Dear Friends of Spirit,
Recently a client who was in severe stress came to Ted's
office for a consultation. As is often my custom, I retreated to the deck
facing the forest and began to pray that Ted would hear from Spirit healing
words to give the frightened and weary traveler and that his heart would be
open to receive.
I meditated for some time, listening to the birds
sing their songs of joy and watching squirrels run and play with each other. It
was in an attitude of peace and love that I offered prayers for this man
sitting with Ted, who was suffering so intensely.
As I continued to gaze into the forest, I saw the trees
beginning to wave in a sudden breeze as clouds began to overtake the sun. I
watched closely as a thick mist began to roll in making the outline of the
trees barely visible. In the distance I witnessed a bridge being formed. It
appeared to be a very old structure many miles long that seemed to be in
disrepair, yet still standing. I wondered how long the ancient bridge had been
there...perhaps for many lifetimes? I could not be sure. My view allowed me to
see the entire length of the bridge.
On one side there appeared
to be a luminous environment with brilliant sun, crystal blue skies, vibrant
plants and flowers, love and a harmonic atmosphere of peace. It was beautiful
to see and I longed to go there immediately! Yet my attention was taken to the
opposite side of the bridge where there was a very large crowd of people
gathered in ultimate chaos. They were in the midst of violent storms as
torrential rains came, severe winds blew and the waters raged mightily beneath
the bridge. Halfway across its structure were dark clouds preventing the people
from seeing the other side.
Families agonized in
despair. Because the bridge was old and they could not see what was ahead, they
shrank back in fear. They cried and lamented over their pain and their
misfortunes. They spoke to one another about how difficult their lives were and
complained that Spirit had sent them such atrocities. They questioned why they
were trapped in such impending doom. The more the people talked amongst
themselves the more colossal and more tumultuous the clouds appeared that
prevented them from seeing the new life on the other side. It was as if their
collective energy increased the severity of the situation. The storms became
more violent and the dangerous waters below were rising. Negative emotions
feeding negative emotions gave birth to greater despair and deeper sadness.
In the midst of this chaos, appeared an elder who was
neither male nor female, draped in a long, hooded robe. The face of the elder
could not be seen, yet the presence of that being was peaceful and serene. Next
to the elder stood a rather ordinary looking horse. By all appearances there
was nothing special about that horse. It was not beautiful, it was not a race
horse or a thoroughbred; it seemed to be just an average horse who was not much
affected by the chaotic dramas of the people. He also showed no fear of the
violent storms, the high winds or the mighty waters that were getting higher.
The horse was as serene as the elder he stood
beside.
The crowd quieted themselves to observe this strange
spectacle as the elder began to speak in a tranquil and peaceful manner to the
gathering. The old Master instructed the people that they must each mount the
horse named Courage and begin to cross the Bridge called Fear one at a time to
get to safety. The ancient one described the new life of freedom from the past
and peace that awaited them on the other side. It would be a new beginning with
new opportunities. "Courage will take you to the Land of Light, do not be
afraid", he said. Yet the people were fearful and asked if they could all go
together or even in small groups but the elder said that each person would have
to ride Courage alone, across the Bridge of Fear, one by
one.
Voices rose in protest as some began to look back at the
memories and "the stuff " they had collected on their side of the bridge.
Because they could not see the land of new beginnings, they would not trust the
wisdom of the elder. They believed the bridge was too old and Courage could not
carry them to freedom. They began to think the Wise One was foolish and senile
and they were safer in their own misery they had
created.
Great debates ensued with the political and religious
leaders of the community. Some had obtained great wealth and many acquisitions
and were quite accustom to their way of life. Others were too ill and too weary
and did not believe they could make the journey. Many had been victims of one
sort or another and did not trust there was a better life awaiting
them.
The Ancient One waited patiently with Courage to take the
people across the Bridge of Fear, but no one came. All they could see was the
old shabby bridge, the raging waters below and the murky clouds ahead. One by
one they voiced their excuses and chose to remain where they deemed themselves
to be safe from impending doom and certain
death.
As the old one and the horse seemed to fade away
from view and the voices became less audible, my mind returned to the man
downstairs with Ted in such dire stress. So many of us have lost our heart and
our passion for life. We have settled for our familiar past of being a victim,
being abused, raped, terminally ill, a survivor of some description, an orphan.
We know there is a better life; some people are enjoying it now, yet we choose
to stay trapped in our past filled with our familiar companions, Fear and Pain.
We know that it is us and only us who must mount that horse called Courage and
ride it through the storms and the dark clouds to the other side where new life
and new beginnings are awaiting us.
Spirit says life as we have
known it is nearly over. Chaos, violent weather patterns and international
events will continue to threaten our current way of life. Change is coming
whether we are prepared or we are not. Perhaps there is something to those 2012
prophecies we should begin to investigate. The next president of the United
States or any organization created will not miraculously save us. Survival in
the times ahead will be determined by the courage we have and the choices each
one of us makes.
In the end, all we really have to do is choose
life and move forward, one action at a time.
...know that you are never
alone and that the Great Mystery walks beside you and is with you on your
journey.
Ted and I send our love to you and your
families. Walk in Power! Many
blessings, Brenda
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