As a resident of the Greater Nashville Area, I’m in the fortunate position of being able to sit with my laptop and write a blog rather than sift through my flood-soaked belongings and seek temporary shelter. The latter is the predicament that many citizens of this area are in after the weather events of this past weekend, and several have completely lost their homes while others have lost their lives.
One nagging observation has been entrenched within my mind as I watch TV news footage and scroll through Internet updates of the worst Middle Tennessee flooding anyone can recall: the indiscriminate impact of the water
Socio-economic, cultural and political boundaries made little to no difference in the wake of its fury. Mansions flooded and mobile homes floated away. Cars of all makes, models and qualities were stranded or piled upon each other. Schools of every level of academic achievement were damaged or rendered inaccessible. Some will have more long-term resources for recovery than others, but in the immediate space there was little anyone could due to insulate themselves from nature’s fury.
This reminds me of how when it comes right down to it, despite whatever resources, social savvy or connections we have accumulated, we are limited in how much we can insulate ourselves from life’s most pressing conundrums. How to have a meaningful career. How to fulfill our potential. How to stay healthy most of the time. How to find spiritual comfort.
How to find love.
Celebrities and paupers alike wrestle with such hopes and aspirations. Both categories can taste joy or despair with equal impact.
In the end, the emotional, intellectual and spiritual resources were have gathered and synthesized will have far greater impact on the “quality of our lives” than our material surroundings. Endeavors such as lifelong learning; increasing in emotional intelligence; surrendering to divine consciousness; and building authentic relationships will lift anyone above the rising waters of unforeseen circumstances.
As conscious beings we are far more than our temporary context; we are eternal sojourners who can take momentary delight in the forms of this world, and not be defined by or through them.
