It Is Always About Us
Dear friends,
I had a very interesting conversation with a new friend recently. He has always been deeply affected by the dramatically premature loss of his brother many years ago. His brother was, to his telling, a wonderful person in every way: Warm, smart, energetic, serviceful, kind, etc.
The death hit him hard. In part because it seemed so random and unfair to lose such a great guy so young. As we chatted about it, it occurred to me that the unfortunate circumstance had quite an impact on my friend. When I asked him about it he said, “Yes, absolutely. It has made me a better person. Before that, everything seemed to me like a '10' on a scale of one to 10. This really put things in perspective for me."
I said, then, that perhaps this was as much about him as his brother. "You are not just a witness to what happened. You are a key player deeply involved in this drama. Like the workings of a fine watch, everything works together. I have no idea what your brother's karma was, but yours seems somewhat clear here."
A lightbulb seemed to turn on for him. I find that when something dramatic happens around me, my mind always goes to the drama and the people involved. That is of course fine and natural, but I can miss the fact that I myself am one of the people involved. More benefit is gained by pondering why we ourselves are playing a part in that drama, if in no other way than at least as an interested observer. Fine watches do not have random parts.
May we come to see in an ever increasing way that there are no accidents; that we are being chiseled by the Master Craftsmen into what we are destined to become. Everything that comes to us is another step in that process, till we are a perfect and unique work of art.
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the staff at East West