Pain & Pleasure

Unfortunately, I am starting believe (or fortunately, who knows) that pain and discomfort produces some of the best art.

It might be that in pain, we grow. If we do not encounter discomfort, how can we move beyond where we currently are? Think about it - few people seek out growth when there's no impetus to. If one does not detect a problem, it is highly unlikely that they will invest the time and energy into creating a problem to solve. That's just not how animals, let alone sentient beings operate. We avoid pain like the plague, but I am confident in saying that pain has produced some of the greatest treasures in art, philosophy, and religion. Van Gogh, Socrates, and Jesus Christ (for crying out loud!). That's not a definitive list, but those are easy examples.

From pain often comes heightened awareness. With our senses attuned to life and living, we evolve as a species. Hopefully, our evolution takes us in a positive direction. Sometimes, pain re-doubles itself, becoming a looming, oppressive mass in the universe - sometimes pains take on a life of their own and they get away from us....

I say all that to say, in some ways, we have to be grateful for pain. Because it alerts us to the fact that some needs aren't being met. If we are smart, and if we are able, our responsibility is to then learn from the pain, and press toward pleasure.

That is my wish for you - whoever you are.

Ashe.

It was given.

Because It was Given: (First draft)

It cannot be taken from me.

The space and place and time was predestined for me. For me.

(sing) What God has for me, it is for me. What God has for me, it is for me.

(speak) So the womb was ready when the two were not.

The conditions were set, the deck was already shuffled and cut and the card on top of the deck….

God delt: Me.

So here she comes, breached, but finally, born.

Life, undeniably, poured into her lungs.

But life, after first week breath became a ground for death and dying. In so many ways.

Taking pieces of her, from where, she knew not.

Til one day, being all grown up she began to feel that some thing was missing.

No longer holding, playing with, a full deck of her own.

But what was missing?

Laying down one night it came to her:

Awareness. Consciousness. Wisdom herself opened her eyes; saying without words: This ain't you.

You're living, but not alive.

This ain't you.

You were not made in lies, but in truth; but you've been ingesting lies. Spit them out.

Know this here, take this, eat this: LIFE.

While you are eating, drinking, let me tell you:

It was always yours. This time and space and place was made just for you.

Carved out of God, emptied out, hallowed, inside God, for only you.

Child, if only you fully knew.

How unalone you are in this space…. Please try to know and believe. Believe.

It cannot be taken away - you in God and God in you.

Eat this, drink this, savor this, daily. Momentarily.

Really, momentarily, my dear.

[You are, have been, always will be- forever- loved.]