Trouble Don’t Always Last

Powerfully Choosing to Recognize the Positives

Powerfully Choosing to See the Positives

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

If you had to read A Tale Of Two Cities in high school, then you probably instantly recognize this famous quote as the first line of the classic novel by Charles Dickens.  You also probably know that Dickens goes on to list several pairs of dichotomous occurrences to show a concept that has always intrigued me. But it’s a concept that I never experienced more viscerally than this year – the concept that life can be both horrible and beautiful at the same time.

As mentioned in a previous blog, I celebrated my 40th birthday this year.  I’ve decided to gift myself all year long because as one of my favorite content creators Kevon Fredericks, better known as KevOnstage says, “I’m in my big fours now, so I can do what I want.”

For the past month, I’ve been enjoying many experiences that I love, ranging from extended time with my family in Georgia, day trips to my favorite beach in Destin, and most recently, a trip to Broadway to see one of my favorite musicals, The Whiz.  Though most of my days of celebration have been filled with joy and pleasantries, I have also experienced some great sadness almost immediately following those events.

While I was home visiting my family, I experienced one of the greatest spiritual highs I’ve ever had in a worship experience at my home church right after having a crushing disagreement with a very respected elder.  While on a relaxing fishing trip with my dad and boyfriend, we got the devastating news that my cousin had just been in a fatal car crash.  Later in the month, I performed one of my best writer’s rounds and made a few extremely beneficial connections that have already garnered some new musical opportunities for me, and two weeks later I lost my job as minister of music at my church.  Finally, I visited New York for the first time, saw The Whiz and had an unforgettable reunion with two dear friends from college.  The next two days I spent stranded at the airport enduring cancellations and delays that almost overshadowed the beautiful memories I made during the trip.

Needless to say, this last month has been a whirlwind of emotions.  I’ve had some really high highs and some really low lows, but I keep pondering how amazing life can be and how downright painful it can be.  One minute we can be enveloped in tears from crying, and the next minute enveloped in tears from laughing.  That concept still befuddles me, but I have gained clarity about one thing.  My ability to maintain both peace and joy is directly related to how well I can balance the reality that life is never all good or all bad.  Just as sure as there is sunshine, there will be rain.  That’s life.  No one gets around that; that reality is one of the great equalizers across race, gender, religion or social standing.  Knowing that, I’ve navigated these past couple of months with a greater sense of gratitude.

I’m thankful for the highs and careful not to harbor resentment for the lows, and that’s my prayer for you.  If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the lows and like you’re experiencing more storms than sun, that’s ok.  Stick it out because as one of my favorite song lyrics says, “Trouble don’t last always.”