If I could go back in time and speak to my younger self, any point along the way, but the important crossroads are the ones that come to mind, I would bring a list with me. First on that list might be that judgmental reactions reveal a lack of kindness and curiosity. What is there to fear, I might ask. Chances are, knowing me, and how much like everyone else I was and am, I would not have listened. I remind myself of the story about the man who was caught in a flood, and when the water came up to his front door, the Red Cross came by to help him evacuate, but he didn't want to abandon his house, so he told the rescuers that he was a Man of Faith, and knew that God would save him.
When the water had come up to his windows, some people in a boat came by and offered him a way to safety, but he told them that he was a Man of Faith, and felt sure that God would not let him drown. Then the water engulfed his house and he had to climb up on the roof. A helicopter came by and dropped a ladder for him to climb to safety, but he shouted that he was a Man of Faith and God would not let him drown. As the helicopter flew out of sight, the waters rose further, breaking up his house and swirling him off into the flood. Shortly thereafter, he stood before the gates of heaven, dripping wet and in a very bad mood. "I am a Man of Faith" he said. "All my life I have waited on the Lord and put my complete trust in Him, why did he not save me?" Rhadamanthus put down his pen for a moment, looked up and said" Well, we sent you a rescue squad, a boat and a helicopter, what more did you want?"
Every day, probably, all my life certainly, I have been sending away helicopters and then being angry with the results. I can't pass this on to my former self, and any parents out there know how much point there is in passing it on to offspring. But now, in this moment, I can know that love is available in some form, every minute; that even the things that look like aggression are calls for love. That the distortions of life might be only kindling for karma, the only creative force is love. Love is the only healer, the only teacher, love is all there is.
When the water had come up to his windows, some people in a boat came by and offered him a way to safety, but he told them that he was a Man of Faith, and felt sure that God would not let him drown. Then the water engulfed his house and he had to climb up on the roof. A helicopter came by and dropped a ladder for him to climb to safety, but he shouted that he was a Man of Faith and God would not let him drown. As the helicopter flew out of sight, the waters rose further, breaking up his house and swirling him off into the flood. Shortly thereafter, he stood before the gates of heaven, dripping wet and in a very bad mood. "I am a Man of Faith" he said. "All my life I have waited on the Lord and put my complete trust in Him, why did he not save me?" Rhadamanthus put down his pen for a moment, looked up and said" Well, we sent you a rescue squad, a boat and a helicopter, what more did you want?"
Every day, probably, all my life certainly, I have been sending away helicopters and then being angry with the results. I can't pass this on to my former self, and any parents out there know how much point there is in passing it on to offspring. But now, in this moment, I can know that love is available in some form, every minute; that even the things that look like aggression are calls for love. That the distortions of life might be only kindling for karma, the only creative force is love. Love is the only healer, the only teacher, love is all there is.
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