Learning by the Light of the Moon

Some lessons we learn by the light of day.  They hit us with force and send a clear message that we are able to immediately recognize and put to good use.  These are the most common lessons, easy to learn because they require very little of us.    The lessons that make the most difference; however, are those that wash over us by the light of the moon.   These lessons are more soft and subtle, sneaking up on us slowly and usually just out of sight.

Lessons of this latter sort are deeply rooted and because of this have a way of bringing all kinds of things with them on their long journey up to our consciousness.  They often cause us pain, but this is the kind of pain that immediately precedes relief, like pulling a splinter out of a sore finger.   Although they work their way up slow and steadily, once we are at that pivotal moment of learning, they will indefatigably claw from within the subconscious until we see them.  Once they break through, they slowly illuminate the world around us in a new way, changing our experience of it from the inside out.

It so often is the case that we miss out on these grand opportunities for personal evolution.   At the first sign of uneasiness or distress, we respond by pushing back against it.  In our attempts to avoid pain, we incidentally tuck the lesson back away.   And when we do this it keeps creeping back up, each time carrying more with it and thus feeling more uncomfortable.

When we learn to embrace whatever comes upon us instead of fighting against it, we can accept the lesson as it rolls over us the first time.  In embracing our pain and accepting our discomfort, we minimize their necessity.  We must be willing to keep our eyes wide open even when what we desire most in the world is to close them tight.  What we see may frighten us, but the courage it takes to keep looking is ultimately what clears our cloudy vision for the beauty that will most certainly come after the storm is done.

More at cristenrodgers.com