Is ‘normal life’ returning or do bright promises of going places and getting out seem tarnished when we are forced to comply with a whole new raft of regulations?
I’ve seen an article recently highlighting guidance that the volume of music in pubs, cafes and other such places is to be set at lower levels than before. For many (including that writer) this will be a great improvement but the reasoning behind it is to reduce the need to lean close and shout to our companions – it is all to do with minimising the possible spread of the virus and nothing to do with protecting our hearing or a decision that ‘atmosphere’ isn’t only created by loud background music.
So, in effect the result the writer likes (meeting friends and being able to talk at normal volumes) has come about from a completely different sort of motivation or intention which was not in any way trying to suit their personal preference.
The happy accident of situations bringing unexpected benefits is known as ‘serendipity’ and life does bring those moments when we can recognise, sometimes in the midst of difficult situations, that an unexpectedly good outcome is revealed.
There is a strong spiritual aspect to the unseen and unlooked for as well. When the unplanned thing is what we call ‘good’ then we rejoice and perhaps count it as a blessing. An outcome we don’t welcome or find unpleasant is anything from an inconvenience to a disaster for us and there is a natural tendency to try and find the cause and apportion blame or responsibility.
Given that we actually investigate and are more concerned about the things going ‘wrong’ it probably isn’t surprising we learn a considerable amount more from the times it isn’t all perfect in our little world than we do when a day goes by with nothing ruffling our happy state of mind.
The challenges of life are what really shape us because we respond quickly, we try and make sure it won’t happen again and often use difficult experiences as the motivation to make life better – not just for ourselves but for others too.
As we go through life there are daily opportunities to make the choices which guide our life. The choices are giving us (at the most basic level) a heavenly or a hellish way to live, but it is almost always more subtle than ‘yes or no’, ‘good or bad’.
Choosing between the maybe or might do, the many small differences in alternatives that are available and the various chances to be either careful or casual within our decisions about situations and how we treat people brings a whole host of opportunities into the mix.
Our spiritual regeneration, the inner development which will lead us towards an ultimate home within the heavens, is not an accidental or fortunate outcome in life, any more than an eternal home in the hells would be an unexpected surprise after a life motivated by ‘what’s in it for me’ as an overriding self-centred concern.
The life we lead today is inevitably part of the process of forming us into the person we will eventually be; an open vessel to be filled by an experience the life of the heavens as it flows freely from the Lord or an inwardly closed off, spiritually shut down person who never turns far enough away from being full of self-regard to allow anything else in.
The ‘chance’ of life and the ordinary moments which provide emotional ups and downs are opportunities and reminders to be joyful, to learn to find and treasure the heavenly quality which is sometimes in themost unexpected or unintended places.
Copyright 2020 Christine Bank
