- This week, Maps -
We take to the Ocean in the ship of the heart within us,
no other vehicle can take us in those not often traveled directions -
the sailing can be made with a good map and chart,
along with a willingness to go in stages, a short distance at a time.
We wouldn't think of traveling say to South America without a map in hand, a GPS and a printed set of directions from Google. Yet we don't often consider that the journey of our life by way of spiritual development may require charts that will guide us over the vast stretches land and sea that we know the traveling to be.
I have found that religions leaders, often, cannot offer directions for the simple reason that many have not made the trip themselves and do not know the way clearly. I can tell you of the wonders of Victoria Falls in deepest Africa, and probably do a good job of it from having seen videos and many pictures of the magnificent sights there. But I cannot tell you how to get there from first hand experience, although I would probably say book the trip on Expedia online. But to have journeyed to the deepest parts of my Self several times in this span of years, I can tell you of the maps I followed over the course of decades - but you must travel to your own interior and follow your own map if you are to know what wonders you will find there.
Some of the maps I have used have been the Way Of Life that the Carmelites, Buddhism,The Jeusits, The Twelve Steps, along with the dialog with my mentors over the years who did cover the distances I wanted to transverse, and were willing to show me the way. Although the passage to our interior is a solo venture we cannot go without help from the wise people we seek out who are also willing to tell of some of many paths that lead to the One Path.
Words, however, are only words if I don't follow the roads they take me to. Maps are only print on paper if I do not start out on the journey. The world offers many who know The Way - these are the ones I seek out.
Here is a map of words describing Manhattan Island I saved as an example of why I need to travel myself, along with a good subway map, in order to get under the massive constructions above ground. A metaphor for my own constructions depicting what I see my life to be on the surface, and the means enabling me to go within. (Yes, I lived in NYC for a long time.) My own journey in words would look something like this, which is why I can only give details, short snippets of the enormity of distances covered that may have meaning for any listener.
- A small detail of the map above -
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What do we need to exchange for the map to calm our busyness, our spinning wheels?
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Music - Music is can also be a map to the Presence of God in the moment. Perhaps if we allow our heart to follow the music we will start to hear with the ears within that find the audible clues for the Journey that our external senses cannot hear and see.
I offer this video by Hillsong titled A Beautiful Exchange. (Hillsong is an Australian group that started with a youth ministry and grew in to one of the most listened to
contemporary christian music ensembles in the world.)
Click to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-bUZj1bkoE
(There is an ad which you can skip in a few seconds.)
If you wish to download the music or simply listen without the visuals click here:
http://www.box.com/s/22cf7704cc2506251c0f
Here is a wonderful talk by Tara Brach called Listening Presence which fits in nicely to the topic of opening our inner senses.
http://www.box.com/s/246618fccb82b9d27a22
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The promise is just this - Spring is on the way
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A little humor:
"That's what happens when you don't read the map - it said to jump over the spoon!"
Peace until next week, Bill Lagerstrom
