Looking Beyond

Something good to read on…Most of the time, when we are in deep anger and frustration, the only thing that is poisoning us is the feelings we choose to have, not because of what others have done to us.  Is a simple and straight philosophy to understand, yet not easy to master as it is always human nature to be driven away by emotion.

Years ago I used to notice the differences among bus-drivers on the Indiana Avenue line in Chicago – a street often blocked by badly parked cars and huge trailer trucks maneuvering in everybody’s way. Some drivers would get steamed up with rage, clang their bells and shout at the car drivers. At the end of the day they must have been nervous wrecks, jittery and hypertensive, a menace to their wives and children. Other bus drivers, however, could sit and wait for minutes without impatience, calmly whistling a tune, cleaning their fingernails, writing their reports. In other words, confronted with same objective situation, some men lived a hellish life of anger and nervous tension; others had a nice, relaxing job, with plenty of time for rest.

There are times we feel betrayed by the very persons from whom we expected trust and support.
The betrayal maybe for no fault of ours.
Yet, in an instinctive reaction, we become angry, resentful and bitter.
By nurturing such feelings we kill ourselves – slowly, but surely.
We smother ourselves unknowingly, as anger and bitterness lead us to despair.
Because we refuse to throw out the poison that kills us slowly, steadily.

But if we look beyond, and be ready to forgive and bless those who betrayed us, the poison that inflicts pain will dry up and the wounds soon heal.
All bitterness and resentment melts into understanding and acceptance.

Instead of being crushed under the weight of negative and despairing thoughts we rise to face the new challenges of life.
Instead of giving up hope, by thinking that things will never work out, we make them work out from within.
Instead of carrying the fear of being dragged down we trust in our hope which can lift us up.
When we look beyond and face life in more caring, trusting and positive ways we get more out of life.
When we look beyond, to our comfort, we find many things, one by one, take care of themselves.
They are like the variety of plants in the field; we do not have to worry about gathering their seeds and planting them.
They seed themselves to fruition.