There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope. -Baruch Spinoza
Like so many others, my thoughts and prayers have been focused on the catastrophic destruction imposed by Hurricane Maria on our fellow human beings and Americans in Puerto Rico and throughout the Caribbean.
After the initial shock and frantic efforts to survive have passed, harsh reality settles in, along with the question, “What do we do now?”
The answer, most often, is, “Hope and wait.”
Unfortunately, Hope and Patience, too often, can be undermined by Fear.
Patience is waiting.
Waiting creates a tunnel,
And places you inside.
The tunnel is dark and impenetrable,
And isolating.
You look, but cannot see,
You listen, but cannot hear.
You know where you are,
But you cannot understand why.
In the beginning, the tunnel is like a womb:
You feel safe, protected, and secure.
But, in time, you sense that you are not alone.
An intruder has invaded the tunnel.
An intruder, whose name is Fear.
He holds you hostage,
And makes you feel insecure.
No longer do you have any options,
No longer are you free to choose.
Fear is in control.
Endlessly you stare into the tunnel,
Searching for a way out.
Until you detect a
Pinhole, a flicker of light,
Like the flame of a candle burning
In the breeze,
In the night.
You move cautiously toward the light,
Careful not to awaken Fear,
Who sleeps by your side.
At the end of the tunnel is an opening,
A huge circle bathed in bright light.
Your pace quickens, your heart pounds.
But near the end of the tunnel,
Instinctively, you slow down.
Standing in the opening,
You fill your lungs with fresh sweet air.
You feel confident, secure.
In control.
Still, you look over your shoulder,
Still wary that Fear
Will suddenly appear.
Quickly, you must decide,
You’re free to choose:
The tunnel, or the light.
Can you decide?
Will you choose? – Excerpt from “I’m Afraid”
If patience is worth anything, it must endure to the end of time. And a living faith will last in the midst of the blackest storm. – Mahatma Gandhi
If we wait long enough, a flicker of light, a ray of hope, will pierce the tunnel.
The question is, “Can we wait long enough?”
Only we can provide the answer.
I offer these thoughts for your consideration.
Communication, I believe, is the key to understanding one another.
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The saga continues in my next blog.
Do Not Be Afraid!!!