Elizabeth Edwards. Resilience.

     I just learned that Elizabeth Edwards died today.
     I commend to you Elizabeth Edwards' autobiography, Resilience:  Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities.  I read it earlier this year. 
     Reflections.
     Elizabeth conveyed a truth FAR too often missed.  Response to our lives' experiences, whatever they may be, is not a simple matter.  Reading her life's story conveyed to me the importance of living the nuances of my experiences.  To live the nuances--the complicated realities of my life--with one unified response, with one broad stroke of a brush, is to miss Elizabeth's conveyed truth.
     Burdens.  Gifts.
     She addressed the complexities of her husband's affair in a way worthy of our notice.  Elizabeth made a distinction between her relationship with her husband, and her partnership with John as a parent to their four children--three of whom are still living.  When questioned by confounded reporters, as to why she continued to have amicable contact with John, she said something to the effect that John is a good father.  She said she did not want to get in the way of those strong relationships continuing.
    Life's Adversities.
    She lived realistic optimism.  She did not deny what she was facing.  Yet, she took actions necessary to co-create a positive life for herself--for her family.   She used her life experiences to support research and exploration.   My rereading is needed to listen as to what actions I may take in my own life.  How do I--how do we--live our lives.
     I pray that I do not elevate Elizabeth to the precarious perch of a hero.  She deserves a more personal response than heroism conveys.  I do not want to romanticize how she handled her life experiences.  That would be to drown out the truths she offers with noisy. self-serving declarations.
    My prayer is that I and others may be motivated to read her autobiography, and learn what she can teach us regarding resilience, reflection, burdens, gifts, and adversities.
     Resilience:  Reflections on the Burdens, and Gifts, of Facing Life's Adversities   
                                                                      Elizabeth Edwards, 1949-2010

Dignitaries of Compassion

     This week two experiences regarding help, listening, and hearing were given to me.  The first came with a doctor, who is new to me.  I was desperate for help.  I did not want to feel as needy as I felt.  Yet, I came to the doctor with undeniable needs.  The second experience continues yet today.  When I receive help, how do I respond?
     I am not alone in having needs--undeniable needs.  I am not alone in needing help.  If all of us have been given undeniable needs, does that mean that help is undeniable?
     Help.
     Can I ask for help?  Do I exert the strength I have been given to be needy to the degree I require?  Can I dignify compassion, while I deflect pity for my needs?
     Dignitaries of Compassion.  Deflectors of Pity.  
     Can we serve as dignitaries of compassion in our lives each day, as we meet individuals in need?  Can we be deflectors of pity, who serve as dignitaries of compassion?
     Cultivators Who Redefine "Needy."  
     Can we be cultivators willing to redefine needy?  Can we be cultivators willing to redefine undeniable help?
     Undeniable Needs.  Undeniable Help.  
     Do we hear undeniable needs?  Do we listen to provide undeniable help?
     Worthy Recipients?
     Do we view ourselves as the only worthy recipients of undeniable help?
     Do we view others as the only worthy recipients of undeniable help?
     Recipients.  Seekers.  Recipients.
     I am not alone.  We are receiving help.  Yet, how are we accepting it?  What are our undeniable needs?
    What undeniable help do we seek?  What undeniable help will we receive?