the first PhD by the University of Nairobi, and increasingly active on both environmental and women’s issues.
Her husband divorced her, reputedly saying that she was too strong-minded for a woman and that he was unable to control her. After the judge in the divorce case agreed with her husband, she was put in jail for speaking out against the judge who then decreed that she could no longer use her husband’s surname. In defiance, she chose to add an extra “a” to her last name – changing, but not changing it. She experienced imprisonment and physical attack for demanding multi-party elections and an end to tribal politics and political corruption in Kenya.
Soul-Questions
1. What does “intrinsic goodness of humankind” mean to you?
2. How can “intrinsic goodness” be radiated?
3. How can spirituality be expressed in environmental, economic, political etc. activism?
4. How can you work with others who radiate the intrinsic goodness of humankind “for a better world”?
******************** How to use “Soulistry Soul-Questions” You may want to begin a Journal so your responses are all in one place.
From time to time, a quotation will appear along with accompanying Soul-Questions. Write the quotation. Add the first question and write your response.
Take your time in writing your replies. This is your time – these are your answers.
Then at your leisure, add the second Soul-Question and respond and continue on. Btw, it helps to put the date after each Soul-Question response.
The “Soul-Questions” group on Facebook can be found www.facebook.com/groups/soulquestions
The “Soul-Questions” website and individual quotes/soul-questions can be found www.soulistry.com/soul-questions-blog-posts
