COIN TOSS

COIN TOSS

“Life is a unique concoction of joy and sadness (sorrow). To live fully, is to experience both simultaneously as an individual and as a part of a collective or community.”  I penned these words as a prelude to reading a letter to a sister-friend who died after a battle with cancer. How do these words enlighten your context of life? How were the specific words born in me?

My arrival at the truth of the words came from my personal and prolonged encounters with sadness, sorrow, grief, disappointment, and any other synonym that you might apply to this state of being. I have been on the mat with all of them. Thay have knocked me down but not out.

A casual review of any of the undelightful challenges revealed that joy and laughter fought alongside me – sometimes in the shadows but none the less, present. The reverse is also true. Every joy filled experience has a bit of sadness or something similar, standing guard in the shadows – present but easy to ignore.

The two opposites coexist.

I was and remain deeply saddened by my friend’s transition from this physical realm. She suffered physically and emotionally. Her distress in trying to live pierced my heart’s core. Upon learning of her death, I immediately breathed a sigh of relief for her and for myself. I wanted her to live but I didn’t want her to suffer. Surprisingly guilt soon replaced relief. How could I feel relief when a family’s ecosystem has been interrupted? How could I feel relief knowing that henceforth I would be denied the conversation where after a long story, the words, “To make a long story short,” would be inserted?” Sadness for all that was lost replaced the guilt.

As the next few days unfolded, the sadness began to be tempered by memories. Thoughts of what she deposited in the lives of others began to emerge. On the day of her celebration, I witnessed the restoration of and the re-storying of a mutual friendship.

As I stood by her graveside listening to the droning of the officiant’s voice and looking at grief that was palpable, my attention was drawn to a beautiful canopy of majestic green trees. A cacophony of birds singing provides the soundtrack for the moment. Joy flooded my heart. My opening statement, “Life is a unique concoction of joy and sadness…” was validated.

2 Corinthians 6:10

PONDER THIS THOUGHT--- Joy and sadness are different sides of the same coin. They travel together.