Surrender

Yesterday, I got a call from someone. She was in trouble related to addiction and seeking help. She sounded desperate, talking in a raspy voice. She sounded like she was more like 80 than 21 years old. She talked about what was going on and that she was really ready for help. But then something happened. Her "boy-friend" came in and told her she didn't really need help. She hung up the line.

My mind flashed an image. It was a person in the middle of a dark lake. There was a storm over head. I saw an arm, a hand, a head, slipping underneath the water. My mind said, "I think she is going to drown." The encounter was over in the blink of an eye.

I define surrender in situations like this as "not fighting those who could help me." Having the ability to accept and embrace support is a skill. I have seen that people can actually build a proficiency in accepting help from others.

When others reach their hand out to me, will I reach back to them? Under the weight of fear, ego and a vast array of emotions walk away from others? If we do that, nothing changes. Things don't get better. As a mater of fact, they usually get far worse.

Surrender is a valuable ally. The opposite of surrender is resistance. Never forget that. If I resist your help, support and embrace, I hurt myself. It is the ultimate "anti-Zen." This kind of resistance produces gaps, distance and separation. We do it in many ways and when we decide, we can stop doing the things that hurt ourselves. We can change our Mind. We can "Live in the surrender," and perhaps - share a better life.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO