When a bit of sand gets into an oyster, the oyster doesn’t cry and complain about how unfair it is or tell the sand to get out. It responds by reflex, slowly and patiently surrounding the grain of sand with layer upon layer of a white substance. It doesn’t happen overnight, but ultimately this layering becomes a pearl that we humans value and consider beautiful.

When the grit hits the fan for us humans, the usual response is to cry and moan and rant that it’s unfair. Whether it’s a diagnosis of cancer, a spouse who leaves, a job lost unexpectedly or betrayal by a trusted friend, we say, “WHY ME?!”

Yet in the anguish, there is always the still, small voice of Spirit, nudging us to trust the process, guiding us to begin surrounding the grit with layers of awareness, acceptance, forgiveness and transformation. Unlike the oyster, we are at choice.

We can continue to go down the path of anger and depression or choose to allow the grit to help us grow. Like the oyster, the layering process takes time.

Many people turn to a spiritual path when dealing with a crisis. Suddenly, the need to connect with a Higher Power for comfort is apparent. In my case, it happened in my 20s when I was working for the welfare system in Los Angeles. I was overwhelmed with the bureaucracy in the department and the huge needs of the people I was attempting to help. Coupled with my perfectionism, I couldn’t possibly get everything done.

Running on coffee and cigarettes during the day, I used alcohol at night to relax and sleep. Emotionally and physically, I was depleted. Then a friend introduced me to meditation. At the time, meditation sounded like a weird thing to me, but intuitively I knew it was the answer. In only a few weeks, my life turned around, and I was solidly on a spiritual path. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to say that was the last crisis I ever experienced? But of course that would be untrue. During the ensuing years, I’ve been through other challenges large and small. The difference? Now I have the inner resources to deal with them.

Sometimes, when people have been on a spiritual path for a while and feel they’ve been doing their best to practice forgiveness, say their affirmations and otherwise stay on the path, the challenge hits even harder because they believe “we create our own reality.” They feel guilty and ask themselves, “How did I create THIS?”

I’ve done that a few times! But guilt never helps the process. Because we all have an unconscious mind, things we don’t seem to want will get created, no matter how many affirmations we do. When the unexpected grit happens, it’s time to strengthen those spiritual muscles even more by meditating, listening for guidance, practicing forgiveness and loving ourselves in the process.

So the next time grit gets into YOUR oyster, remember the image of layering it with white, symbolizing the light of Spirit illuminating the recovery process. Be gentle with yourself and know that “this, too, shall pass.”

Bio

Patricia J. Crane, Ph.D., is the author of “Ordering From the Cosmic Kitchen: The Essential Guide to Powerful, Nourishing Affirmations.” She has presented hundreds of workshops in the U.S. and internationally. With her husband, she trains workshop leaders in the philosophy of Louise Hay. For more information, visit: www.DrPatriciaCrane.com