I don’t know whether I have shared the water story yet.  After searching through my archives I have come to the conclusion that I have not and feel compelled to write it now.

It all began a couple of years ago as I was dealing with the latest “bombshell” from our daughter.  I knew to the depths of my soul that I was in deep trouble internally, because I wanted to “shut down”, run away, not see or talk with anyone.  Those are all danger signals for me.

I immediately alerted my support network and began what turned out to be two years of intense personal work.  I firmly believe that God provides – always, even when we are not quite aware of it.  In the month or so before the “bombshell”, I had heard about a couple of people who offered new-to-me alternative therapy, and I had put them in a file for future reference.

Well, now was the future, so I contacted them and made appointments.  They have both helped me tremendously in my personal growth, but more importantly they gave me incredible support as I dealt with very difficult times.  I also began working with an amazingly skilled and talented male massage therapist who was referred to me by a very trusted friend/female massage therapist.  There’s nothing like male energy to “shake things up a bit”.

At the time, I was also involved in some special one-on-one work with one of my very dear friends. As I spent some time with her one morning she suddenly said, a propos of nothing that we were talking about in that particular moment, “Margo I read something this morning and I think you would like it.”  She then proceeded to show me the 78th Verse of the Tao Te Ching written by Lao_tzu, as presented and commented on by Wayne Dyer in his book Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Life, (which I then had to promptly go and buy!!).

I am going to write out the verse as it appears in the book:

Nothing in the world is softer
and weaker than water.
But for attacking the hard, the unyielding,
nothing can surpass it.
There is nothing like it.

The weak overcomes the strong;
the soft surpasses the hard.
In all the world, there is no one who does not know this,
but no one can master the practice

Therefore the master remains
serene in the midst of sorrow;
evil cannot enter his heart.
Because he has given up helping,
he is the people’s greatest help.

True words appear paradoxical.

The ensuing chapter was titled “Living Like Water” and Wayne Dyer comments on the verse in the following way.  “Be like water seems to be repeated throughout the Tao Te Ching. ……..Water is elusive until you cease grasping and let your hand relax and be one with it – ………  Overcome the unyielding parts of your life by yielding! ……. Remember to stay flexible, willing to lower yourself in humility and appear weak, but knowing that you are in harmony with the Tao.  …….. When you stay soft and surpass the hard, you too will be indestructible.  There’s nothing softer than water under heaven, and yet there’s nothing that can surpass it for overcoming the hard.”

I knew in that moment that this was a huge lesson that I needed to take to heart.  I needed to practice being soft and flexible rather than being tough.  I needed, just like water, “to find my own level below all strong things”. I needed, just like water, to return to my own Source (which for me is God) and allow Him to use me over and over in ways that He sees fit.

After reading this passage and processing my thoughts, I came to a great place of peace.  Even though I was in the midst of great spiritual, emotional, mental, and consequently physical, turmoil I could feel God’s love and grace surround me and sustain me.

My husband was in San Diego at the time.  Later that day he called me and I was able to share my “water experience” with him.  As I was telling him the story, he suddenly said, “Oh my God, Oh my God!”.  In somewhat of a panic and with my heart beating wildly I shouted down the phone, “What’s the matter?  What’s happening?” 

His response sent chills up and down my spine, and I get goose bumps all over again as I recount these events.  He replied, “It’s OK, everything is OK.  It’s just that a girl is walking past and her T-shirt logo says ‘Water is Life’.  Needless to say I felt the hand of God right there.  I felt His presence and I knew that no matter what, He would always be there for me.