Yielded and Strong

I made the decision. I would step into my fear. I would surrender to the path. All the right feelings, good feelings and imagery. Why did it feel like one shoe lace was longer than the other and I could not tie my shoes? One shoe lace was the giving up, the surrender of resistance. The other, waiting, asked where is the strength? The shoe cannot be tied without both ends. I will step into my fear and surrender to the path. I will also stand immoveable in the strength I am and have. Does not the surrender of autumn’s leaves become the very strength the tree’s roots gather in to remain powerful, strong and flexible? Now I can lace my shoes and begin the path-surrendered and yielded to unwavering strength.

Not Shut Down

Confused which way to turn, we paused at the stop sign to get our bearings. A fast approaching driver screeched to a halt behind us, blew his horn, stuck his head out the window and began to shout and curse, clearly heard through our open car windows. Within an hour of such hostility,  I witnessed a young person help an elderly stranger negotiate the path's incline. A stranger touched my arm and sighing as we looked at nature said "Isn't it amazing!" Doors were held for strangers. Strangers knelt and spoke to dogs on leash and children. Shutting down is a choice. An inevitable choice when we see only our agenda, needs, and demands. To open my heart and to see and join the powerful compassion and hearts reaching out. We have not shut down. We have failed to see.

The True Power

Facing the situation, facing the emotions, facing myself, I heard the whisper. 

"There is no duality in life. There is only choice."

No Passengers

               In Robert Pirsig’s book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, a father and his son begin a long motorcycle journey accompanied by a married couple. Part of the story involves the father trying to re-establish his relationship with his pre-teen son. As the story evolves he cannot understand why his son does feel the same experiences he is as they ride. Towards the end he realizes that his son, riding as a passenger on the motorcycle, can turn his head to the right and left, but to look forward, the natural position, he sees only his father’s back and head. He is shielded from the wind, the experience and from sight. His father has him stand on the pedals as they ride. Unshielded and standing, the son becomes the experience, the ride and alive.

               Sometimes the situations of life call for us to be like the bow of a ship and plow head long into the experience, like the driver of a motorcycle. We absorb the wind and the force. We also become the experience, and we change the direction of the wind, we are the wind moving. Unlike the TV screen windows of a car, we plow through the waves or ride the motorcycle as nature, force and power, no longer casual remote viewers watching all pass us by.

               Other times the situation or others drive. We hold on and can only turn our heads to the right or left and we cannot see what is before us. We become as remote and detached as a viewer of TV. And yet, Life offers pedals. We can stand and become the experience. We can stand unshielded, even as a passenger not driving or controlling the situation. We can rise and stand. We can withstand. We can see. No longer remote we know what it is to feel and see. The experience is ours. As is the choice.

There are no passengers in Life. We have only chosen not to stand on the pedals. 

One

I intend to... be grateful that for all the storms perceived and felt by all...there is still only One Force, One Light, One Power greater than all... Love.