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Sunday, July 17, 2011

Leaps of faith


Life is tough. Anyone who doesn't think so isn't doing it right. For all the encouragement we possibly get from those closest to us, daily life is still a struggle. Dealing with the stressful situations we encounter each day, from the most mundane and banal, to the truly life-changing and serious, is wearing and exhausting.

Daily life events add up. They take their toll. And keeping in mind that we all have our crosses to bear, although they can be completely different, we are the ones who must deal with them, day in and day out.

It's amazing, even miraculous, how much one person can touch another's life and what a difference can be made by saying the right thing, at the right time, under the right circumstances. How many times do we feel we are at our wit's end and, as if on cue, someone in our life says just the right thing which makes all the difference in that moment? When this happens, some people call it serendipity, some call it karma, some call it divine intervention. Perhaps it is all of these things... and even more.

Dealing with life's trials and tribulations, both big and small, can wear the most accomplished, brave, intelligent, hopeful and optimistic of us down. The old saying, "misery loves company", is not only true, it makes sense. None of us likes to suffer alone. The last thing we want to hear when we are in the middle of a crisis is how great so and so's day went. It isn't being mean, it's just human nature. And it isn't always the case.

Often times it helps us to drag ourselves out of the blues when we hear about good news or a happy event. But there are days when nothing seems to be able to help. That's why I believe that every day is a leap of faith.

My best buddy, Wikipedia, defines "Leap of Faith" as - "A leap of faith, in its most commonly used meaning, is the act of believing in or accepting something intangible or unprovable, or without empirical evidence.[1] It is an act commonly associated with religious belief as many religions consider faith to be an essential element of piety." 

Life truly is a daily leap of faith because each day we are faced with new, sometimes staggering, situations that can bring us to our knees. Each day we wake to existing challenges, past sorrows, and approaching deadlines. There are financial issues, family dynamics, political and national problems.  Dealing with situations which may be causing us anxiety, depression, lack of confidence can cripple cause havoc in any person's life.

Even the happiest, most satisfied and fulfilled person has doubts that creep into their souls. In attempting to overcome these obstacles in daily life, many people- myself included- are sustained by a deep and abiding belief that these challenges, hardships and burdens are bearable by that daily leap of faith.

Believing that there is a greater good, despite the bad and the difficult, which can sustain us through the pain and the diifficulties we encounter.

4 comments:

  1. "Serendipity" is my favorite word I believe. That I would see these very words in this very moment is serendipitous for me. Thank you one million times, Diana, for helping me know I am not alone to believe life truly is a daily "leap of faith."

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  2. It's one of my favorite words, too, Diana. As you wrote, it's happened that situations turned, thus I live one day at a time. There's a bigger picture than I can see, and faith keep me grounded.

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  3. Thank you both for your comments. I appreciate the sharing. I will write more posts on this theme, as it is near and dear to my heart. Please share this with others who may benefit from it.

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  4. Diana! You rock! There are so many benefits to being authentic...this MAY just be the greatest! When we leave the house with our mask of perfection on, we miss out on the lasting connections of meeting up with someone who needs to see our imperfections. Hurting people help hurting people. There's credibility in our struggles! And there's power in sharing the highs and lows of our leaps...for we create a firm foundation of hope for all we meet!!!!

    If we never take the leap...our thirsty souls will never be quenched! :)

    If we never take the leap...we will never soar! :)

    Yes, that leap of faith is critical for all of us!

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