05/2013
“Life is like a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you’re gonna get.” — Mrs. Gump, Forrest Gump
I wouldn’t even need to give credit, and you would know where that came from. We all know the quote. If you’re like me you’ve probably watched Forrest Gump a thousand times. In truth there are several quotes which ring with wisdom inside the simple mind of Forrest Gump. However, I believe his momma’s quote is about as spot on as they come.
Life is a blend of bittersweet. I recently watched my second oldest son
graduate. As I looked out on those kids,
there were so many who had endured or been touched by hardship and tragedy in
their young lives. There they were
standing upon the threshold of adulthood, when life traditionally starts
throwing things at you, and many had already experienced what one might
consider as their share. But on that day
they were filled with smiles, childhood memories, and dreams.
Life is a blend of bittersweet; an experience of triumph and
tragedy mixed together creating its own unique taste. A selection of morsels from which we all partake,
it’s made up of varied ingredients; a splash of tear drop, a dash of longing,
sprinkles of happiness, and a dusting of pure sweet memories sifted into this
bowl of existence; kneaded by the fingers of time; rolled out beneath the
weight of loss; stamped into the shapes of broken hearts and angel wings. The taste is without compare; deeper than the
loss of innocence, more enticing than the pull of melancholy, as sweet as the aroma
of love.
Whether heartache or happiness, emotion plays an important
role in this journey. This is why I write
what I write. I find value in the
emotion of words, in the ability of an author to flick that switch with just a
phrase, a context, or even a well-timed word.
The right word can trigger a feeling or a memory; memories which serve
as the doorway to reconnect with those moments of happiness, contentment, and
love.
Life is a blend of bittersweet; we find ourselves
celebrating the good times and struggling over the bad times. We try to make sense of it and understand the
reasons things go the way they go. In
the midst of tragedy, silver-linings are hidden in the misty fog of sorrow and
heartache. When life is going our way it
can seem like rainbows and candy sprinkles, but when life throws a curve and
the clouds roll in, the color seems to disappear. We find the air sucked from our lungs and the
world closing in around us, sending us to seek comfort in faith, prayer, and in
others.
Most of our lives, most of the time spent on this earth,
falls somewhere between the teardrops and the laughter. But just as the majesty of the mountains, the
enormity of the canyons, and the might of the oceans cause the bland road-travel
to disappear among our vacation recollections, so the hills and valleys of life
seem to become the highlights of our existence; the granite core to our nostalgias.
I read a story once in an Ann Landers column; it was called
The Station by Robert J. Hastings. In
fact, I’ve kept a copy around for a long time to reference from time to
time. It speaks of life and happiness as
a journey and not as a destination. It
serves as a reminder that the little day to day interactions are just as
important as those monumental moments.
I’ve seen this in the example of my children. When we get lost in reminiscence, I’m often
amazed at the little things which mean so much to them; things which had slid
by me almost without notice had become part of their favorite memories.
Life is a blend of bittersweet. It is a box of chocolates. We take the good with the bad. We never know what we will get. But we have the opportunity to fill in the middle
with our own pieces of nuts, filling, or fruit which can add flare or flavor in
any way we desire. We can claim our own
successes and recognize those things which we choose to make important. We can allow the gentle rub of soul against
soul to leave our touch upon others and leave our mark behind. We can take the time to consider what others
have left behind for us. How have they
touched us? How did their presence make us just slightly different than the
person we may have been without them?
Life is a blend of bittersweet. Taste it for what it is. Discover that which moves you and treasure
the flavors you savor. Taste that
sweetness and allow the bitter aftertaste to remind you how fleeting that taste
can be; fleeting enough to be worthy of our recognition and our wonderment.
