When God Laughs

July 27th, 2009

 

The other night we saw God laugh at our puny attempts. Every year is the Celebration of Light Fireworks at English Bay where we live. For those who have lived here for years, it has become blasé and an inconvenience as the tens of thousands of people pour in, and the streets are shut down. But this Saturday, two hours before the Fireworks were to start, and typically after they have closed off all traffic and the crowds are picking out their best spots on the beach, something different happened. God decided to upstage the show with a spectacular light show that made fireworks look trite and tacky. First, the whole sky turned an amazing orange and a downpour ensued. The orange of the sky gradually turned crimson as night fell. Lightening forked across the sky, and the boom of thunder shook the window panes the way it does for the fireworks. This went on for three hours, right through the fireworks themselves (see link to photos I am including). I had to laugh as we were once again humbled.

It reminded me of a favourite expression one of my family likes to use, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” Life has a way of going sideways despite our best intentions. Some of you had retirement plans that didn’t work out; some split up with their partners; some were laid off thanks to the economy; some had vacation plans implode. When life goes sideways, and forces beyond your control are at work, what do you do? The answer is you practice the hardest lesson we all have in life, that of acceptance. Just like my lightening show, the only thing you can do is to sit back and watch, feel the emotions, don’t resist, enjoy the show, and let it pass. This storm will move on as well.

When I had a relationship break-up, many years ago now, a native aboriginal friend gave me advice from her elders. When you are feeling the pain, just let all the feelings come through you, don’t resist, feel them fully, and then just watch as they gradually fade and pass through you, as inevitably they will. Release. Sometimes we need to fully grieve and release what is beyond our control. It is not a time to show how we are stronger than all other forces. It is a time to let go. When we stop resisting and release, it naturally leaves a place for renewal to start happening, both in our hearts and in our lives. The universe responds by starting to get better day by day. The storm passes, and the sunshine returns.

Link to Kathrin’s photos of God’s fireworks:

http://picasaweb.google.ca/kathrinlake4/LighteningFireworksNight?feat=directlink

Anyone who has tried to take pictures of forked lightening knows that, you put it on as long exposure as you can, and then it is pretty much luck. Some of the more spectacular flashes I was not able to accomplish and there was a little zooming in, etc. done later.