When I lived in Southern
California, the blue sky was never really blue.
As one looked up, there seemed to be an orange-colored tint to the sky. It was because the pollution, the smog layer,
that dulled the brilliance of the blue.
I remember a quip by Fritz Coleman, a weatherman on one of the local
stations that like other parts of the United States, Southern California had air
that could be chewed. What set Southern
California apart from the rest was that it had a nice mesquite flavor to it.
When Kim and the
kids and I would fly home to Wisconsin, the plane would take off and rise above
that smog layer and when we looked down, we could see the orange layer. But above and behind that orange layer, was a
brilliant blue sky.
The same happened
when the plane took off and rose above a particularly heavy cloud layer. Gray and gloomy one minute, but sunny the
next. Light Behind The Clouds.
We’ve run into a
patch of stormy weather here lately. The
day would begin sunny, perhaps with a few clouds, but by late afternoon or
evening, the sky would become overcast, and boast a dark bruised sky, that
would eventually burst with a sudden, sometimes pounding downpour.
Sort of like
life.
Happy one
minute. Everything going your way. Things falling into place nicely. And then in the next moment, and sometimes
without warning . . .
It is human
nature to get pulled in and to succumb to the dark and the gloomy, the foreboding
and formidable. We’ve all been
there. Perhaps there are those reading
this who are still there.
But I might
remind you, perhaps not so eloquently, that there is always Light Behind The
Clouds. Always.
Just as when a
plane takes off, it rises above the smog layer and one can see the brilliance
of the blue. Just as when a plane takes
off, it rises above the clouds and one can see the sun, the Light Behind The
Clouds.
And, storms don’t
last. They run their course. The clouds burst, rain pours forth, and then
there is sun.
During those
dark days when all seems gloomy and ugly, when all seems painful and lost, when
there doesn’t seem to be any direction or help forthcoming, remember . . .
There is always
Light Behind The Clouds. Always. Always.
And until then, let the rain refresh you. Or as Fritz might say, enjoy the mesquite
flavor. Smile. Something to think about . . .
Last line of the first paragraph. Imaginative and it has synesthesia.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I appreciate it.
DeleteAnd, may I add, it helps to add a being in your life who immediately senses your moods and works ingeniously to countermine your efforts to wallow in self-pity with its "I am the center of your universe" or "hey, it's all about me" attitude. In this case a chihuahua. Sometimes the tactics are humorous and sometimes infuriating, but... They never fail to deflect your attention. :)
ReplyDeleteFor me, I have my wife and kids, along with a couple of friends who kick my butt when I need it. :) Thanks for your comment. I appreciate it.
DeleteJoseph Lewis, thank you for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteThank, Alretha.
ReplyDelete