For those who struggle to let go of the past, it is often a challenge to drop certain memories when they come up. Not long ago, I sold my car because it was becoming a financial burden. Every now and then though, I miss the car and I find myself thinking about it with longing and nostalgia, which makes me feel discontented and a bit sad.
This morning, coming in to work, as I was crossing the street, I had such a moment.
Lately, I’ve been reading ‘Everyday Grace’ by Marianne Williamson in which she explores faith, surrender, and miracles in every day life.
As I stood waiting for the traffic to stop so I could cross, I suddenly missed the times when I used to drive to work. But my head full of Ms Williamson’s wisdom, a thought occurred to me: surrender is the willingness to see the whole picture.
What I mean is that it’s easy to reminisce, and to fall out of the now moment, which is where life is only ever truly unfolding, but it’s vital to let go of that when it happens. In this instance, it’s not so much that there’s anything wrong with missing driving to work, but I had to be aware that I was looking at this situation from a very narrow viewpoint.
I sold my car because it was becoming more and more expensive to keep it. In the few months since it’s been sold, I’ve had more money for other things. I have felt, on the whole, less burdened: no road tax, residents parking fees, no parking fines, no petrol, car insurance, etc, etc.
Selling my car was not just a practical thing for me to do. It was also symbolic of major changes in my life in the last five years. The car stood for a lifestyle I could no longer afford; selling it was a necessary step in surrendering to what my life is now.
When the statement ‘Surrender is the willingness to see the whole picture’ came to my mind this morning, I instantly let go of missing the car. Instead, I allowed myself to see that I’d made a positive change in my life and that I’ve been reaping its rewards daily. And thanks to this situation, I was able to find a concrete and personal definition to the meaning of surrender.
Marianne Williamson is an international best selling author of many books on practical spirituality and an avid follower and voice of 'A Course in Miracles'.
