That happened to me recently in the form of a lovely and supportive email from an old friend whom I've long loved and admired even when he wasn't able to love or admire himself. Of course, that was back in the days when we were of an age endemic to feelings of insecurity and prone to risk-taking and self-destructive behaviors; but the curious thing was that even back then I could see the light behind the haze of confusion and knew this guy possessed qualities fairly unique to all of us awkward creatures of earth and that one day he'd realize these things himself. Once that happened, the world would be in for a treat.
I think it is happening now; the awakening to a renewed and deeper sense of value, purpose and grace. The fact that we've re- connected at this moment in time is no accident because we are both on the precipice of new phases that will bring us each into a long-awaited fulfillment in terms of recognizing and mobilizing the more enlightened options within our respective life plans.
This is an example of the 'collision of souls' that I referred to in an earlier blog. Those rare and extraordinary bonds that exist before all memory and serve as a lifeline in the dense bog of our mortal incarnation. They are a reminder that we are not in this alone; and, indeed, that we truly require the love and encouragement of others to succeed at our divinely-appointed sojourns here, especially from those who understand us.
I am sure there is a reason that these precious and sacred convergences are so uncommon. Being prone to uneven tempers, imperfect actions and a general lack of appreciation, the only way we seem able to truly cherish such exceptional blessings as they surface in our pedestrian lives is by knowing that they are far from ordinary and may never come again. It forces us to hold onto whatever light they bring to us and make the effort ever after to incorporate that incandescent beam of blessed consonance into everything that we do and not to squander the wisdom or misuse the supernatural boost it gave our soul.
Doing right by others is a mammoth responsibility.
That fact has been very recently brought home as the result of another different but fascinating and revelatory exchange of emails between myself and a former neighbor of mine a hundred years ago when I was about thirteen and had just moved to Kansas City from New York with my family.
Reading his entertaining, well-written accounts and verbal re-enactments of the people, times and events that are now over forty years behind us has provided me with a much-needed sense of continuity as well as with the undeniable reminder that everything counts! What we say and do in this moment and space in time has lasting implications and will eventually provide the material that becomes who and what we are as we exit this earth-bound arena at whatever point that happens.
I've also realized that often we are not in control of people's perceptions or of their subjective experiences of us, which can be unsettling; particularly if we are perceived negatively or judged falsely.
But the reality of that can also be oddly comforting because it encourages us not to get overly upset or distracted by those occasionally unpleasant corporeal interfaces, since there is little we can do to change them. When the threat of despair looms I do as my sister does when faced with such odds: She raises her hands up to the sides of her head and brings them gracefully down in a motion similar to what you might do to gently wave away smoke and she softly chants, " LET IT GO."
I have been fording my way through some profoundly deep currents of thought lately; brought about as they have been by these felicitous communications, as well as by those abjectly painful ones; and I can only expect that at some point I will understand more clearly why this is so.
Although, today it is gloriously sunny and unusually warm, and I would like nothing more than to step out into the middle of it and disappear. However, I did that last week and am now forced to forgo any thoughts of frolicking in the sunshine because I have work to do. There is art to be created, paintings to paint and jewelry to be designed and assembled all in preparation for my once-monthly, three day commitment as a vendor in a magical place downtown called Good JuJu.
The website has been up and operational for a few weeks, but no sales yet. My Web god, Johnny, says that it takes time and that I need to promote the site now. I'll get to that as soon as I make the capital to do so, although I did replace some pieces I did not like with others made recently that I do. I freshened it up a bit. Whoever coined the words, "It takes money to make money." was evidently not kidding! I am making some sales outside of the site at least, so I'll get there eventually.
And as I think I've also alluded to before, I'm discovering that I'm far more emotionally vested in the writing of this blog then the business of the website. I suppose that comes from the awareness that well-crafted words have a far more powerful and providential capacity to uplift, enlighten, engage, encourage and entertain than does either a well-crafted painting, drawing or frivolous piece of jewelry. Still, the world would be a loathsome and unbearable place without the visual transcendency of art and ornament. Of course, I include music in the mix, however, I have no special claim over that domain other than the paltry ability to play Oh Susannah on the harmonica, so I tend no to dwell on it beyond my limited capacity as a devoted listener.
Now it is time to get back to work. The doors and windows are open, the birds are singing, and the rose bush outside my door is just now coming into leaf. How lucky, then, am I to already be filled with it's perfumed expression. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet." Thanks, Mr. Shakespeare. I think I'll call it, "miraculous."
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