Month: November 2020

“Naturally, when we are up against a difficult situation we hope it will end. We hope we or our friends or family will recover from the illness, that the world situation will improve, that business will get better.  But we must be prepared to fall back on a greater hope:  that no matter how things work out there is a Reality behind it all in which hope can truly be grounded.”  This quote about hope is from Jungian analyst and author John A. Sanford’s book The Strange Trial of Mr. Hyde.

I chose the theme of hope for my blog because having hope is essential, especially during those times when answers aren’t clear.  There are times when things go along smoothly, we carry out our day-to-day routines, and we have enjoyable times with people we care about.  But at other times we are faced with challenges which require us to try to discern how best to approach them.  Life’s challenges vary in level of seriousness, in what and whom they affect, and in the degree to which we have control over resolving them.

Especially during those times when we have little or no control over the outcome of a situation, such as when something emotionally painful happens and we’re in the midst of experiencing that pain, we need to put our hope in the Creator.  As Sanford puts it, we need “to fall back on a greater hope.”  As mere human beings, we cannot know the Creator’s plan for how and why certain things happen, but having trust in that Reality will help us through those difficult times.

I’m thankful for the gift of faith, but I know it can be tested.  As much as part of me doesn’t want to have to experience distressing and sorrowful things, trusting that the Creator knows far better than I helps me undergo life’s difficulties.  I know from experience that the often quoted saying “This too shall pass” is true.  And that our Creator is with us as we go through the dark times as well as when we once again step into the light.

“We’re facing dragons too.  Fire-breathing griffins of the soul, whom we must outfight and outwit to reach our self-in-potential and to release the maiden who is God’s plan and destiny for ourselves and the answer to why we were put on this planet.”

This quote by author Steven Pressfield appears in his book The War of Art.  In my posts I often emphasize the importance of endeavoring to become the person we were created to be; in Jungian terminology, to work toward individuation.  Pressfield’s analogy comparing this striving to that of a knight facing dangers is yet another way of emphasizing the nature of this inner work.  And just as knights of old were courageous, used their wits, and persevered in order to rescue the maiden, we need to have those qualities in order to live a meaningful and purposeful life, which is what the maiden symbolizes.

Pressfield’s use of the words “our self-in-potential” is fitting, for embracing the challenge of trying to become the persons we were created to be is a continuous, life-long process.  Our potential is that which we are able to do because of the abilities and talents we have been given.  We discover more about ourselves along the way—our courage and at times our lack of courage; mistakes we make but also how we are able to learn from our mistakes; and feeling peaceful when we are following our path but also forgiving ourselves for the times we haven’t, and trying again.

Pressfield states his belief that God has a plan and destiny for each of us.  Each of us is a unique creation who was given the gift of life, a gift we should value every day.