Stopping TimeWritten by Keith Varnum
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The flashback ended as abruptly as it began. Suddenly, I was acutely aware of being suspended in time and space between life review and next moment of present time-me in midst of my slide down cliff. During that seemingly eternal moment, realization hit me like a ten-ton boulder: I don't want to die! A wave of acute appreciation flooded over me. I love life. I want to continue exploring what life has to offer. I remember whispering to myself, I want to live, as if one part of me were informing another part of me. Then, swoosh! I plummeted into vast emptiness beneath me. Some alert, unknown aspect of my being spontaneously yelled to Cheryl, "Lie flat! Relax! Let go!" Hearing words that came unbidden from within me, I, too, obeyed, and consciously chose to surrender to inevitable. I don't remember anything after that decision, including what logically should have been a very abrupt and painful landing. All I know is, Cheryl and I were suddenly sitting in stream at bottom of gorge where current formed a small pool. Although water in pool had turned crimson with our blood, neither of us was experiencing any aches or discomfort. The bleeding came from small, razor-thin cuts all over fronts of our bodies. But we had no broken bones, bruises or other injuries. It was as if only purpose of scratches was to remind us that, yes, indeed, we had just gone free falling down a six-hundred-foot cliff. After a short period of wonderment, we practically danced up long, circuitous trail to top of gorge. We were so thankful-and simply happy to be alive, in one piece and being given a second chance. The climb was effortless. Crisis. Emergency. Danger. These threats to my well-being were my early teachers. From these seeming enemies, I learned that when faced with an expected outcome I don't like, I have an option. I can open to an alternative scenario, another framework, a different set of rules. I jokingly call my ploy "switching channels." It's an apt metaphor. I simply let go of my old way of viewing world and allow a fresh perspective to emerge-or not! After all, when we truly let go, anything can happen! More often than not, however, I find myself shifted to a new reality-a different station with a new story line that has a much better ending! This is stuff of miracles and alchemy. (c) 2004, Keith Varnum. All rights in all media reserved. Drawing from wisdom of native cultures and ancient spiritual traditions, Keith Varnum shares his practical approach to healing and transformation as an author, life strategy coach, acupuncturist, filmmaker, radio host, vision quest guide and international seminar leader with his empowering "Dream Workshops" and free, fun "Prosperity Ezine" at www.TheDream.com.
Drawing from the wisdom of native cultures and ancient spiritual traditions, Keith Varnum shares his practical approach to healing and transformation as an author, life strategy coach, acupuncturist, filmmaker, radio host, vision quest guide and international seminar leader with his empowering "Dream Workshops" and free, fun "Prosperity Ezine" at www.TheDream.com.
| | Poetry to help in bereavement.Written by Malcolm James Pugh
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Even though you are never here. You were my friend at lifes end, No one can take that away from me, And no one will ever quite transcend, What you will always mean to me, But I understand that now its planned, A new chapter starts as this one ends, And I wont actually be eternally damned, If I make new aquaintances and friends, Ill not forget all those close Ive met, And all times and tides we shared, And Ill often wonder why they went, And why it was that I was spared, But I owe it to their memories gone, To not cause them grief if they can see, And to try to pick up and soldier on, And show them person that was me, For if they see world through my medium, Im sure they would much rather see, A world not wrapped in tedium, And all grief finally set free. Its not forsaking memories of past, To move forwards towards new light, Its what they would want if asked, Its what they would see as right, They know you will always think on, They know you will always care, They know because they havnt gone Because they are always there, Maybe they cant communicate as such, Maybe they seem lost except in dreams, But they still care about you just as much, From behind seemingly invisible screens, And they would wish you happiness, They would want you to laugh out loud, They would gaze with tenderness, And they could be only proud, If they saw your internal war, Disappear forever without a trace, And all grief from before, Become a smile upon your face. For you cant undo whats been done, However unfair it seemed, It can happen to anyone, And to any of our dreams, You cant turn back tide, You can just sink or survive, They are still there inside, As long as you are alive, Theres no guilt in being content, No shame in living life again, No need explaining what is meant, No need to prolong pain, They would say so if they could speak They would write it if allowed, They dont want you to be meek They dont want you to be cowed, They just want you as you were Before fate threw its tumbling dice Before everything became a blur And when everything was nice. They just want to turn your clock, On to a better time and place, So you emerge from out of shock, With a calm and happy face. What was oblivion and apocalypse, Beyond imagination or belief, Has transmuted to a flock of ships, Sailing on a sea of abject grief, Who, battered by constant stormy rancour, And often seemingly lost or destroyed, Are now tranquilly at anchor, And peacefully deployed. Their hulls retain knocks, And their sails rents of rage, But they overcame rocks, And they finally came of age, Now they know ebb and flow, And tempest out of naught, The better armed with what they know, with all that they have been taught, Their old crew missing a few, Not lost just out of sight, So they have recruited anew, To set final balance right, Until day they sail away, Never returning to these shores, They will be cast as unsurpassed, And be legendary for evermore, For not bowing to strain, For fighting forward though sorely harmed, For acknowledging life is often pain, And that we arent all charmed, For coming out other side, When it was easier to fall, It makes them worthy of our pride, It makes them victors after all. Life.While we breathe we must believe We are here for some purpose in some plan Surely there must be lasting meaning In intelligence and love of man. We often wonder why were all doomed to die Just when we become calm and wise And ponder anew what will we do When we finally close our eyes Why are we here, it is not clear, And if nihil and darkness is our fate Why do we strive with endless drive With only nothingness lying in wait Where are those dear who were so near One can almost feel them still As if energy waves from beyond graves Keep them constant in our will Maybe all survives, for all our lives In a constant energy flux And sometimes were bees sometimes leaves And sometimes we are us. If mass is energy born in a different form Maybe we are constantly changing guise And we do not pass on were just there and gone But now beyond ears and eyes There seems little chance such a complex dance As human body and mind Was randomly formed over all And evolved to what we find Impossible to suppose that when life goes It all meant nothing and is wasted Why then are we such complexity What of dreams weve tasted What of love, being hand in glove What of friends and never parting What reason for our seasons What point in ever starting I think we subscribe until we die To a vast knowlege base building on Then we change clothes and old life goes But our energy is never gone It transforms anew to me or you Becomes different but same And what we learned is surely burned In an archive with our name. So after all whether big or small We all contribute in our own way To greater knowledge of everyone From experiences of our days, So maybe we will always be Just in a different suit or gown Meeting again later due to nature Cycling up and cycling down. Its spark that is our heart And makes us all what we seem And it always fires, never tires An endless energetic dream. So dont think of me as ceased to be Dont call me dead and gone Im still alive beyond your eyes My energy simply carries on You may not hear me with your ear You may not see me whole But im still me always will be Its what you call my soul, So when breath dies with death And my eyes finally close Im not passed away will not decay Im just in different clothes. http://www.stiffsteiffs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk new site everyone is talking about.
Ex systems programmer revelling in loss of sanity.
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