Have you ever seen a marshmallow cloud? Do you know what kind I am talking about? They are called Mammatus clouds, which are often listed among the rarest of cloud formations, and are actually more common than you think. Marshmallow clouds can be hard to spot unless the sun is rising or setting which causes the light to illuminate their drooping underbellies.
When I see or think of these marshmallow clouds, I get the emotions of soft and sweet. For example, when I let my grandchildren help put the marshmallows on the sweet potatoes just before I pop them in the oven to brown a little so they are perfect when we put them in our mouths. Sometimes I think I want life to be like that, easy, sweet, and pretty, but that isn’t what I really want. I want the challenge of the storm, the beautiful clouds and sunlight after the storm and what the storm produces which is new life.
Here in So Cal we experienced a tremendous fire season this past year. According to Smokey Bear, fire is one of nature’s most essential agents of change, and mankind has often used fire in this capacity allowing a re-birth.
Steve Chandler, in his amazing book, Reinventing Yourself, tells a great story of his father who was once his own hero. He was kind and hard working and was a local hero as well. Once his father retired, he became lazy, overweight and basically drank himself to death. This comfort and softness created a man who only lived in his past and without a purpose for the future. He gave other examples of spirited men, Elvis, Marlon Brando and women who eventually after becoming successful due to their hard work, began to live a marshmallow life, lost all passion and purpose for life.
As people who have lost someone we love, we can let that fire bring us renewed hope and excitement for what is in store for our future. I encourage you to not lose your passion for life and your ability to work hard for something great. Hard work never hurt anyone, and I don’t know about you, but I am working harder now more than ever. We are created for challenge and adventure which can come through reinventing ourselves. What can you take a step towards today for your next adventure or passion?
