In a recent post, I spoke of becoming entrapped due to grief over failures, longings, broken relationships, regrets, etc. With more than a little input from Bob Dylan, I deemed this place, "Mississippi" and spoke just a bit of my own experience of remaining there a few years too long.
You can read about that here is you missed it: I Stayed in Mississippi a Few Years Too Long
But, now, I must speak of the other side: The viewpoint from outside "Mississippi." Because sometimes (perhaps even often) it takes intervention from outside to wrest a person from the custody of their own despondency. And more often than not, that intervention arrives via another person's words or actions.
When you're going through a content and peaceful time of life, it's easy to become a bit oblivious to others who are struggling with discouragement and despair. We tend to see the world through the lens of our own reality and it's no different in this case. And it's totally understandable. When you're travelling in a completely different state, miles away, it's difficult to have any awareness that another is travelling in "Mississippi," much less that they have become stuck there.
So, I'm asking you to pause and look around. Because, if your looking, it's not hard to see the detached look in a person's eye or the crestfallen face that is characteristic of a traveler who is lost in the gloom. If you can, reach out with just a kind gesture of interest or word of encouragement. Trust me, it doesn't take much. Most people just want to know that they aren't alone and with the realization of kinship, people can often move on from the mindsets and other trappings that are keeping them mired down.
Years ago, the pastor at the church I attend spoke of the main reason why each of us in here on this earth: To make a positive impact on the lives of those we come into contact with on a daily basis. (I'm sure that I didn't just use his exact words but this was the gist of it). How often we get caught up in our own daily stresses, worries and obligations and shirk this part of our mission on earth. No wonder we feel like we don't matter a good deal of the time. We're focused on a whole bunch of shit in life that's happening to us. Things that we have little influence to change and even less to control. And we're neglecting the small but great influences that we do have. A smile for the dispirited. A hug for the dejected. An invitation for the withdrawn. An email of encouragement for someone who has retreated due to pain, anger or any of the other myriad of reasons that cause people to go into hiding. Hiding... in "Mississippi."
There are so many different ways to easily encourage others on a day to day basis if we would only be looking. I believe it's what we're here for and if we choose to accept this mission, it will give our lives more meaning than any lofty pipe dream ever could.
So, in closing, I leave you with the words of "Bad" by U2. It's a song about heroine addiction but I'm stealing (borrowing??) it and interpreting it as a song about those who are addicted to the despair of "Mississippi" and have become trapped there and the yearning I feel to help them break free. For, if I can through myself set some of those spirits free, I'd lead those hearts away into the light of day. Away from the desperation, dislocation, separation, condemnation and isolation. To let it all go and be wide awake. Not sleeping! Will you join me? Please Join me! The world would be a better place.
Peace to you all!
"If I could through myself
Set your spirit free, I'd lead your heart away
See you break, break away
Into the light
And to the day
This desperation
Dislocation
Separation, condemnation
Revelation in temptation
Isolation, desolation
Let it go"
"Bad" - U2
