There are many books we read in our life that have no impact on our lives and we end up forgetting about them quite quickly. And yet, we can come across a short phrase or sentence, a poem or a song, which we not only memorize, but they become a part of our life journey. One such quote that made an impact on me was a phrase written by Vivian Greene, a contemporary artist, author and entrepreneur, who wrote:

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain”.

With a phrase such as this, we can only assume the challenges this author may have experienced. 

For us, health issues, family problems, financial and job instability could be a sign of a storm in our lives, which in many cases are unavoidable. These challenges become a reality of our lives which seem and may be impossible to escape. We try to compartmentalize them, minimize or camouflage them with deflection. We all know too well that we will need to deal with them sooner or later. For Vivian Green, the only way is not only to deal with the storm, but the challenge is also to learn how to dance in that storm. To dance or to experience moments of joy and happiness are difficult sometimes to ascertain but how important it truly is to find those moments. How do you make the best of a not so great situation? 

A very profound image I recall to this day occurred in a nursing home. Every time I visited this nursing home I saw an elderly man pushing a paralyzed lady in a wheelchair. My first impression lead me to an assumption that this was a volunteer helping patients. After many months of seeing this same occurrence, I asked a nurse about the couple. She explained that the couple was husband and wife and that every day, since her stroke, the husband came to spend time with her. Whether it was taking her for a stroll down the corridors or outside in the park, he never missed a day. There was no discussion, or interaction between both of them, as she couldn’t speak. For him, her stroke was a part of their life’s journey. He never left her or forgot about her at the home, but as a loving husband spent every precious minute of his life with her, even though in silence. The image of this couple reminds us not only about the ability of humanity to learn to cope with painful realities, but also to find joy in the moments shared with loved ones. This image resonates with me as I ponder on this phrase. An illness can weaken us and our ability to lead a regular life. We can lose our ability to function but it can never break our true and honest love for each other. A physical or psychological illness can remove the immediate ability of social connectedness, but the love of a faithful husband towards his wife can never remove the presence and depth of their love. 

In our society, there is so much emphasis on wealth and what we have or don’t have, what we can afford or what we can’t afford. Money can affect our plans, our wishes and our dreams. However, wealth and objects and things will never substitute the interconnectedness between two individuals searching for companionship in each other. It was not a bank account that joined us in front of God, but each individual’s yearning to have a partner. Someone to enjoy the many moments that make up our life. Someone who unconditionally loves us in our moments of weakness and strength. This might be the mystery of life we still have to learn as we progress in our age. 

There will be many storms in our lives, but there always will be the ability for all of us to adapt and to find those moments to dance despite the rain. This is a real and indestructible image of all of us, clouded and weakened, but never obliterated and erased. We are blessed with “gifts” disguised as moments with our loved ones.

Imagine two children laughing and blissfully playing in the rain on a summer day, smiling and giggling, happy and blessed. In their innocence, they simply enjoy the moment. Being mindful of these beautiful moments let us concentrate to return to the Garden of Eden where we can each be blessed by the walking presence of God.

Amen.

Fr. Jaroslaw Buciora