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On Transcendence and Optimism:
Contemplations about Easter and Grief
...."Suffering, like all man's ills, helps man to rise above himself"....
The Plague....Albert Camus, philosoper and author
The mystery and wonder of the Easter season pervades many people's thoughts, irrespective of whether or not they observe the religious aspect of it.
We have lived some forty days in the Lenten period, a time of self-discipline, moderation, renewal and above all, deep reflection. We reflect on the nature and design of life, the meaning and purpose of living, the inevitability of human suffering, the awesome power of a Transcendant Being....all within the context of the transience of this life. And, in reflection, we struggle to embrace the optimism inherent in the promise of Easter Sunday: a celebration of the transcendence of life over death.
For those who have experienced a death and are now in grief, this is a time of even deeper searching: a profound struggle to understand the how and why of your particular loss through death at this particular time. You search through the confusion and ambiguity for the answer to your suffering--and the final suffering of the one who died. But you find only more questions, ambiguity, and doubt and you may even question the existence of a Transcendent Deity. Through it all, you trust that the "suffering, like all man's ills" will help you to "rise above yourself".
...."And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should, therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be"....The Desiderata, Max Ehrmann
This Easter Sunday, once again, bears witness to the triumph of trancendence of life over death and, in suffering your grief, you struggle with the optimism inherent in that promise. The focus on optimism as used here should not be interpreted as the superficial "smiley-face" of "put on a happy face". It is, rather, a deeply held belief that good ultimately prevails over evil, that the universe "is unfolding as it should", that each individual's reality resonates with that unfolding, and that the meaning and purpose of life is continuously revealed to us as we stretch through our pain and suffering to discover different profiles of our "self".
As you approach this Easter Sunday, be gentle and patient with yourself, tolerate the pain and confusion, contemplate the questions and doubts that assail you, honor the truth that surfaces from within, and wrap yourself in the wisdom of this Easter message: it is one of trancendence and optimism.
Have a blessed Holy Day and a joyful holiday!
(In my book,You Don't Have to Like It , But You Do Have to Live It, you will find a deeper exploration of these ideas in the section on common themes...."Theme of Transience" pp.169-177).
Untill Next Time.... |
