Recently I traveled over three thousand miles in my Car. From Southern California to the great city of San Francisco, onward and upward to Truckee and further North to Bend Oregon. I decided to take a road I had never been on, the road less traveled if you will. With no idea what I may come across, I set my GPS and accepted the journey.
Sometimes we all can use a long drive. The feeling of freedom one gets from the open road is very liberating. It allows for time to process, time to reflect and time to internalize the vast amount of feelings, emotions and decisions that we all face and make. I challenged myself to stay present, to not jump right on my computer and begin writing, but to instead take a week to really soak up the now.
I found myself in the middle of eastern Oregon, with no towns for 100’s of miles. Fortunate that I had filled up my gas tank and was equipped with enough gear to survive for a week should the worst occur, I had no worries in my mind. I came across a lake, unlike anything I had seen in my life. Naturally I had to pull over and take it all in, my goal was to be present in the moment, so this seemed appropriate. Half the lake was flowing clear water, the other half, solid white Ice.
As I meditated by the River’s edge, I was struck with the symbolism of the view in front of me. Here I was, embarking on a small journey, approaching the end of 2011 and the start of 2012. When water meets Ice we are faced with a decision, swim or walk. Walking would be easy, however the risk is so great. To fall through the ice could be deadly. Sometimes the easy route is balanced by a high cost, the Yin and Yang of life is undeniable.
Balance it seems was the lesson I was to experience from this moment in Nature. How vital it is to support a sense of moderation in life with all things. For no one wants to be surrounded by ice, however being stuck in a vast amount of water is just as dangerous. In the end we need both, for without water there would be no ice and without ice, there would be nothing to stand on when we tire of swimming.
indigomovement 