The Necessity of Adversity

 “Every flower that ever bloomed had to go through a whole lot of dirt to get there!” -Rilke

I was so struck by this quote from a recent email i got from my dad. He was referring to my son who at a young age has had to hurdle some tough life issues. I know that the journey is far from over. It has been that way for me. And for everyone of us trying to find our way around life. 

Oftentimes the dirt that we are mired in is of our own doing. Wrong choices, skewered priorities, not knowing what really matters, and so on... Also, the rubble or dirt we go through is simply the given circumstances we are not in control of.  But all these --- when we look back --- make us grow, and bloom.

I think about friends who have gone through the throes of addiction with their dark, dark tales -- and are now serving communities -- with a blossom of love for those trudging the old paths they themselves have worn out.  We all have our own stories to tell about some past event that has been instrumental to the good we now have. 

Then there are also the likes of those who by perseverance and painful years of practice, give us the most amazing art, music, novels, and world records. Their journeys inspire us to greater heights.