Blessings in Disguise?

  The first time I had heard the term "blessing in disguise" was a time when a bunch of people were being laid off, and one of my co-workers had reassured the one being laid off that the misfortune may be a blessing of sorts. The expression seemed glib to me, but actually, it opened up a door to new possibilities, especially when it comes to being taken away from a vital role or source  of stability. What kinds of blessings do we receive from disappointment, and what's the hidden 'gift' in there?
    I think one of the most important 'blessings' in unfortunate turn of events is that it often lifts a burden of having to sustain a certain hope or way of being indefinitely. In lifting a certain emotional burden, it is a bit like lifting a rock to see the life that dwells underneath it. Initially, it seems a bit scary--we have no idea what lives in that darkness that we have been hiding for a long time. But once our eyes get accustomed to what lies underneath, we see that there is hidden life, and often a hidden ecosystem living in the stray corners. Similarly, when I lose something that seems so vital to me, I am really sometimes uncovering other things which have lain dormant, which are sources of vitality. It is as though these alternate forms of life are given an opportunity to come to light once we let go of that one source of life that seems so stable and permanent.
    A related blessing is the realization that failure in one part of life does not devastate a person, and nor does the breakdown of a connection or a relationship. Sometimes there can be mini-lessons and things to learn but also one doesn't necessarily need to do something in one way only. I remember years ago when I had first encountered DDM at the Taiwanese festival, someone there had told me that there are many ways to climb a mountain. And I never forget that notion, which helps to keep my mind flexible and open to new ways of seeing.
     Finally, I think that sudden changes in fortune can force a person to let go more and trust the subtle turns of life. If everything were straight and narrow, there would be no grounds for a person to develop faith and trust, and this way would make it difficult for a person to feel interconnected to the world. As well, it seems important to maintain a sense of flexibility in being able to look at things from a variety of different perspectives.