All the givens in life are based on one underlying fact… Anything can happen to anyone. This is the given of givens.
The givens of life are a code to our personal evolution. All things have a natural, irrepressible tendency to evolve, which creates hope within. Hope is an authentic response to life’s inherent, irrepressible inclination toward fulfillment. An unconditional-that is, mindful-yes to the givens, without debate or complaint, is all it takes.
The givens in life are gifts because they are the ingredients of character, depth, and compassion.
Yet ultimately, the fact that there is much in life that we cannot control means that we may need a special boost, something our ego cannot provide, something our limited mind cannot conceive, something our frail will cannot effect. This is the assisting force of grace, the spiritual complement to effort.
As givens become graces, an unconditional thanks stands beside our unconditional yes. When we accept the good with the bad, the easy with the difficult, gratitude arises automatically.
The fact that life is not always fair even though we know instinctively what would be fair means that we are called to create the conditions of justice in the world. When we say yes to such a call, we find courage. Then we find ways of balancing ourselves and assisting the world in balancing itself.
The fact that pain is a part of life yields the graces of endurance, patience, and compassion. We are affected by others’ pain and less likely to be sources of pain to others.
The fact that others are not always loyal and loving inflicts the wounds that make us people of depth and character. Perhaps such wounds are graces since the wholes in us can be openings to wholeness. And, most of all, we are thereby challenged to show an unconditional love.
In addition, if we have the courage to face life’s unavoidable truths, we will find the grace to love no matter what happens to us. Love is always unconditional in the sense that it is not stymied or stifled by any of the conditions of existence. Neither changes, endings, altered plans, unfairness, suffering, disloyalty, or lack of love can stop what our ego always wants to say, since it means the end of being afraid and the beginning of being free.
David Richo-The Five Things We Cannot Change….
