The multiple branches with fresh colourful leaves stood out in the corner of the garden. It was when the morning sun brightened the foliage, I moved close to get a glimpse of an exuberant look.
A closer look amazed me. Each of the terminal branches has one or two buds hidden by tender leaves.
It is a small plant only about one foot above the ground. But its splendid growth defies other taller rose bushes.
This plant became symbol of its instinct of 'readiness' to grow!
Growth is an intrinsic and extrinsic phenomenon.
Dr Viktor E Frankl was an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher and Holocaust survivor, who founded logo therapy, 'a school of psychotherapy that describes a search for a life's meaning as a central human motivational force'. I remember him because of his famous book, 'Man's search for meaning'.
One statement of his, which is often quoted, which touched people since the publication of the book is : 'Everything can be taken form man but one thing: the last of the human freedom, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way' !
'Frankl claims that one finds meaning in life through three ways. Through work, especially when that work is both creative in nature and aligned with a purpose greater than ourselves. Through love, which often manifest itself in service of others. And through suffering, which is fundamental to the human experience' (quote from internet').
I found the four pillars of meaning that Viktor suggested helpful: 'belonging, purpose, story telling and transcendence'.
Viktor was arrested as he was a jew in 1942 and spent three years in concentration camps including Auschwitz. His wife and parents perished, but he was liberated in 1945. During the time in concentration camp, he found purpose in helping fellow prisoners and developed his theory based on his experiences. He obtained a pilot's license at the age of 67 years.
What comes back to me often is a phrase he used, 'healing through meaning'.
Yesterday I heard the story of a 14 year boy, who has symptoms of panic attack. He is from a broken home with recurrent episodes of physical abuses, bullied at school, cognitively struggling with attention deficit and is under treatment for Epilepsy from the age of 10 years with recent recurrence. The mother who is the care giver pursues in the hope of seeing him recover! I felt m mother by the attitude of the mother. She seems to have found meaning to care even when she and her son suffer.
The overcoming instinct is a human trait!
The rose bush above shows such a thriving feature physically!
When I heard how the medical team was caring for the boy and his mother with an attitude of consideration and good will, I realised how human response to suffering can be an act of empathy.
From suffering to thriving is a long journey! Viktor Frankl from his experience and writing reminded us of the inner resilience that can diffuse the pain of suffering!
There may not be any end to suffering. But the strength to live above the traction of suffering is a reality. We come across people who carry a transcendent outlook to life and fall back on God to find shelter in times of distress!
Immediately after a heavy rain, I found this pair of Bulbuls perched on a coconut palm ! They were wet and could not fly long distance till they were dry !
They had each other for consolation.
Friendship is what strengthens those who find the burden of their circumstances overbearing!
We can be enablers to help others to endure and find hope, when the going becomes rough !
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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