Of Heart And Home

May 15, 2011

Dear Friends,

During the six years that I have writing these weekly inspirational messages, the world has experienced numerous natural disasters, including devastating floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and even volcanic eruptions. These horrific events have resulted in the loss of thousands upon thousands of lives. And thousands upon thousands of livelihoods have been destroyed, as well. Family businesses that took years and years to build have been obliterated in seconds. And these losses—of both lives and livelihoods—have been the cause of great grief.

Recently, a huge cluster of powerful tornadoes tore across the southeastern United States, and once again many, many lives and livelihoods have been lost. But something else has been lost, as well. It is something that is also the cause of great grief. And it is something that I want to specifically acknowledge in this message. It is the loss of people’s homes.

In television interviews with families who have lost their homes, but not their lives, it is nice to see that all of these people recognize that—in the largest sense—life is not about things, it is about love. And even though their houses and all of the things in them are now gone, these people are extremely grateful to still have each other. They feel blessed, in fact.

The loss of one’s home, however, is not something to be minimized. It is still a very real—and very significant—loss. And grieving the loss of one’s home is both understandable and appropriate.

A home, as you well know, is much more than bricks and mortar, wood and shingles, stucco and tile. It is much more than a structure, a shelter, or even—in some cases—a work of art. A home is a box of memories, containing cherished mementos, souvenirs, keepsakes, heirlooms, and irreplaceable photographs. All of those treasured things are physical symbols of the people and the experiences in our lives that we hold near and dear to our hearts.

Although the memories themselves remain intact, it is still understandably tragic when the “memory collage” that one has spent a lifetime constructing, has been destroyed by fire, wind, water, or a shift in the earth itself.

To each of you who have recently lost your home, a loved one, a beloved pet, or anything else that occupies an important place in your heart, know that you have the entire Universe working on your behalf to help you restore your sense of wholeness, recover your sense of peace, and rebuild whatever it is that needs rebuilding.

And know, too, that even though it may not appear that way to you right now, with the help of The Divine, it is always possible for great good to come out of this time of great grief.

Steven

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© 2011 by Steven Lane Taylor
Author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat:
A Guide for Living Life in the Divine Flow
www.rowrowrow.com
Steven Lane Taylor, LLC