When a Crisis becomes an Opportunity

One of the hexagrams of the I CHING—the ancient Chinese method of spiritual divination—shows the clear link between life’s crises and life’s opportunities. Seeing the news story about the courageous young man, Stephen Sutton, I have been reminded about the whole issue of turning crises in our lives into opportunities. What an extraordinary and deeply inspiring story! A teenager diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of only fifteen decided (to quote his own words) ‘The best way to help myself is by helping others’. Instead of saying ‘Why me?’ he decided to devote all the energy and remaining time he had to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Thanks to a great deal of publicity from social media (an amazing tribute to the good side of this modern day communication phenomena) he has now raised over two million. His original goal was £10,000!)

In White Eagle’s teaching we can find many examples of how he encourages us to turn both small and major crises into opportunities, to help others; and by doing so we also grow in spiritual understanding and wisdom. And, of course, as we do this it can open our hearts even more in compassionate understanding of others’ sufferings and the wish to offer what help we can to alleviate this.

I believe Stephen’s brave example could encourage many to look for the opportunity within their own suffering. It must be so hard to have to face such things, but maybe through doing what Stephen has done, he himself finds purpose in what is a dreadfully challenging time, and hopefully others will too. I am resolving to look as often as I can for the opportunity in any difficult situation.

White Eagle, whose teaching can have a strong Taoist flavour, was once asked: ‘Is it possible for an individual to alter or change their suffering to beauty?’ And he replied using the symbolism of beautifying your garden:

'There is your garden planned. Some people may not trouble to beautify their garden because it is unshapely, but others can and will improve it, by planting bushes and flowers. It is your reaction to events today which will either erase the ugliness or leave it bare. Some people always bob up like a cork, although karma seems to overwhelm them at times, they come out smiling. Do not adopt the attitude of having to endure karma. Your garden may only be a back yard, but it can have lovely flowers and look as sweet and beautiful as many a larger, if love be there. Is not life beautiful! Is not God good, Who gives you the power to beautify?'

Surely Stephen has not only ‘beautified’ his own garden but added to the ‘beauty’ in the world for others in many ways.