Love can Build a Bridge
May 21, 2017
I had recently attended a funeral for my niece in my hometown.
It would have been unlikely I would have attended this funeral a few months ago with all my "justified resentments" I had towards my family of origin.
I kept the past in my present and was bound and determined to keep myself in a safe place in my head and in my space of my Being.
I was right. They were wrong.
About everything.
And anything.
I had to hold them accountable to my story of them no matter what.
What I had realized in the past few months is that it is impossible for my past stories to appear in this moment.
This moment is all that there is.
When I heard the news of the death of my niece, I had an immediate intuitive reaction to attend the funeral. I thought to myself:
"If not now, when?"
I dropped the stories of my past and thought of my dear younger sister and the loss of her daughter. Everything inside me seemed to flow from a natural place of love.
Love has no story or reasons. It flows naturally and in all circumstances.
It is who I am when I am in reality and out of my head.
I trust myself in this space.
Meeting my sister that first moment was sad and joyous all at the same time. Years of life fell away between us and we were once again together. The tears flowed and I could feel my heart opening up for her and me.
The funeral itself was of course heartbreaking.
After the funeral I had the opportunity to speak with my sister while eating food right next to each other. A moment of light opened up a space for us to be alone in the midst of the people attending the luncheon.
She had the grace and space to tell me what it meant to her that I had come up here for their funeral. The words spoken there are private. But they fell deep into my soul. I had not expected to find love, grace and freedom from such a tragic life circumstance.
But my sister did.
Love can build a bridge I thought, and it comes with love and simple kindness for another human being.
Regardless of the stories from my past.