I’ve posted the above song before, but I didn’t realize why I liked it so much until I was sitting in church this evening, listening to others’ testimonies about their experiences over the past 12 months, and it occurred to me that some of the lyrics more or less sum up my year:
Every silver lining’s got a touch of grey.
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
— The Grateful Dead
In the absolute, there’s nothing but silver linings — no clouds at all — but in the human experience, those silver linings often seem to come with “a touch of grey” as we find ourselves giving up some (usually material) thing we cherish in order to advance spiritually.
Oh well a touch of grey
Kinda suits you anyway
That’s all I had to say
But it’s all right
I will get by
I will get by
I will get by
I will survive
Mrs. Eddy refers to this process as a “chemicalization” of thought: the disruption to our mental (and sometimes material) status quo that occurs as error is being brought to the surface and destroyed.
I’m finding that it’s these touches of grey that often serve as the catalysts for spiritual progress. Every illness or injury brings a demand for greater insight. Every obstacle overcome forces me to seek a higher understanding of Truth. Without the occasional challenge, I’d be tempted to grow lazy and complacent.
Sometimes a touch of grey kinda suits me anyway.
Emily
Red Fork Hippie 