Fire Walker

No one can build you the bridge on which you, and only you must cross the river of life ~ Nietzsche

This entry is inspired by MaSu’s piece on how we are at Our best during fire and since she is a movie Nerd, I let my mind run and it zeroed on , Third Man and the conversation therein, In the 1949 British film The Third Man, the character Harry Lime observes that, during the Borgia family’s rule in Renaissance Italy, the country “had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed. But [it] produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance.” By contrast, he contends, Switzerland’s 500 years of democracy and peace produced little more than the cuckoo Clock, Chocolate and Swiss Guards. Although peace, order, and political stability are widely perceived as essential prerequisites for invention, entrepreneurship, and economic development, there have been many exceptions to this rule – especially when it comes to creativity and innovation. So I agree in part that traversity gets the best of us. When COVID 19 started happening and WHO announced it as an epidemic, my mind ran to a book I had read about 6 years ago,

Life imitates art Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds in their book Hades Factor mentioned a disease called the “acute respiratory distress syndrome” (ARDS). It was written in 2000 which was three years before the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic broke out in China first and then spread across the world.The symptoms of ARDS and SARS – and for Covid-19 – were similar: Cold, cough, fever and respiratory problems.

This was my first Blogpost in 2019 after the stroke, it took me long to be in a position to write because I had been in Self denial , When the deferred acceptance for my masters came, it dawned on me that I may never come to do it and all I had to do was to deal with it and I concentrate on the recovery. Life would take care of itself I thought.Writing became my escape from the troubles and to reflect on my journey with stroke. It is my footnote from which I can’t run away . Whereas I would want it to be otherwise,I have to embrace it and soldier on.No single person has ever benefitted from a pity party so the world’s not going to stop because you are ill.

Award winning blogger Tikia Joella in an interview mentioned yours truly among the five bloggers she admires and I felt honored. She was kind with words and said she was happy that I write in illness. Well I write to show readers that you can push through whatever situation you are going through. Hemiparesis is Muscle weakness or partial paralysis on one side of the body that can affect the arms, legs and facial muscles. My left side is paralyzed and that was the silver lining of this dark cloud.

The concept of fire was brought up by a friend in an Easter message about two years ago and it makes sense I am walking in the fire and trying to walk well.

To walk among flames, fierce and wild,
Is a trial that tests each wile.
Step lightly and with steady stride,
With every fear and doubt aside.

For fire can cleanse and fire purify,
Burning away all that does not apply.
As you walk with bravery and poise,
Your soul and being will find new joys.

So muster courage and hold your head high,
And walk well in the fire without a sigh.
For every step taken with strength and grace,
Will lead you to a bond and beautiful place

Whatever fire you are faced with, keep walking because Persistence wears down Resistance. On a cynical note,I have all the time to myself so why not write. So I hope you get why I have no spark because that would be getting back to perfect health and childhood. Mwebaza Lorna writes that “The reality is you cannot control what will happen- but you can control how you will react to it” I will keep walking in this flame.