Summer Storms - A Reflection of our Own Being in the World.

This past Wednesday we experienced a severe summer storm. Fortunately for us we were at home as we watched the ominous black clouds swiftly roar in from the west. Because our balcony is on the south side of the building we decided to sit under the overhang and watch the storm go by. However, at one point as the lightning strikes came too close for comfort, we decided to retreat inside to the safety of our condominium.

As we watched this fast moving storm I was reminded how much it resembles our own existence, our own being in the world. We all experience storms, both physical and emotional in our lives. Some storms are life-changing, such as serious illness or the death of a loved one, while others are less damaging but are often the source of anxiety and tension.

I was reminded of the song by Billy Joel entitled HONESTY.

                                  If you search for tenderness it isn't hard to find
                                  You can have the love you need to live.
                                  And if  you look for truthfulness you might just as well be blind.
                                  It always seems to be so hard to give.

Then he goes on to say:

                                  Honesty is such a lonely word.  Everyone is so untrue.
                                  Honesty is hardly ever heard. But mostly what I need from you.

Billy Joel has a good point to make.  Removing the pent up feelings that can often gnaw away at our being and even cause us  health problems, can so easily be avoided by being honest in our relations with others. But even more importantly, finding in our being the ability to say "I'm sorry" even when our intentions were honest in the first place. Often, we have nothing to lose and so much more to gain.

This old octogenarian knows how difficult it is to be open and accepting to all we encounter. Yet in the end, eliminating those simple negative feelings and judgements, can be the source of so much internal peace within ourselves. This is often true even if the other fails to join hands and dismiss the hurt feelings.

There will be more summer storms coming our way no doubt. And there will be 'personal storms' as well, and most of us can be sure of that. We can learn from nature, that no matter how severe the storm, it will pass on by if we simply give it a chance.

And that's Dick's View of the World this Week