There are many forks in the road.
Left or right?
Indecision paralyzes me.
Fear fills my mind.
My mind racing in circles.
Anxiety filling each moment.
Who knows where each path will go?
Maybe I could let go of this fear.
And pick up love.
Embrace the adventure that life truly is.
Curiosity can fill the space where anxiety once was.
All will work out on the path unknown.
Inside me
There is darkness
Greed, fear & even hatred
Inside me
There is light
Compassion, forgiveness & love.
I acknowledge both
For there can not be light without the dark
I vow to acknowledge the greed, fear, anger, and hatred with me
But to feed the seeds of love, compassion, and faith
To love both of them unconditionally
To acknowledge the light & darkness within myself and all
Large waves damage my ship as I navigate the path unknown.
But my anchor stays steady.
It has been with me since my first moment of life.
And will last until my final moment.
My breath is my anchor.
It will help me navigate any hard times.
Breathing in I find my balance.
Breathing out I know that all will be okay.
Breathe in peace.
Breathe out gratitude.
Breathe in I know that my anchor will hold strong.
Thank you.
Through the darkness, we shall rise
Rise like the sun
Bringing light into the darkness
For we are all holy men & women
Lost in the sea of fear
We have forgotten our true nature
Of compassion & love
We are disoriented by distraction
Haunted by our past
Paralyzed by the path unknown ahead of us
We cling to material wealth & status
Fearful to take risks for the true life we desire
So how do we begin this journey?
Don’t worry
The answer lies within you
Good luck
No matter how dark life can get.
All will end.
The good.
The bad.
Impermanence surrounds each moment.
Everything will be okay.
Allow patience & faith to guide you.
Keep going.
A grandfather & his grandkids sit around a campfire on a cold winters night. The grandkids ask their grandfather to tell them a scary story. The grandfather takes a deep breath, knowing this story could have a huge impact on his grandkids. In the distance, a coyote howls into the deep silence of the forest.
The flame flickers
The moon shines into the cold night
As the grandfather tells his tale
His grandkids hearts drop
As they listen carefully to each word
Our past is not our past
If we refuse to let it go
The wise grandfather proclaimed
The ghosts of the past are real
They are dark creatures
More powerful then any demon
For they torment you
Day or night
They even follow you into your dreams
They steal your joy
Bring endless suffering
These ghosts
Lock you in a jail of regret
“How do you get out of this jail?!”
His grandkids screamed into silence of the night
“It’s simple but difficult” the grandfather proclaimed
The key to your freedom is the power of letting go
If you let go of the attachment, regret, and sorrow of your past the ghosts will disappear into the nights sky
Only to be seen time to time
To guide you on a different path then what led you to your own sufferings
Do not fight the ghosts, that is their fuel
Accept your past with compassion
For the past is gone
This exact moment is what matters
The grandkids slept good in their tents that night knowing that they are not helpless to these ghosts. The grandfather knew his grandkids would most likely have to learn the same way he did, through clinging to his past mistakes of infidelity, lying, and addictions. They will find their own way.
When we seek to understand
Compassion grows
Where there is compassion
Love begins
Where there is love
Peace is possible
Where there is peace
Joy is found
At this beautiful moment
Transformation can occur
I have lived in paradise
Warm weather
Palm trees
Tall lush mountains above me
I have travelled far & wide
In search of adventure
Hawaii
Japan
New Zealand
Vietnam
Thailand
I have been tested on this journey
Brought down to my knees
Fearful of uncertainty
But I kept going
Faith in the path unknown
As I pack my bag one last time
Tears fall down my cheeks
Joy of the many great memories
Flooding my mind
Many new friends
So much growth
Beautiful mountains, ocean, & people
It was worth every penny spent
Worth every fearful moment
On my path unknown
Billions of humans
All which are holy
No matter
How lost
Broken
Confused
Hurt
Blinded by anger
Suffocated in fear
I vow to see the holiness in all
But first
I must treat myself
As a holy man
No matter how lost
Or broken I am.
When I’m gone
I’ll become a flower
When I leave
I’ll become a mighty oak tree
Matter
Is infinite
Never created
Never destroyed
So can we truly die?
Or can we only transform?
The Narrow Path 