In times of struggle, light

Juliahna was diagnosed last August with acute myelogenous leukemia. Since then she’s undergone progressively more radical procedures, all the while keeping her friends informed of her progress through her Caring Bridge journal. The other day, while sharing the great news of hopeful prognosis for recovery, Juliahna wrote the following:

“As of today, I'm committed to really celebrating all the good news that comes. Too often I skip right into wondering how long good news will keep coming to me, which I've come today to consider a rather careless squander of good news. I'm wanting now to practice a more disciplined mindfulness of being present to this moment, this one I've been gifted with in this fractal of time. And in the bigger picture, I'm reminded that this has been and will continue to be the only way it can be: a moment to moment experience. I'm going to work to keep all of me with me in the only place I can be: here, now.”

What a powerful reminder of the vulnerability yet the giftedness of life. Juliahna's words resonate within me and spur me to a similar mindfulness. What better teacher than one who has entered the darkness and emerged filled with light.

Beryl is the award-winning author ofThe Scent of God: A Memoir, published by Counterpoint NY in hardcover 2006 and in paperback in 2007. Her work has been published in regional and national media and in the anthologies Surviving Ophelia(Perseus Press NY 2001) and the New Writer’s Handbook, Volume 2 (Scarletta Press 2008). Besides blogging on Gather.com, Beryl writes a travel blog, Road Writer, and a Spirituality blog, Finding Time For God

Comments: 16

Kathryn E. Mar 22, 2009, 8:53pm EDT

You are so thoughtful to write this about Juliahna, which I assume to be a very good friend of yours, though I do not believe you mentioned her before, so I am not sure who she is.

My wishes to you and to Juliahna.

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Kathryn E. Mar 22, 2009, 8:53pm EDT

Featured in the Triple Name Club.

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gibbs williams Mar 22, 2009, 11:51pm EDT

Uplifting.

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Magi the magical poet is riding the wind again Mar 23, 2009, 12:39am EDT

I am glad to hear it!

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Paul D Lefebvre Mar 23, 2009, 11:11am EDT

Most of us are inclined to one of two inclinations to life-view: anticipation of the future, or reliance on history. Its just a natural part of our personalities. And its a good thing to have either a drive toward the future or a reference to the past, we need those. Yet, we can only really experience -of joy or sorrow- the present, the here-and-now. It would be my hope that Juliahna had a satisfaction in helping the rest of us, at least momentarily, come to some peace in the present moment.

Thanks Beryl.

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Tonia, who hugs trees G. Mar 24, 2009, 8:45pm EDT

It is so important to be reminded to live in the present. Thanks for sharing this with us all.

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Beryl Singleton Bissell Mar 24, 2009, 8:59pm EDT

Since my book, The Scent of God, was released, I've received hundreds if not thousands of lovely letters from readers. Julianha was one of those readers and we actually met one time at a coffee shop when I was passing through the area where she lives. We stayed in sporadic touch but I lost sight of her for close to a year. The other day I received a forward from her and at the end she mentioned that she had a Caring Bridge site. I headed over there, deeply concerned, and read her touching and beautifully written journal. She was delighted that I wanted to publish that quote. In my first draft of this piece I put all this information about her relationship to me but decided to cut it when the article got too detailed. I guess I should have realized that readers would be curious. Thanks for pointing this out Kathryn.

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Mariana T. Mar 25, 2009, 10:31pm EDT

Julianha was so blessed that you came into her life and you in hers - I love that you are passing this on for her. I wish her well and I appreciate you spreading the word. I think of Scent of God often - it was one of my all-time favorites and lives with me. Salud

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Mariana T. Mar 25, 2009, 10:32pm EDT

(I responded back to your last comment in my post)...Thanks again. Salud

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Elsie Duggan Mar 26, 2009, 2:32am EDT

How wonderful that you met someone that needed a friend in the future, and I am sure you are a help to her now, not eveyone has that gift Beryl, take care, and best wishes and prayers for your friend.

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