“There is no worth in a candle without a flame, and we only add the flame when there is darkness. Without darkness, there would be no need for warriors and angels. Warriors are not made because the whole world is happy and angels were not formed because there are no demons. Be of worth, have a flame.”

C. JoyBell C.

They say the Universe will continue to give you the same challenge to face in many different ways, over and over, until you learn the lesson beneath the surface.

I feel like the Universe keeps challenging me with detachment and letting go – holding on loosely enough so as never to lose myself.

I thought I had it handled. I thought I understood what it meant. Perhaps I haven’t truly gotten the point though, because recent events most certainly have me rattled.

A few years back, I read a book called “The Surrender Experiment” by Michael Singer. It was recommended to me by a friend whom I admire greatly. She understood the concept captured between its pages and was able to apply it to her own life in order to achieve some phenomenal personal growth. I could also understand the context of this interesting and true story – but my soul deeply rejects the extent to which this man accepted the concept of surrendering his life to the workings of the Universe.

While I do believe it is a great waste of time and energy to worry about things which we have no legitimate control over, I also believe it is up to each of us, as individuals, to decide what we truly want for our lives – and then to do everything in our power to create or maintain it. Michael Singer did just that. However, when other people or other things happened to fall upon his path, he did not reject them. He simply accepted them as is, and allowed them in, despite the fact that they were not what he had intended for or planned upon, nor were they what he wanted for his life.

The story does not end badly as a result of this surrendering, and never does he admit to being unhappy, miserable, or tortured as a result… but, this kind of passivity simply does not resonate with me.

Maybe the point really is to simply let go and learn to be peace, light, love, and joy despite any of the happenings that come upon us? Maybe I haven’t truly learned the full circumference of this lesson and will be forced to face such things again? Maybe I’m just not there yet? But, right now, I feel like you’d be a fool not to fight for all the things you love – all the people, places, activities and things that ignite that fire inside you and fuel your desire to live. The things that bring you joy and peace and inspire you to love and share your love with the world. These are the things that matter the most – not your willingness to roll with the punches and allow them to be taken away.

Why would you ever just let it all go if you are, in fact, a better person because of it all? Why would you be passive, rather than aggressive, when it comes to fighting for what you love?

I mean, why else are we here if not to live with unreasonable passion for things?

What else is it all for, if not simply to be enjoyed?

Moral of my story: hold on loosely, but never let go.

#BeyondTheBoylstonLine