CHANGE

"A wise man once told me that nothing changes if nothing changes. And then he proceeded to live in much the same way he had lived for many years.

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 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 having to bustle about looking busy when she really wasn’t.

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 left one day and 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 grey tones they were becoming more vibrant, more colors were being added all the time. Things she’d never noticed before because she’d always been so busy began to fascinate her. The sun actually rose and set in vivid pinks and 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 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 mystery was unraveling as she gleaned more wisdom from their structure and study of how they could be used to build or destroy. The power these long overlooked creatures wielded astounded her and yet 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 a sheep and a shepherd at once; both 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 in her life. 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. 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."

I wrote this a couple of years ago. I've been wanting to post it but something was holding me back. As I continue to change - today I'm trying not to hold back anymore on anything. I don't want you to think that the wise man never changed. He has - in subtle ways. My hope for him, my prayer for him is love and light and revelations of companionship in the sun. Happy birthday, a little belated but nonetheless heartfelt.