Sacred Stories
Her husband had gone to the ER and been admitted to the hospital with a possible stroke. It had been a long day. She went to bed without running the garbage disposal so the following morning, as she readied to go to the hospital, she could smell the drain.
Starting the water, then flipping on the garbage disposal, she was immediately greeted with an earsplitting grinding noise. GGGGRRRRRR
Turning off the disposal and water, she reached down into the drain. Yikes. She recalled a couple of days prior when the weather was warm and she had the kitchen window open. The small container of toothpicks had blown into the sink, landing upside down. Obviously some toothpicks had spilled into the drain.
Again she wrenched her hand into the hole, fishing out several partially ground toothpicks. She heard in her mind’s ear, “Do you want to do this on your own or would you like help?”
She silently asked for help before reaching in again and again. Each time she was pulling out more splintered pieces before stopping to turn on the water and the disposal, checking to see if there was still a grinding noise.
Time and time again with this tedious work until she found herself surprised that she was feeling playful!
A sort of seek-and-find game emerged and it actually became fun. She was glad to have not turned the disposal on the previous night when she was too tired and stressed to enjoy the game. She could clearly see how life can be experienced from a playful point of view, even when things are difficult and ongoing.
The following morning, a friend shared this quotation: When we spiritually awaken, our whole life changes from being hard and painful to becoming easier and happier, more pleasant and pain-free. ~ Jerry Hirschfield