The Bridge Beckoned
Posted: Monday, April 26, 2010
by Susan Thom
She stood at the bridge, looking down into the abyss of water below her. She was balancing her past with an imaginary future and wondering if it was all worth it. Should she go back to the situations she was running from now? Would they continue to haunt her until they were taken care of? Were the estranged relationships worthy or willing of redemption? Could light be positive if wrongs were righted? Would stress melt as opinions are explained?
Are we too ansie to take our time in life? Or have we had an occasion happen that allows us to see things in a different, more productive way? An accident may have been avoided because we did. All the theories and truths she knows, hanging on the edge of that bridge, still trying to figure out the meaning of life. So many beliefs in question. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." That hasn't been a whole lot of help. Simply doing onto others to be a good person works better for me.
Big leaves start to accumulate on the surface of the water, and one provides a free ride for a butterfly, another for a horsefly. She sees a little bit of her past on each leaf. Her father, mother, siblings, family, her home, a few special toys, a sense of safety and freedom, all in her mind. The leaves are protecting what she wants; her family and home, her safety and freedom. These qualities are under the water, and the question remains, "How does one get them out?"
She sees them floating out further towards the water fall, and she is helpless to grab them once again for her own. When her mind returns to her body, she has a clearer picture of how to improve the quality of her life. She no longer needs the material of the leaf, but the message it is trying to give. And I believe that would be to simply as possible, float through life. Go around the detours, take care of the important things, take rests so you can think clearly.
Do our part. This may take some physical and emotional effort, but it's life, and worth it to do so. Be the leaf that grabs onto a tree when the branch falls over the bridge. Don't go with the flow and shatter your leaf, and roll down the river until you get off somewhere to die and be buried. She watched the flies and the knats, frogs, fish, and wondered if they worried about their mortality. Or was that just their job to them, to be caught, frozen, cooked, and eaten?
Did some struggle and rebel? Did it matter? Are there situations in life like this as well? Do we jump off our leaves and swim around for awhile, thinking of what to do, and then jump on another leaf and go off on another adventure? How many ebbs and tides will their be in our lives? How many times will we float through, and how many times will we go over the edge? She looked down at the tiniest of frogs, perched on a leaf, taking it's ride down the river.
She decided right then, that if that little guy could make it in this world, she could. A little more patience, a little more compassion, a little more organization, a little of this, a little of that, and a new energy emerges. New interests, new lifestyle, new happiness, and a stronger Faith and Hope. It was a good day to go walking on a bridge!
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Good one Susan with a good message, how are you feeling today?Please log in to respond to this comment.hi david, thank you.each day gets a little better.thanks for reading and commenting,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Beautifully written Susan.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi brianna,thank you for the nice compliment.i always appreciate you reading and responding.enjoy the spring,my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
I know you'll make it, Sue.Please log in to respond to this comment.or die trying ken :)i appreciate your time in reading and responding,i hope all is well by you,my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Good article Sue. Keep observing life and questioning. Coming to conclusions about life is the mechanism of ego that wants to control, and of course ego (Illusion of "Sue" moving through time and space) is utterly false. Even beginning meditators can see this illusion, which is the beginning of real understanding and freedom from that which we worry so much about and try to prop up - ourselves.
Best.........ePlease log in to respond to this comment.hi e,i could write articles just to get your comments :)every little bit helps.thank you for the little bits,my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
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