KEEP THE OLD WARM

“When we hit our lowest point we are open to the greatest change.” – Avatar Aang

In The Legend of Korra, Avatar Aang’s spirit tells this to the new Avatar that proceeds him, Avatar Korra, after she experiences terrible personal tragedy.

When we go so low, in whatever way, and can go no lower, that is where we can change. That is where we can only go up.

When our roots dig down deep into the dark, wet, cramped earth, that is when the plant can spring to life and reach for the freedom of the sky.

When we’ve found ourselves in a hell of our own making, disgusted, hopeless, wanting to escape the pain and shame, that is where we change. That is where we rise, hopeful, spirited, humble, changed.

Is this not perhaps the function of sin in life? No one walks through life perfect, not even the great sages of religion. Everyone, every single person makes mistakes. However, it is how we respond to mistakes, especially repeated ones that have brought us to our lowest point, that show how sin is a part of life and the world.

We fall and bring ourselves down low, only to get back up, and rise high.

We sin, so we can understand it, see where it brings us, and change for the better.

We dig ourselves into a hole, so the roots can go down deep and understand the darkness, so our trunk, branches, and leaves can all rise with the sun and rain and thrive in the light.

Do not lose hope. We are down low, we’ve fallen. There is where we are open to the greatest change.

Now, we rise.