Change

When people ask me what I do I tell them I'm perfecting the Art of Being.  It's a big job but someone's got to do it.  I'm certainly not there yet.  Mostly I realize I've perfected the art of killing time.  But then, every once in awhile moments happen that take my breath away and I know that this is why I was created.  This is a (for lack of a better word) blurb I wrote a few years ago which somewhat describes what I'm trying to say.

CHANGE

A wise man once told me that nothing changes if nothing changes.  

Once there was a place.  This place was bustling with people in and out all day doing business.  It was a very busy place full of busy people.  They all knew their importance because, after all, they were very busy.  Some of them were busy planning, some were busy discussing plans, some were busy meeting, some were busy testing, some were busy reporting test results, some were busy selling, some were busy buying; and the list goes on and on.  One day one of the busy people realized she really didn’t like bustling about being busy and least of all having to bustle about looking busy when she really wasn’t busy at all.

After this realization took place she came upon another realization.  There didn’t seem to be any real purpose to all this busyness other than to create more busyness.  Was anyone here happy? Was anyone here at peace?  Was anyone here reaching out and touching anyone else?  Occasionally that sort of thing took place and momentarily the lights seemed to shine a little bit brighter – but then everyone would get busy and they would dim again.  It became fascinating to watch.  Finally the day came when she wasn’t amused anymore by this empty busyness and she changed.  She said goodbye and she really meant it. 

Several years passed and many changes occurred in the life of this now not so very busy person.  She became calmer, more serene.  She worked on issues inside herself and helped her friends.  An amazing thing was happening.  She began to see things differently.  Where once she saw things in gray tones they were becoming more vibrant, more colors were being added all the time.  Things she had never noticed before because she’d always been so busy began to fascinate her.  The sun actually rose and set in vivid pinks, blues and oranges.  Flowers became individual shapes.  Rocks took on new life.  Leaves carried on conversations in the wind.  Water laughed and giggled.  Animals smiled back at her as she noticed delightful softness in their faces.  Sheep took on a whole new meaning, as did shepherding.  Children became short people with many wise thoughts to share.  Dust suddenly became unimportant yet rather interesting as it accumulated.

But words were by far the most marvelous things she discovered.  Words could share, they could heal, and they could bring great happiness or deep despair.  Their mysteries were unraveling as she gleaned more wisdom from their structure and the study of how they could be used to build up or destroy.  The power these long overlooked creatures wielded astounded her and drew her in to befriend her.  She became more blessed and her awareness of this blessedness grew.

She experienced many gifts, the greatest of which was companionship.  You see, in all of the marvels she was discovering there was one constant factor.  This Presence was both sheep and shepherd; king and servant; fullness and glowing emptiness envisioned at a tomb; Father and Mother; teacher and friend; lover and a firm hand of discipline; childlike yet strong.  There were many facets, but most dazzling was the faithfulness of this new center of her life.  He was always there.  Nothing she did dissuaded this Presence from pursuing her which brought about tremendous relief.  She never wanted to be busy again.

Then one day she ventured back to the busy place.  There didn’t seem to be as many busy people there but the busy people there seemed busier than ever.  They smiled the same smiles.  They said the same words.  They sat in the same chairs at the same desks among the same stacks of paper.  The same rule applied – stay busy.  The very air seemed the same and she realized she couldn’t breathe.  Once again she said goodbye and ran out the door into the brilliant, warm sunlight.  As she ran she said a prayer of thanks for her freedom and a prayer of love for those she left behind that they would one day join her in the light. 

Nothing changes if nothing changes. We each make the choice.

By the way, I'm not saying you have to quit your job to find this place.  I'm just saying that's what it took for me.  May you find those moments of overwhelming joy and complete serenity in your life today.