R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts for R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Women
“IMPOSSIBLE means that i, an ordinary young woman, can be something special and significant in an enormous, hurting world.” Ann Kiemel, Author of I Love the Word Impossible
Lots of things about a midlife divorce seem impossible. I thought it would be impossible to really be happy again, or to completely heal the hurt in my heart. I thought it would be impossible to ever really laugh again and feel that all things were “right with the world.” I thought it would be impossible to find a future that I was excited about. But all of those things I thought were impossible have become reality and even more. The book above was written in 1971. Around that time, E.E. Cummings made “i” cool. The little “i” symbolized something. Ann Keimel (who also used the small “i”) was an ordinary young single woman with an extraordinary life. She didn’t do anything particularly grand or particularly glorious by the world’s standards, but she changed many, many lives by being aware and being willing to be vulnerable and to not be afraid to love deeply. She felt that true compassion comes by being hurt and then being willing to share comfort and encouragement with others who hurt. Each one of us can be special and significant in this enormous world. Recently we have seen midlife infidelity on the front page of all of our papers and on the evening news. We, of all people, can identify with what Jenny Sanford is going through. We might not be able to do anything specifically to help her, but we can do something real and meaningful and specific to help our elderly neighbor, or our friend whose son is having trouble at school, or a child who is discouraged, or anyone who needs a bright, engaging smile. This is an enormous, hurting world. We are learning things through our own divorce recovery struggles that will allow us to be particularly significant to others who are hurting. One of our basic needs as humans is to have meaning. You are learning lessons of significance, now. Don’t waste what you learn. Share your comfort and encouragement with others. That kind of significance will always be of incredible value to the people you meet in this enormous, hurting world.
“ … with man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” Matt. 19:26 (NIV)
