www.yourbeautifulmind.com

When a bit of sand gets into an oyster, the oyster doesn't cry
and complain about how unfair it is, or tell the sand to get out. It
responds by reflex, slowly and patiently surrounding the grain of sand
with layer upon layer of a white substance. It doesn't happen overnight,
but ultimately this layering becomes a pearl that we humans value and
consider beautiful.

Contrary to the oyster, when the grit hits the fan for us
humans, the usual response is to cry and moan, rant that it's unfair, and
generally resist the whole process. Most of us grew up learning that
this is the appropriate way to respond to challenges. After all, that's
what we saw everyone else do. In our unconscious state we blame others
for our dilemmas, or rant at God asking WHY ME? It may be a diagnosis of
cancer, a spouse who leaves, a job lost unexpectedly, betrayal by a
friend, or a myriad of other challenges that can confront us.

Yet in the anguish surrounding the difficulty there is always
the still small Voice of Spirit, nudging us to trust the process,
guiding us to begin surrounding the grit with layers of awareness,
acceptance, forgiveness, and transformation. Unlike the oyster, we are at
choice. We can continue to go down the path of anger and depression or choose
to allow the grit to help us grow. Like the oyster, the layering
process takes time.

Many people turn to a spiritual path when dealing with a
crisis. Suddenly the need to connect with a Higher Power for comfort is
apparent. In my case, it happened in my twenties when I was working for
the welfare system in Los Angeles. I was overwhelmed with the bureaucracy
in the department and the huge needs of the people I was attempting to
help. Coupled with my perfectionism, I couldn't possibly get everything
done. Running on coffee and cigarettes during the day, I used alcohol
at night to relax and sleep. Emotionally and physically I was depleted.
Then a friend introduced me to meditation. At the time meditation
sounded like a weird thing to me, but intuitively I knew it was the answer.
In only a few weeks my life turned around and I was solidly on a
spiritual path. Wouldn't it be wonderful to say that was the last crisis I
even experienced? But of course that would be untrue. During the ensuing
years I've been through other challenges large and small.

Sometimes when people have been on a spiritual path for a
while and feel they've been doing their best to practice forgiveness, say
their affirmations and otherwise stay on the path, the challenge hits
even harder because they believe "we create our own reality." They feel
guilty and ask themselves, "How did I create THIS?" I've done that a
few times! But guilt never helps the process. Because we all have an
unconscious mind, things we don't seem to want will get created, no matter
how many affirmations we do. When the unexpected grit happens, it's
time to strengthen those spiritual muscles even more by meditating,
listening for guidance, practicing forgiveness, and loving ourselves in the
process. 

So the next time grit gets into YOUR oyster, remember the
image of layering it with white, symbolizing the light of Spirit
illuminating the recovery process. Be gentle with yourself and know that
"this, too, shall pass."