“There isn’t anyone among us who is so sheltered and privileged as to not be touched or affected by the wilderness of the world in some way.” —- Craig M. Kallio
Yes that’s right, the world is a wilderness. Unfortunately, there are those who are so disconnected, detached, unaware and oblivious to this fundamental experience that reality is not an option in their lives, but a relative inconvenience. Taking a closer look at what Craig M. Kallio has carefully delineated in his book A Faith For All Seasons, he sights what is familiar to all of us . . . the fear of being lost and anxious, the loss of a parent, child or spouse, living with the disease of depression, addiction, chronic pain, illness, aging, and loneliness. We will experience one or all of these over time and our life’s journey. As Craig M. Kallio so aptly states . . . “The wilderness is no stranger to us because it resides inside us.”
If we are active, alert, aware, involved, informed, observant and prepared for just a momentary consciousness of our own existence/being . . . this may jettison a chain reaction or domino effect that will open that closed door to light the darkness in our lives. We may feel an illumination that resonates a new perspective and perception that we have never known or reflected upon up to this moment. Marion Woodman states it another way . . . “All escapes were cut off. I had to move into my own silence and find out who was in there.” And that is exactly what it takes! Moving into the silence of your being, and finding out who resides within that space. Is there another way to move through the debris of that inner darkness? The response is simple and challenging. The wilderness of the world will detract, mislead, misinform, confuse, confound, conflict, abuse, hold hostage, and ruthlessly keep you bound in whatever is your weakness or vulnerability. Don’t believe it will not, because that seed already resides within each of us. With the courage of a warrior . . . change will come from our individual awakening.
For some inexplicable reason we may experience an event that will shake us to the core of our being, because for some of us that is exactly what it will take to become conscious. There are those who are so paralyzed by anxiety, some horrific memory or fear which is False Evidence Appearing Real . . . that will experience in subtle ways a revelation of who they are, why they are here, and where they are going with a directed purpose. The wilderness of the world that resides within each of us, can have no power or control over our lives . . . unless we permit it. We have the key to that portal of transformation that releases the infinite possibilities of who we are, and releases us from the darkness of our own negativity. Joseph Campbell explained it another way . . . “The black moment is the moment when the real message of transformation is going to come. At the darkest moment comes the light.” JLR