Illnesses with family and friends of soul, mind and body dominated my day. Dealing with illnesses is tiring. When one is ill, especially with a brain disorder, there seems to be no way out to a place of health. For people around persons suffering an illness of the mind, it is very difficult to accept that there is nothing they can do except to be present to the ill person. Sometimes we just need to accept we cannot change persons. This feeling of helplessness can bring us peace and joy or despair and sadness.

This evening I went to Church to celebrate Ash Wednesday. In the service we receive ashes on our foreheads to remind us how weak and fragile our life is. Ashes remind us that our bodies came from ashes and will return to ashes. Ashes are put on our forehead in the sign of the cross. The cross itself is a sign of despair and sadness or a sign of peace and joy.

Ashes are a sign of destruction. Yet ashes mixed with soil is good for the garden. They add to the soil and help plants to grow larger and be more fruitful.

Helplessness in the face of illness of a family member or friend, like ashes or a cross, can bring us peace and joy or despair and sadness.

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