Ever had that feeling?

When everything seems to be slipping away from you no matter what you do?

One thing leads to another until suddenly you find yourself confronting an abyss of nothingness.

Like the times when I keep writing and writing and I notice it’s getting tougher and tougher to write.

It’s not just the urge or the idea but the seeming futility of the effort.

I feel I’m perpetually on the one step forward two steps back mode.

It’s during these times I just want to stop.

The questions begin playing in my mind:

“Is it worth the effort?”

“Is it time to quit?”

The lyrics of the song "Dreams Don't Turn To Dust" by the band Owl City convey a sense of vulnerability, struggle, and a desire to escape reality through dreams.

The imagery of rain, nightmares, and howling wind suggests a turbulent and overwhelming emotional experience:

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying this.

It’s especially true whenever we try to build something tangible, meaningful, and worthwhile.

It could be anything.

A personal project.

A lifetime dream.

A cherished relationship.

Our well-being or that of a loved one.

Money, or more accurately a lack of it.

Peace and harmony.

A purposeful existence.

Perhaps it’s just as well good old Hippocrates offers a solution:

I found such a remedy by accident.

Pictures. Portraits. And a Crucifix.

A picture of my mother hangs on my bedroom wall.

She’s smiling at me.

I can’t help it. Whenever I see her portrait, it brings a smile to my face even though she’s been gone for 6 months now.

I recall her words, encouragement, and support.

The bleak clouds begin to lift and the spring returns to my step.

There is another picture that hangs on a wall in the living room.

It’s an image of Jesus, the Divine Mercy, clothed in a white garment with his right hand raised in blessing.

I am being blessed.

Again and again.

Suddenly my thoughts meander from mere nothingness to humble gratefulness.

That I am alive and well.

I have a roof over my head. Food on the table.

My wife and son are healthy, safe, and sound.

There’s enough in the kitty.

Good friends surround me.

Songs abound to cheer me up.

Movies and books are at hand to provoke and inspire.

The world and all its goodness waiting for me.

I remember I am blessed.

All I have to do, as the portrait reminds me - is to Trust in Him.

Finally the Cross.

This cross above has a bit of sentimental value.

It was a gift from my granduncle, who was a priest at the local seminary as an external lecturer back in the 1970s. When he departed Penang, he presented my mother with a couple of crosses he had with him.

Whenever I feel troubled, I reach out and touch that cross which is now hanging on our bedroom wall.

I remember I am connected with Jesus on the cross.

I unite my pain with his, making it easier to endure.

He gazes at me with compassion and love, resonating deeply.

When you peel away everything there is, you realize that Love is all you need.

Today, when I feel low, I seek solace in these 3 items.

Image, Painting, Crucifix.

I regain my inner strength.

I feel grateful.

I am cherished.

I am not isolated.

I can persevere.

I resume my writing.

How about you?

Is life feeling overwhelming for you too?

Maybe it's time to shift your focus.

I stumbled upon my remedy by chance.

If you've already found yours, congratulations—keep nurturing it. If you haven't yet, remember that the solution lies within you too.

We still have a choice:

Digging Deeper:

I found this aptly titled book on Amazon by chance.

Maybe you would like to check it out 😄 

When It Rains It Pours — Kerry Hamm is available here:

https://amzn.to/4dBy5AB 

Final Thoughts

"Sometimes the remedy we seek is hidden within us, waiting for us to discover it."

Till next time,

^Jude

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