From the Stone Tarot, the Ten of Wands; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, Dhammapada 17:222:
Cracks showed through the new paint.
~Alison Stone
To be a responsible adult involves taking on commitments, whether the duties are related to family ties, work obligations or volunteer services. Usually we can juggle these tasks, but sometimes the perfect storm arrives and we find ourselves floundering in a tsunami-sized sea of debris. To stay afloat, we may need to let go of some duties that aren't critical and ask for help in shouldering some of the load that we carry. There may even be a few things we've taken on that aren't really our responsibility. But above all, we need to find a few minutes of solitude to breathe. The Dhammapada quote speaks about an emotion that often accompanies such a tsunami: "The one who keeps anger in check as it arises, as one would a careening chariot, I call a charioteer. Others are merely rein-holders." If we want to find a way back to sanity and calm, lashing out in blame and anger won't be of help. Self-restraint will enable us to communicate an SOS without the drama attached, and perhaps get the support we need.
The first question to answer is am I in it for the glory or am I polishing my heart? As I watch the New Covid Christmas in Kalama ramp up I see the old guard still elbowing out the new offered help. They like a tight rein on the glory.
ReplyDeleteVery true. There is a motive behind every action, and some are dark rather than light.
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