"Let what will be, be"

Acceptance - Poem by Robert Frost

When the spent sun throws up its rays on cloud
And goes down burning into the gulf below,
No voice in nature is heard to cry aloud
At what has happened. Birds, at least must know
It is the change to darkness in the sky.
Murmuring something quiet in her breast,
One bird begins to close a faded eye;
Or overtaken too far from his nest,
Hurrying low above the grove, some waif
Swoops just in time to his remembered tree.
At most he thinks or twitters softly, 'Safe!
Now let the night be dark for me to see
Into the future. Let what will be, be.'

Although this poem touches on nature, it is actually offering us a perspective about life. It is open to interpretation, so keep this in mind as I share my own view.

Let me begin by saying that I read this poem everyday as part of my prayer ritual. It serves as a reminder to live life on life's terms. Allowing myself to see what is, focusing on what I can do, instead of what I can't, and accepting the things in life that cannot be changed is a daily practice that works for me. There is no question that this is challenging, but just knowing the benefits makes it all worthwhile. I have learned that I can have peace with myself and my life when I open myself to accepting things as they are presented. I may not like what is, but in recognizing the facts of a given situation, event or circumstance, I find peace of mind. Even though the truth initially may be hard to accept, once you get to the other side, the truth can be liberating. Accepting the facts of life and seeing them as natural life occurrences helps us to work with and not against our reality. It can quiet the battle within that often keeps us in a state of misery, and make it easier to access our inner strengths and resources to let what will be, be.

Acceptance of change is a strong theme presented in this poem. Change is not only the way of nature, but also the way of life. The birds in this poem know there is a time of light and darkness, a time for activity, but also a time to rest. The day has come and gone and now it is time to return to that familiar place of safety. Once there, they can shut down for the night without fear or worry. In a similar way, we too, must accept that in life there is always change. Things will happen whether we are prepared for them or not. A helpful approach is to make the choice to live your life in the present. By this I mean, take each day as it comes. Deal with things as they happen and do the best you can. In times of stress, worry and fear, return to that familiar place you call 'Safe.' For me, that familiar place is 'Acceptance.' It's about dropping the struggle and resistance and living with what is. It is peace and quiet. It is a recognition that there is a time for work, a time to play, and also a time to put our fears to rest. Practice living one day at a time, let what will be, be and you will come to know acceptance.

Thank you for reading!