The Events of Our Lives

IntrospectiveSunday

 “The events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves, they find their own order…the continuous thread of revelation.”                            

  –Eudora Welty

I often find the wisdom of this quote in the transparency of my life.  It wasn’t always that way though.  It took many years to know myself and understand that I wasn’t going to have the answer to every question handed to me on a silver platter.  I’m still waiting for some.  But constantly wondering why things happen and what significance they have to my life is something that I can’t help but do.  Curiosity is in my nature.

The Past is Important

The thing that I love the most is when you recall an event of your past and realize that it didn’t really mean anything to you at the time but suddenly it means everything.  I have found journal entries from years ago that changed my present life in some obscure way.  In this, I fathom the depth of my existence by seeing just a little bit of the larger picture.

Many years ago a man who visited a church we attended spoke something to my husband and me that was hard for us to comprehend at the time.  He said that we would positively affect many people and many nations.  For a humble, Indiana couple, that seemed far fetched.  Well, the interesting thing is that this blog has been read by women representing 66 nations so far.  And, what’s more, we have plans to expand the “Life Link” to include a blog for men, couple’s, and even teens.

The Sunday Nugget

I want to pass this advice on to you.  Never think that any part of your life is a waste (good or bad).  Think rather that each event has purpose, a design, and significance to your journey.  Write down what people tell you about yourself that may not ring true for the time being – it could be important later.  And, what ever you do, don’t throw away that which you have written, drawn, composed, or made.  All of your creative efforts have deeper meaning than you may know.  In fact, take a look at some past mementos you may have stashed away.  It’s interesting to see how they make you feel now.

For this inaugural “Introspective Sunday,” I want you to think about one event that happened to you at least five years ago.  Write down any details you recall.  Then think about how that event has changed you (then and now).  I’d love to hear about your discoveries.  Be well my friends.

***Eudora Alice Welty (April 13, 1909 – July 23, 2001) was an award-winning American author who wrote short stories and novels about the American South. Her book The Optimist’s Daughter won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973 and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among numerous awards. She was the first living author to have her works published by the Library of America. Her house in Jackson, Mississippi was designated a National Historic Landmark and opened to the public as a museum.

Photo by Golden Footsteps