An astute observer, while visiting a prison, asked why the inmates wore their shoes in bed. The guide, familiar with the intricate workings of prison life replied, “Fights seldom occur, but in that rare case, the added traction of shoes on the painted concrete floors could mean life or death. You can’t get traction in socks.” A primary survival technique in such a violent and toxic environment as a prison. But the words seem to ring with resounding truth. A powerful analogy not just describing prison life, but life in the “free world.” What survival techniques have I adopted to protect myself from the perceived dangers of my journey through this life?
I seem to be slipping—a lot. I would think that I could eventually learn to avoid those pitfalls where I plummet into days, weeks and even months of “dark-night-of-soul.” My course across the smooth painted surface of life has been precarious at best. Sometimes the walk is easy—even a short spurt of speed and a flawless slide. Those times make me smile. But then there are those times when fleeing from fear that I helplessly struggle to get my feet under me as I careen into a wall. Something like a dog running with wild abandon across the tile floor of the kitchen and smashing into the cabinets as he tries to make the turn. What simple tools am I lacking that could give me support and traction as a good pair of shoes could provide when navigating that metaphorical concrete floor of life.
Some time ago while contemplating the content of the various experiences of my life, I began to wonder if I could help others by sharing some of the lesson I had come to learn. Then I had a dream. In the dream an ancient aquatic race of this planet (hidden deep under the ocean) presented humankind with a gift that instantly altered the course of our evolution. The gift was a simple orb—small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and Alive! It was actually a living organism. By touching two orbs together a new one would instantaneously be created as the two orbs pulled apart. These orbs somehow had a telepathic connection with the person holding it. The orbs were connected with the combined consciousness of the entire human race. All knowledge, feelings, emotions, and ideas of every living soul on this planet from the very beginning of life was instantly accessible. With an orb in your hand there was not longer secrets, hidden agendas, or conspiracies. Every thought of every individual was instantly obtainable. Every book, creative idea, invention, every scrap of knowledge—no matter how insignificant, was there just by forming a question in your mind.
As I was handed an orb, I panicked. Anyone and everyone that already possessed an orb would know everything about me. They would know my feeling, my thoughts, my desires and ambitions. My personal privacy was totally obliterated upon understanding the purpose of the orbs. My heart and mind raced forward to what I believed would be chaos beyond reason. But something unexpected happened. I noticed that soon after someone received an orb, they would gently settle down into a seated position, then tears would begin to flow. I looked down at the small orb in my hand and pure, undefiled truth flowed into me. I had complete understanding of any person that crossed my mind. I first believed I would be filled with judgment and spite towards anyone that had caused me physical or emotional pain. Instead, by understanding their true intensions and motivations, I was overcome with something entirely unexpected. LOVE! Love on a scale that I can’t describe. I understood everyone perfectly and I knew they understood me. The repercussions of this gift were profound. Everything changed and in ways I would have never imagined.
I believe this dream was an analogy of what I was contemplating I would actually try to accomplish. Develop a tool (book) to help others learn to understand themselves. This book would be about my own life and the journeys I undertook to learn valuable lessons of self-awareness. One of the obstacles in this idea of writing a book about my own life was the fear of how others would respond to my truth. Then I realized that fear was the central concept of why I needed to compose the work--that loneliness of never truly being understood was “a” beginning to the very cycle that prevented my own conscious progression. By using my life as an analogy, others would be able to compare their lives to mine to find similarities in our experiences. It is the experiences of our life that give us character and define our nature. Through self-understanding, others would have a greater understanding of those around them, and would waken then to a new reality of this world. A reality where they would no longer react to their environment, but become truly free through self-mastery and love.
This is the introduction to a goal I have set of writing that book. My good friend Ann gave me the title a several moths ago when she encouraged me to write the book: You Don’t Have Traction in Socks. This will be the title of whatever creation comes from this endeavor. I am going to write this book a little differently. As I compose each chapter from notes and journals of ideas and concepts that have seemed to flow from a higher source, I plan to share them with others in the form or workshops, seminars, retreats and even this blog. By doing this my book will come “alive” (just like the orbs) with the ideas and feedback from those that connect to this project. It will become OUR book. What will the book be about? Understanding how a person becomes trapped in what I call the “Cycle of Reactive Unconsciousness” and the means and methods by which to wakeup through the true meaning of love.
Finding myself in the perfect remote and isolated location to quietly contemplate the structure and words of this project, allows me to take full advantage of the long winter nights to engage in this goal. I have no idea of the time period that will be involved in this endeavor. I would guess several winters as my summers are filled with other exciting projects. The concepts I intend to present will be given without any strings attached or greed implied. It may seem foolish to put all the ideas of a book I wish to publish out to the populace before it is even composed, but this is how I have been inwardly directed to proceed. It is not even my concern that the book ever be published in any formal manner. The process of diving deep within my own consciousness to verbally express the concepts swirling through my mind elevates my consciousness to a higher level of understanding of myself and others. That is my reward and ambition. By understanding myself more profoundly, I have the capacity to understand others. By these means I become a true co-worker with God and have the capacity to serve others in this mortal cycle.
I would invite each of you to begin this journey with me. Your company on this quest will lend me motivation to move forward and the strength during the trials that lay ahead. Spread the word to others you believe would be likely candidates to embark with me on my quest. With your productive comments and feedback, I will expand my knowledge and understanding to more fully create a gift for others.
With much love to each of you and hope for the future,
Christopher
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