Shantaram

As I said before, I've been trying to write a bit every day for Lent.  (I've missed a few days, but have been generally good about this.)  Some of it is, as to be expected, utter rubbish.  This one, however, I thought I'd share because I like the inspirational quote so much.

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This is a passage from the novel I am currently reading, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.  I highly recommend it to pretty much anyone; the story is beautifully written, dark and at times quite challenging.  There have been several passages I have dog-eared or jotted down, but of them all I think this one so far has struck me the hardest.

“One of the reasons why we crave love, and seek it so desperately, is that love is the only cure for loneliness, and shame, and sorrow.  But some feelings sink so deep into the heart that only loneliness can help you find them again.  Some truths about yourself are so painful that only shame can help you live with them.  And some things are just so sad that only your soul can do the crying for you.”

At one point or another, every human being has been lonely or felt completely alone.  It’s incredible how terrifying that feeling can be, especially when it is unexpected.  There are times in my life, too many times, where I managed to delude myself into thinking and believing that I didn’t need anyone or anything else, that if I had to go it alone in the world I would be able to survive.

Being alone makes you face things that creep up in the silence, the stillness.  We have an incredible stockpile of noise and distractions we use to combat the reality of our dark hearts, our petty needs, our twisted thoughts and deeds.  Facing our flawed reflections can crush our spirits, but can also indeed be cured with love; the overflowing forgiveness and unconditional covering that is the grace of charity. 

Love fuels the effort we sacrifice in the belief that we can be better than what we are, and gives us the continued opportunity to become the person some believe us to be already.