“The sun shines brighter again. Today, I am a different person, shaped through adversity and perseverance. My dreams aren’t visions of what might have been. I don’t focus on what I’ve lost, but rather on what  I learned through my pain. I appreciate the present moment, expect happenstance, and celebrate the lessons of the past with the possibilities of tomorrow. “ (Nan) 

Spring came early that year. Then, the rain began.  Instead of rejoicing over warmer days and sunshine, we found ourselves cursing torrential-grade rains. We were anxious to begin construction on a new home and build our new dream. The early thaw convinced us we could begin construction ahead of schedule and get a jump on construction demands. 

The bulldozers rolled in late in February and started paving a road through barren fields to a building site about 900 feet off a county road. The rolling hills terrain of our building site turned into water ways and gullies ravished by torrential downpours. The bulldozers hastily retreated over the rutted makeshift road. The crew laying the foundation vanished and sought shelter. As we stood at the vacated site, the mud sucked at our boots pulling them from our feet and spattering our clothes with the glossy slime.  How vivid the memory of seeing the desertion of our dream. 

I journalled the experience because Noah became a very familiar “character” in our conversations. I felt like we boarded the proverbial “ark”—and were about to wait out the storms for all 40 days and 40 nights.) We related to a small part of Noah’s uncertainty and adversity as though it was our own. How trusting he was believing that all would work out according to God’s plan.  

There is a quote: “When you make plans, God laughs” meaning life is unpredictable and has many twists and turns.  Another word is adversity:  facing challenges and obstacles causing emotional distress. We’ve never been a stranger to adversity; however, this time it was unique. It wasn’t a life-changing kind of adversity, but it was one that certainly challenged our patience in anticipation of a happy event marked with a series of unexpected setbacks. It was a reminder that we are not in control, and the only course of action was to adapt, recalculate, and accept the unpredictable. 

Like Noah, we waited. Then the creatures came  to our “ark”…two by two. They weren’t the animal variety but rather the kind that  stalked us and “ate” away at our confidence and fueled our humility. Their names were Delays, Hard Work, Disappointment, Decisions, Obstacles, and unplanned  Expenses to resolve the mess left behind. Our only respite was a tiny, rented apartment where at least it was dry and warm. Like Noah, we were confined to waiting out the storm and trust. Seven weeks later the sun returned long enough to dry the saturated soil.  

Ark Life Was an Instinct to Survive Adversity

We called our experience “ark life” because  every day was an intense surprise and a check on the weather. Our cramped lodging and restricted lifestyle caused anxiety, discord, and indecision. In time, we rebuilt the damaged road. We learned to accept and joke about the inconveniences. We shared thoughts and got to know each other in ways we didn’t before. It created a time of reflection and appreciation. I will always remember the challenges and unanticipated adjustments in the lives of our family of four. But it was also a time when we pulled together as a family under unusual circumstances to calm and manage this thing called adversity.

Good Adversity vs Bad Adversity
Adversity is a fact of life and there are two general categories: good and bad. Good adversity may be a mishap that prevents a disaster or something that caused an inconvenience but turned out good as an end result. We gain a greater sense of gratitude. Sometimes it causes us to reprioritize what matters most in life, which defines our purpose. It serves as a reminder of our true capabilities when we encounter challenges and setbacks, even when the odds seem overwhelming.    

Bad Adversity, on the other hand, is the kind that is totally life changing. It includes serious misfortunates, hardships,  traumatic events, and dire circumstances that often can’t be remedied or resolved. It creates emotional turmoil, hopelessness, suffering and pain. 

Adversity On the Flip Side
Adversity is a constant in people’s lives. Hardships remind us that if life was always easy, we might lose appreciation for moments filled with goodness and gratitude. We’ve experienced both kinds of adversity. In this article, I chose to focus on one of ours, not quite so traumatic. In our experiences bad adversity has often knocked on our door bringing loss of personal property, financial struggles, job loss (multiple times), serious life-threatening health issues, and 7 sudden unexpected deaths, including our son who died by suicide.

I would often comment to my husband: “Remember the Ark? I think one of those creatures followed us home again.” Each experience was devastating in the onset, but by the grace of the divine, we were united in faith, love, and endurance to persevere. The recent death of my husband stands out as my new top adversity leaving me to manage all the new “ark” adventures alone.

The Role of Adversity 

Adversity doesn’t happen just to make our attitude despicable and put us in a state of despair. I’ve found, only through experience, that how I respond to those negative situations makes the difference between managing them or letting them manage me. I’m not saying I never “overreact”…because I do, initially. But I also have learned to express my intense emotions and then focus on problem solving the effects or damage done. In many cases, live with what I can’t change. Adversity, when managed well, builds strength, courage, self-esteem, and resilience.

Twelve Principles of Adversity

1. Adversity is not a choice. Hardships  are unavoidable. The choice is how you respond to them.  
2. Adversity is not  a “test” of faith. It’s a means towards personal growth that builds strength and perseverance.
3. Adversity is not spiritual  punishment but can become a defining moment between being “bitter” or “better”.
4. Adversity challenges our vulnerability by forcing us to accept what is not in our control and accept the reality of things we can’t change.
5. Adversity challenges our “what ifs” to accept what actually is  (reality) without jumping to conclusions of things that may  never happen.
6. Adversity  interrupts our stability and makes us  uncomfortable which alerts us to consider and redefine our priorities of what’s really important. 
7. Adversity  builds confidence, strength, and resilience  as a precursor to handling unpredictable future  situations.
8. Adversity is awareness that motivates  us to be empathetic to the needs and hardships in other people’s lives. 
9. Adversity can be a Wake-up Call  and catalyst for change  reminding us that our intentions may not be authentic.
10. Adversity is redeemable through positive perspectives and attitudes that may improve outcomes. 
11. Adversity can be a reflection of who we are when it strikes…a victim or a survivor…and who we want to be after.
12. Adversity isn’t always a threat. Sometimes it presents as an Opportunity.

The Rainbow After the Storms

When I look back on what I called or “Ark” experience in the Archives of our Life we rejoiced in the rainbow at the end of the storm. At many times our patience was strained, our thoughts desperate and we wondered  “why”. Throughout the years, I am reminded that those days pale in comparison to many “bad” adversities since then. I won’t say that it makes adversity easier to accept and conquer, but it does put in perspective that when it happens the only way through is to persevere. If it’s the good kind of adversity that turns a situation into an opportunity, a miracle, or an unexpected joy—be grateful for the outcome.  

Soon after the Ark experience, I traveled by air on a business trip for my employer during one of the season’s initial winter snow and ice storms. The company jet embarked at predawn. It was eerie in the darkened sky and I was anxious.  I watched the tumbling rolling clouds as we soared over them, and the endless vista ahead. Then in the horizon, the golden haze of the morning sunrise appeared. 

Can you imagine how Noah must have felt? It reminded me that there is always a new day, a new dream and a realization of how small and insignificant most of my problems really are in contrast to what some people face. Adversity and uncertainty will always challenge us, but we have the power to overcome most events and use the wisdom, strength, and faith  gained to step into a new day with Hope.

The sun shines brighter again. Today, I am a different person, shaped through adversity and perseverance. My dreams aren’t visions of what might have been. I don’t focus on what I’ve lost, but rather on what I’ve learned through my pain. I appreciate the present moment, expect happenstance, and celebrate the lessons of the past with the possibilities of tomorrow.