“Do not seek outside yourself.” – from Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Chaos creates an environment of static perception and perspective. Choices become clouded with uncertain inevitabilities layered in fear. Our path and direction include markers we don’t recognize and fail to understand. We become mired in shaded half truths and foolish priorities. We slowly begin to realize with split second clear mindedness . . . we have lost our way and wonder how we arrived there. Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests, “As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way.” Surely, this was not a charted expectation, expedition or whispered prayer . . . perhaps we need to think again. We are exactly where we are supposed to be, with the help of our ego, intentions, mis-guided priorities and blind perception. We don’t recognize this landscape that we created, it has become as alien to us as experiencing peace, serenity, tranquility, truth, honesty, integrity, dignity, trust and joy.
What will it take to experience the unfolding of a rose, emergence of a butterfly, the illumination of a star, the hushed whisper of the wind, the changing tides of the ocean, the song of a nightingale, the incandescence of the moon or the radiance in candlelight? Einstein expressed it another way, “We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us.” How then do we go about the excavation of our authenticity? Beginning this journey is uncomfortable, challenging, lonely, and bereft of light. We all choose to travel this path in one way or another, as characterized by Emerson with “What you are comes to you,” and arriving consciously is the first step toward this revelation. The waters are uncharted while we check the ego, mapquest and GPS at the door. The only tools we may bring with us are present conscious awareness, trust, faith, honesty, courage, humility and gratitude.
Entering the shadows of the unknown present inordinate fears, and conquering that initial hurdle is immense. Of course, you can put it off . . . again . . . only to arrive at the same place down the road in the next week, year, decade or maybe never . . . the choice is ultimately yours, and as Walt Whitman suggests, “Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.” Time passes and indelibly beckons to each of us a continuum of conscious choice. We can always slay the dragons, reptiles and fears of this journey in another time or place, but as stated in the words of Joseph Campbell, ”The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” The caveat of waiting, may be experienced in one unforseen moment, when the ultimate choice may not be yours. JLR