Two Things Stand Like Stone

Today we filmed in this amazing little park nestled in uptown Charlotte. Our scene was centered around this large fountain that had fish statues squirting water out of their mouths. It was one of those fountains that in the middle had spouts that would randomly turn on and off. You know the type - its the fountain that you always see children running through in the middle of the summer. We had children as extras doing exactly that very thing. As I walked around the fountain, I noticed an inscription along the base of the fountain that wound clockwise around it.

"Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone; Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own." - 1866, Adam Lindsay Gordon.

I was immediately struck by the inscription and wrote it down. It was one of those moments where you think, I was supposed to be here at this moment to read this because it is talking to me. It reminded me that while it is important to be kind and sympathetic to people who are going through difficult times in their lives, perhaps the more difficult thing is to be courageous in the face of your own difficulties. For months now people have commented to both Marshall and myself how amazed they are at our strength and courage. We both have felt a bit uneasy to hear this from people as neither one of us felt at all strong and courageous. In fact, we felt quite the opposite. When I lost my son, I felt helpless and defeated. But I had a choice. I could sit in my despair and become depressed and isolated, or I could gather what strength I had left and attempt to muster through. Although there were plenty of dark days (and surely still will be more), the only option I saw was to try to move through them. Sometimes, I need reminders like this quote that all the pain I am going through is a rock in my life - it will always be there. When all the other bubbles in my life float away, this stone of pain will carry on with me for all of eternity and I am courageous in facing my troubles head on and not running away from them.