Well, it happens to the best of us. Things seem to be going pretty well, then bad news comes crashing down on you, almost unexpectedly. In some cases, its a small inconvenience; a minor traffic jam. In other cases, you are told you have Stage 4 cancer. Don't worry, this is not me releasing my diagnoses. I am perfectly fine, but I do know someone that has received this news. For this person, a family member none the less, the world has suddenly changed. Not only his, but all those around him.
Bad news has a nasty habit of reaching out to those around you. In most cases, this is not intentional, because no one wants his or her problems to affect those they love. Those close will worry about you, try to help, and sometimes make things worse. No matter the case, your life matters and affects those around you. As this family member begins his fight against cancer, I hope he finds comfort in the family there in his corner. There will be ups and downs, but that's just life's way of keeping you on your toes.
In the past year, I've been reminded of my mortality far too often. Two people from my high school have passed away. Both in their young 20's, taken far too soon. Even if these people weren't close friends, I was still affected in ways I wouldn't expect. I sat in the shower thinking, "That could be me. What if it was me?" Not exactly the upbeat happiness you expect from a 23 year old living in a lively college town. However, I have managed these emotions and grown from these moments of introspection. A major key to this growth was my faith, something I struggled with during my undergraduate career. I found that religion kept me centered, grounded, and humble. In fact, I'm reminded of a verse I used to keep handy back in the day.
"For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is in life. Weeping may endure the night, but joy will come in the morning."
Psalm 30:5
Now this verse is actually referring to God, but the message should permeate within your life as well. Emotion is a basic human element. We all have them, and at times struggle with them. I've said this before, but you have to embrace emotion in order to overcome those trying times. Cry. Scream. Laugh. Do what you need to to embrace your emotions, just don't hurt anyone (physically or emotionally) in the process. Take bad news and sit with it for a bit. Process it. This might mean "weeping for the night," but remember joy is bound to follow.
"Thenight is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise, the dawn is coming."
Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight
