A friend just wrote me that while trying to save tree branches in her front yard by sweeping the heavy snow off with a broom, she fell–because her feet wouldn’t move in the already deep snow–and shattered three bones just above her ankle. BOOM! And she’s out of commission for three months. Surgery, screws, a plate–a major medical event.

I am often brought up short by the unexpected–particularly an accident–stunned by how that could have happened. But if I look closely, every moment is completely unexpected, unknown, new, and completely our of my control. I believe that I have control, because occasionally things go exactly as I feel they should. But how often does that happen? Rarely!

Our work is to love what is–exactly as it is, because that’s what’s in awareness right now. Part of that is loving the difficult stuff–persistent thoughts about unfairness, resistance to excruciating physical pain, impatience with trying to move around–all of it.

I broke my dominant hand unexpectedly (of course) a year-and-a-half ago. It’s easy to commiserate with my friend.

© Amrita Skye Blaine, 2012