I once had this amazing dream. I was riding my mountain bike on a path through the woods. It was a lovely ride. The path cut back and forth between the trees; the vegetation all around me was beautiful. Sometimes the path curved gently and sometimes it unexpectedly took a sharp turn. Occasionally I hit a bump along the path and sometimes it was just plain bumpy for an extended period before it was again smooth sailing through the cool and peaceful forest.
What I remember as I observed myself riding along in the dream is how I took the bumps and sharp turns. I was rising up and down, lifting off the seat in slow motion and flowing along no matter what the nature of the changing terrain. It didn't matter - I was able to easily maintain control of bike and to peacefully and calmly go with the flow.
I understood immediately upon awakening the important lessons of the dream and I have tried to carried its messages with me as I continue on my journey. Life is this path in the forest, with its bumps, its moments of smooth sailing, even huge obstacles erupting out of the ground. It doesn't matter. What is important is not what happens along the path, but how we handle these unanticipated moments that challenge us to be ever so strong, fully present, compassionate, and understanding. These moments are the ones that test what we are made of and allow us to understand the truth of our existence.
For me these seemingly difficult moments are a constant reminder that we have no real control over anything but our own reactions and how we choose to look at a situation. These difficult arisings provide an opportunity to examine and strengthen our own convictions and to "practice what we preach."
The past eight months have personally been full of bumpy moments. Some have been big and some small. Each has been a reminder to stay fully present and to flow with each situation, not to resist it. Each has been an opportunity to practice staying in balance through rough, uncharted terrain.
I know just like in my dream, that if I stay on the bike and remain on the path, focus on all that is positive around me and if I am grateful for everything that arises, that the path will once again smooth out... at least for a time.
2 comments:
looking forward to your workshop in Fla. - Nancy
I love this! Sorry I am so late to the party with a comment...I really love my bumps in the road, because they only occur when God knows that I am ready to grow and stretch again spiritually! I try to always remind my clients of this..to have faith that when things get a little hard, it is a time to be celebrated because it means you are at a place in your life where you can handle another challenge! So much easier to go with the flow and not resist! Namaste.
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