This post was inspired by the novel A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
by Anthony Marra. In a war torn Chechnya, a young fatherless girl, a
family friend, and a hardened doctor struggle with love and loss. Join From Left to Write on May 20 as we discuss Anthony Marra's debut novel. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
'You must do the things you think you cannot do.' ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
I believe with all my heart that we are all capable of much more than we think we are. Whether it's about running another lap or another mile, giving just one more big push, or surviving an unthinkable loss, the human spirit, the will to persevere is strong enough to carry us through.
I have never been to war. I have been affected by wars, but I have not been put out of my burning home or watched my loved ones taken away by soldiers. But I have faced obstacles I didn't know if I would overcome, challenges I wasn't sure I'd survive. I have lost both of my parents, I have lost friends, and I have walked through more than one big bad marital firestorm with Captain America and come out on the other side, bruised and battered but still standing. I have suffered enormous disappointments, both because of other people and because of myself.
I have discovered along the way that it's those challenges that we face that really determine who we are. I have absolutely failed, at times, to overcome fear and trepidation, and I have questioned myself and my God in the midst of confusion, turmoil and seemingly endless pain. But the storms fade. Fires die. And what else is there, but to pick ourselves up, assess the damage, and go about setting things to rights? Even when we feel defeated, and we feel like we've got nothing left, sooner or later we still get up.
Sometimes, though, sometimes we prevail over the fear and we conquer that thing we are afraid of. It's not because we're so brave, or we're so smart, or we're so strong. It's not. We're not. Not necessarily.
But I am strong enough. We are strong enough, to do those things that we think we cannot do.
We must do the things that we think we cannot do.
