My dear friend Becca, who is also my yoga instructor at the Y, has a marvelous habit of reading an inspirational poem or quote at the end of every yoga class. Thursday morning she read a short narrative from a writer and artist named Morgan Harper Nichols. It really grabbed me and I told Becca her reading for the day was especially for me. She texted me a copy of the words so I could read it at my leisure, which I did, over and over. Certain phrases kept running through my mind, like sparkling water flowing up and over smooth, round rocks in a stream. Thinking … thinking. Nothing jagged, nothing harsh, only peaceful thoughts that seemed to quietly open my mind.
It begins with a phrase, “…the art of bold surrender”. That really caught my attention. “Bold surrender”. My years in Al-Anon, the twelve step program for families of alcoholics, taught me a lot about the concept of surrender. We often had meetings on just that topic, how to surrender your life to a Higher Power. Most of us beginners in that program felt our life was a mess anyway, so why not consider the idea of surrender, let Somebody else lead the way, or as an Al-Anon slogan teaches: Let Go and Let God. But oh! That was difficult for me because I learned I really wanted to control just about everything and everyone. I slowly began to get my arms around this idea of surrendering, but I was kicking and screaming about it most of the time. It was scary to admit to such powerlessness in my life. As I remained in the program and continued to go to meetings I grew into a much more gracious student. I learned the value of understanding that to surrender did not mean to give up. It meant to open my mind, to listen and learn, to be brave enough to share my feelings, to keep the focus on myself, and to grow strong in who I really was, by allowing a God of my own understanding to guide my life. So today I embrace the words “bold surrender” as great advice, an enticing invitation to practice a tried and true life style.
The second phrase that caught my eye was, “…a life that goes beyond the shore”. I love the underlying encouragement this statement makes! I think for most of us when we stand and look out over the ocean, a lake, or maybe even a small pond, we see in our mind’s eye endless possibilities for our lives. Our dreams come to the surface and float into our minds like white clouds across a blue sky. We want to be brave, and step into that boat sitting on that tranquil water that will take us to a new place, a new career, a new relationship, or maybe actually go do that special something we’ve been wanting to do since we were a child or a young adult.
And finally the sentence, “…Light is winning, ever-working things together for the good.” Another tribute to our Higher Power. “Light is winning”. This I will hold close in my heart, because I believe it with all my heart. I think of all the sports events we watch and listen to on the radio or TV. As we sit down and crank that volume up our first question is, “Who’s winning?” So I can relate. “Light is winning” will become one of my new mantras as I begin each day. No need for me to wait till an Amber Alert comes across my phone to inform me of another missing child. I don’t need to wait till I see Apple News pop up on my computer telling me the number of lives lost in our wars. “Light Is winning” can be something I say every day knowing it is a global truth all over our planet. And I’m thinking what a comfort this mantra is to me.
There is power in our words.
c Love, Joan
Light is winning! Thank you!
Yes, powerful isn’t it beautiful Lady?
Yes, this is encouraging! I do join you in the feeling that “Light is winning!” I like that as a mantra for myself. It speaks peace and trust to me as I surrender to its truth!
Light is winning! Peace!
Peace to you Rev. Rick!
Light is winning — I love that! Thank you for sharing this beautiful affirmation with us, as well as your beautiful post!
Thank you beautiful Lady! Blessings on you!
Light is winning – I’ll add, “new beginnings” that resonates with me for the both of us and many others. I’m surrendering to that mantra. May we embrace these beautiful new beginnings and go beyond that shore on our journey beautiful lady! Love you!❤️
I will go beyond that shore with you beautiful Girl! Our Highest Good! New beginnings!
This is an exquisite recognition of the power of words. I Love the visual you found to go with it. It is perfect! I would like to invite us to engage a question about light winning, though. — Light is winning against what? Dr. Raymont Anderson describes himself as “stirring the pot,” when he asks such a question in a case like this. If we make a list of the words –equally powerful words — that describe what light is winning against, we will find that if we take each description individually, we will find that what is necessary is not a battle, but Integration. Each of us, all creation, all of life Is Just as much the potential for what we call darkness, or that which opposes light. The truth is, vibrationally, what appears as darkness emits it’s own light that we cannot see on a physical level. And, in human terms of not wanting certain kinds of things to happen among people or to the planet — we just have a load more to learn about the dynamics about how Universal Love works. It’s just not all sweetness, not matter how much we wish it was. And, I’m not saying there is no room for competitiveness, such as in sports. I think that is about being mindful of what it means to Win, and why it has taken such a prority and what we are all teaching each other, especially our kids, about winning.
Great thoughts beautiful Lady! “…what appears as darkness emits it’s own light” and how we have so much to learn “about how Universal Love works”. Now I have more power words to think about! The shadow and the light. Thank you!
The previous comment I left has been with me since I left it. I want to add this quote from Wilma Rudolph as a point of clarity for what I believe we need to be supporting each other in where the natural and necessary tendency to competitiveness is concerned:
Wilma Rudolph said, “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.” – Wilma Rudolph
I love this quote from Wilma Rudolph! I will be passing it on to my grandchildren. This can apply to much of life. Thank you beautiful Lady!
Bold surrender, how I struggle! I’ve been a grateful member of AlAnon for many many years and I still struggle with giving up control.. odd that I’m reading your blog at a time when I’m at my peaceful place, the ocean. When I look out over that great expanse, I truly feel vulnerable and for me that can be frightening and encouraging at the same time!
Again I thank my God that our paths have crossed.
Great synchronicity beautiful Lady! I so appreciate your honesty in your comment. Sending you love!
Wow. So much deep and inspiring to think about here, Joan. And then Vicky added her thoughts about Light and Dark… Her reflections made me remember the movie “Crash”. There are many disturbing scenes in the movie, like there are in Life. Yet by the end, it feels like the Director takes the camera lens upward to the Cosmos and, looking down from that expansive point, shows how a Higher Power uses EVERYTHING to weave Good… I never had words for what the movie inspired in me until today. “Bold surrender” sums it up nicely. And I suddenly realize that’s how you took on cancer treatment – with “bold surrender”. The boldness was the ingredient that fueled your creativity. You whipped up visualizations, supportive self talk and prayer lists to keep your mind focused and positive as you vulnerably climbed onto the radiation table, day after day. Sometimes grief and tears joined you for tea at night. You welcomed them. Then rallied again. Readers humbly read your Caring Bridge blog watching Grace meet your courage week after week. You were teaching us about Bold Surrender, Joan. God bless those years in Al-Anon, friend! Who knew they’d lead to such precious strength? Who knew they’d inspire so many others…
Thank you beautiful Lady! Your comments both encourage and humble me.