Gifford Volunteer Chaplain Kathy Rohloff shares her personal reflections in this blog post. Kathy and all of our volunteer chaplains offer a nonsectarian presence. If you need someone to listen, and hear you with compassion, you can reach them by calling the Rev. Tim Eberhardt at 802-728-2107.
By Kathy Rohloff
What if we awoke each day living in the reality of how short life is?
Our focus would change as well as our priorities.
People would absolutely be more important than things.
Forgiveness would be readily given, as would love.
Life would be seen as what it is, a valuable gift.
Too often, though, our days are full of past hurts and words that have been spoken to us.
These labels follow us into adulthood and define who we think we are.
Lazy. Ungrateful. Sassy. Mean. A burden. A mistake.
Or, if we are fortunate:
Lovely. Kind. Generous. Smart. A blessing. A gift.
If we have been laughed at due to our physical traits, we find fault with our weight, hair, nose, and teeth. We view ourselves with disdain and shame.
It can be a daily, even hourly battle to stop the negative voices in our head, and that causes us to not live the life that we were meant to live.
What if today was our last day to live?
Whom would we call or want to see?
Whom would we forgive?
Whom would we ask for forgiveness?
What would we hold onto?
What would we release?
Clearly the act of forgiveness would be a top priority, but if we realize this at death we must realize it in life.
Forgiveness doesn’t happen once, but occurs each and every time the offense is brought to mind.
When one has been deeply wronged or hurt, the pain is revisited multiple times in a day.
It is wearying to forgive, but the choice to hold on to the offense tears and gnaws and holds us in bondage.
To forgive is to break the power of hurt and memory.
To go further and to wish them well, indeed to actively desire good for them, opens our hearts to compassion.
We may not have full understanding, but we will be set free.
In this newfound freedom, we can begin to live differently, because we will be changed.
If we have known loneliness, walk alongside someone who needs a friend.
If we have felt abandoned, seek to comfort another experiencing that grief.
If we have been misunderstood and vilified, live without malice or retaliation.
Learn the truths buried beneath the pain.
Many of the finest jewels are encased in rock, fire is used to purify gold, and bulbs are buried beneath the surface to burst forth in bloom.
There are lessons to be learned everywhere.
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