I saw this quote on John O’Leary’s Live Inspired blog today titled: What is your date? Both the article and the quote stirred me.

“Even the helpless victim of a hopeless situation, facing a fate he cannot change, may rise above himself, may grow beyond himself, and by so doing change himself. He may turn a personal tragedy into a triumph..” -Viktor Frankl

My date is September 13, 2020. I’m still working on turning tragedy into triumph. Deciding to do so has already taken me out of the depths of the tragedy. I have not quite reached triumph, yet it isn’t a faraway destination; it is present all around me. I envision myself walking to a joyous destination of light – of triumph. Below me is hot lava flowing. I am walking above it or on it as Peter walked on water. The triumphant light is here with me now, shining on me and lifting me up above the lava. The lava is still there. It’s just below my feet. It’s still behind me and remains in front of me. Yet, if I focus on that light of triumph and continue to walk toward it, I’m fine. If I look down, doubt, look back too long, or start thinking I’m doing this on my own, I can start to sink. But all it takes is a quick look back up to the light, and I am lifted up again.

As I reflected on this, I realized that the lava is myself. It’s self-absorption and every other form of selfishness. The lava vision, using Victor Frankl’s words, is of me by the grace of God rising above myself, growing beyond myself, and by doing so, changing myself and turning this personal tragedy into a triumph.

The following is a list of choices that help me stand above the lava and turn my tragedy into a triumph.

These are reminders to me and hopefully of assistance to you.

1. Recognize that triumph is a choice. And decide to achieve it. Decide to grow beyond yourself, change yourself and hopefully others and turn this personal tragedy into triumph.

2. Know and accept that tragic events happen and they will happen again. Also, know that you can handle it because you are going to make choice number 3.

3. Trust in Our Lord. I have let this one get tricky by trying to reconcile free will, God’s will, original sin, the devil, miracles, etc. I sometimes find myself in a swirl trying to figure out how all these things work. Set aside the swirl and simply trust in Our Lord.

4. Decide it’s okay to be happy.

5. Find the fruit that grew out of the dung. Keep a list.

6. Recognize that you are not alone and lean on one another.

7. Forgive - yourself and anyone else involved in the events that led up to that tragic day, and forgive God.

8. Help others do 1-7 by witnessing hope, sharing faith, and acts of love.