Yep.
Nov 19, 09- (by JunkysWife)
- 2 responses
- Sober Salon
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I’m sitting in a tattoo shop while my husband finishes his first tattoo in a shop in several years. Perhaps I shouldn’t be as excited for him as I am.
I missed this world. I have missed sharing this world with him. I have missed the smell of latex gloves, the smell of the green soap, and the grimy, colorful artwork. I have missed the artists and missed the customers. I’ve missed the stories and the lies and the drama. I mean, I’ve had plenty of stories and lies and drama.
I was talking with one of my spiritual leaders today about some of his anxieties about working here. There is some weed smoking that goes on and some other shadiness, and he is worred that it won’t be the right environment for him. She said, “He shouldn’t be afraid. They should be afraid of him. The light shouldn’t fear the darkness. His path won’t be without some stumbles, but he’s on the right path.”
Well, then.
I know that he’s not fixed. I know I’m not fixed. I know that the bad times aren’t over…but I continue to be amazed when people who aren’t me can see the light growing in him. I never thought I would, ever again. The best I’d hoped for is that people would see the potential he had, or that others would see the potential that he was wasting. It never occurred to me that there could be light glowing in him, here and now.
It’s a slight shift in perspective, but it makes my life a little shinier.
Here’s an excerpt from some Nar-Anon literature that speaks to this kind of acceptance:
Remember all people are always changing. When we judge them, we judge on what we believe we know of them, failing to realize that there is much we do not know, and that they are constantly changing as they try for better or worse to cope with life. Give others credit even as all of us struggle; give them credit for attempts at progress, even if their changes are not apparent, and above all, give thme credit for having had many victories which are unknown.
Imagine that…I don’t know everything!
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Thanks for the post. “the light shouldn’t fear the darkness.” Wow. I love that. It is a great way to keep yourself from sliding into the dark abyss if surrounded by the addictive property that could possibly tempt you off the wagon. What a great way to think about it.
I’m smiling!