vTHROUGH THE LENS continued from page 31 “If you send out goodness from yourself, or if you share that which is happy or good within you, it will all come back to you multiplied ten thousand times. In the kingdom of love there is no competition; there is no possessiveness or control. The more love you give away, the more love you will have.” John O’Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom This spring many are going from feeling completely lost, broken, humiliated, and destroyed. If you’ve lived in the Midwest for any length of time, then you’re probably familiar with the concept of the “Midwestern work ethic.” It’s an unwaveringly pragmatic and dogmatic belief that hard work and perseverance rooted in quiet humility pays off in the long run. Showing self-respect and appreciation—and accepting it from others—is a really good thing. The hardiness and resilience of people living and working here, with the strength to carry on, this is a powerful statement about who they are. The journey they make back onto solid ground after having the rug pulled out from under them is one that has defined human history. Life is life. There will be tragedies and setbacks in all of our lives. But fighting our way back into life, one breath at a time; knowing when to surrender; practicing self-care and compassion; and summoning the strength and courage to go on and keeping the faith that there will be a better day leads us out of the soup. We become the better version of ourselves, slowly beginning to turn the pages on our losses, writing new chapters of life, and making new memories. Life is a series of births and resurrections, good things and bad things, that challenge us to understand who we are. Spring is the season of hope and renewal, when we find the energy to take the necessary action that can push the tentative new beginning into full awakening. Spring reminds us that for each ending is a new beginning. For those who have been impacted the worse and for those that will be affected by the flooding that we will see more of to come in the month of May, their stories inspire us and give us hope that after the toil and hardship of this life, comes a fresh new beginning in another. Easter was just here as we celebrated the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And just as Christ died, and rose again, so to will our communities, our neighbors and our land rise up. The evidence of life after death is all around us, should we have the eyes to see it, the courage to believe it, and the humility to understand the awesome implications for our lives on earth and beyond. Whatever your faith, I wish you many rebirths and resurrections. Rebirth and resurrection are open to all of us, it is our gift, we are the only things on the earth that can conceive it and experience it, part of the miracle of being a human being. I stand with the poet John O’ Donohue, the more love you give away, the more love you have. This is perhaps the greatest rebirth of all. n Broasted Chicken To-Go By The Piece Plus A Variety Of Sides To Complete Your Meal *Salads * Potatoes * Desserts 2809 Broadway Ave., Yankton 605-665-9884 Monday-Thursday 11AM to 9PM Friday & Saturday 11AM-10PM Sundays 10:30AM-9PM Family Owned Since 1971 jodeans.com Call & Order Ahead 32vHERVOICEvMAY/JUNE 2019 665.9884 Dinners To-Go 4 $ 00 Choose from... •Chicken •Catfish •Walleye p Pick Unthly Your Modar Calen re $4 o With M ials! c Spe Includes mashed potatoes and gravy and steamed vegetable Our ck Out Go! Che s To Salad