Reframing the Past
When I was very young, my grandmother died.
Our family was attending the community Christmas Carol festival and I was in the childrens' chorus., "Nanny" became ill. My parents escorted her home, and I was left at the concert in the care of our next door neighbors. When I arrived home later that evening, Nanny was dead.
All the happy holiday traditions of baking cookies and wrapping packages seemed to be "chores" after that. One Christmas in elementary school, I remember asking my teacher not to have the class process to a certain carol "because it makes my Mommy cry." For years - decades - I lived with an unspoken fear that with December comes death.
Something profoundly sad lingered beneath the holly and the ivy. The smell of evergreen, the sight of candles and poinsettias brought to mind scenes of funerals and family visitations and the mystery of the cycles of life.
Gradually I had come to understand the circumstances of that night so long ago. Over time the bitter has become less so, and the sweetness is stronger.
This past weekend I attended a community chorus presentation is a beautiful church in a nearby town. The trees were lit with sparkling lights. The hall was hung with greenery. The concert included a children's chorus in which our granddaughter sings.
As the brass quintet began to play "O Come All Ye Faithful" I glanced down at Rachel standing with the other children at the front of the church. The music grew more full; a golden glow filled the sanctuary. As I watched her singing, I recalled that night so long ago when I had been that little girl and Nanny had been watching me. Now I was the grandmother.
Was she as touched? as proud? as inspired as I felt now? Tears came unbidden and rolled down my cheeks. My wounded spirit has experienced profound healing. Some place deep inside me sighed and relaxed. Rest in peace, Nanny.
When have current experiences brought back unresolved issues from your past?
In your organization are there opportunities in the present for healing and resolving past hurts?
In this season, how could you start a conversation with your folks about reframing the way you look at loss and failure?
Our family was attending the community Christmas Carol festival and I was in the childrens' chorus., "Nanny" became ill. My parents escorted her home, and I was left at the concert in the care of our next door neighbors. When I arrived home later that evening, Nanny was dead.
All the happy holiday traditions of baking cookies and wrapping packages seemed to be "chores" after that. One Christmas in elementary school, I remember asking my teacher not to have the class process to a certain carol "because it makes my Mommy cry." For years - decades - I lived with an unspoken fear that with December comes death.
Something profoundly sad lingered beneath the holly and the ivy. The smell of evergreen, the sight of candles and poinsettias brought to mind scenes of funerals and family visitations and the mystery of the cycles of life.
Gradually I had come to understand the circumstances of that night so long ago. Over time the bitter has become less so, and the sweetness is stronger.
This past weekend I attended a community chorus presentation is a beautiful church in a nearby town. The trees were lit with sparkling lights. The hall was hung with greenery. The concert included a children's chorus in which our granddaughter sings.
As the brass quintet began to play "O Come All Ye Faithful" I glanced down at Rachel standing with the other children at the front of the church. The music grew more full; a golden glow filled the sanctuary. As I watched her singing, I recalled that night so long ago when I had been that little girl and Nanny had been watching me. Now I was the grandmother.
Was she as touched? as proud? as inspired as I felt now? Tears came unbidden and rolled down my cheeks. My wounded spirit has experienced profound healing. Some place deep inside me sighed and relaxed. Rest in peace, Nanny.
When have current experiences brought back unresolved issues from your past?
In your organization are there opportunities in the present for healing and resolving past hurts?
In this season, how could you start a conversation with your folks about reframing the way you look at loss and failure?
Good job, author! Good job!
Tomorrow I will open my new blog about the cinema movies. Nice to meet you!
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