“Remember to play after every storm and to celebrate the gift of life as we have it, or else life becomes a task, rather than a gift. We must always listen to the song in our heart, and share that song with others.”—Mattie Stepanek
Life is challenging, and it will invariably throw some storms at us. Some minor. Some quite nasty—hurricane kinda storms. The thing about storms is—they pass. Yes, they may leave some destruction in their wake, but the storm always ends. The sun comes out. The rainbow spreads across the sky, and, for at least a brief reprieve, the storm ceases. When the storm ends, play!
I have had enough trials and difficulties—not near the level of some of my friends, however—to take to heart Mattie Stepanek’s instruction to “play after every storm”. It is great advice.
I am a tremendous fan of Mattie’s writing—his Heartsongs. If you don’t know who Mattie is, he is described as a poet and peacemaker. Mattie had rare disorder called dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. Sadly, he died June 22, 2004 at the age of 13. Before he passed at such a very young age, he was a best-selling author and described by Former President Jimmy Carter as “the most extraordinary person I have ever known.” Mattie faced more than his share of storms in life, but he knew how to play after every one. Mattie lived the carpe momento ideal.
His words: “While we are living in the present, we must celebrate life every day, knowing that we are becoming history with every work, every action, every deed” speak to the charge to carpe momento. I strive every day to follow this advice. I have been shown how by friends who have lost children to cancer.
There is a benefit to storms. Storms are cleansing. Thunderstorms fertilize (I just learned this—that lightning produces 20% of the earth’s nitrogen each year) thus preparing the soil for growth. Much the same in life, storms reveal character and teach us hope. Storms suck, but they end. For those in the midst of the storm, there may seem to be no end to the storm or reason for it. When we find ourselves here, we need to just wait it out.
I have had numerous friends face some horrific storms in recent years. For some the damage is severe. I can offer no words to bring comfort to their pain. No one can. And to simply say “play” is shallow and ineffective. The best any of us can do is point these friends toward the sun.
I often abbreviate Mattie’s life philosophy in saying “play after every storm”, but the important words come in what he says next. Mattie goes on to instruct us to “celebrate the gift of life as we have it…(and) always listen to the song in our heart, and share that song with others.” Don’t dwell on the storms. Celebrate the times between the storms. Accept what the storms bring us and celebrate “life as we have it.” Life is short (shorter for some). Our time with others is shorter still. We can spend our time dwelling on the storm or waiting for the next storm, or we can “share the song in our heart”—and let it be a joyful song.
Grace and peace to those who are suffering. I pray the storm will soon pass and you will have even a moment to breathe and… to play.