Parable of the Map

Once I went driving under the influence of a deep depressive state.  Mindlessly going along back country roads toward no particular destination.  There was beauty all around in the hillsides, trees, flowers, birds.  I did notice.  I wanted to be among them.  I wanted to live out there, somewhere, in the quiet places.

📸 adege on pixabay

Some roads were rough, narrow, with sharp turns.  Hardly another car in sight.  Yet I went on. 

Somehow I came upon a county road that actually had a sign for a main road.  I  sat there for a moment, trying to decide if I should bother to return to the city, or continue on my way to, what shall I call it?  My escape route.

I chose to go back to the main road.  Despite depression, I knew I wasn’t thinking as clearly as I needed to be.  I knew I needed to get back home and face sorrow head on.  We’ve got to feel our feelings, or else be lost.

📸 country road family photo

Luckily without a map that day I found my way back.  Having a map to use in the beginning to set a course would seem a logical step.  But who takes time for that?  And certainly not when depressed.

How fortunate too, I find that I had enough experience built up by using keys.  I have had the warmth of light to comfort me.  I have been able to learn my own strengths and weaknesses, accepting my limits.  In early recovery I wrote many journals full of despair and pain.  I burned them and felt relief as each page turned, curled up as smoke lifted and blew away.  I’ve learned to treasure what is good and hold onto it, whether or not it is tangible - it has its place and meaning.  Being open-minded, I could free myself of grudges, and not let hate take root.  I can discern what or who is worthy of my time.  I can make my own choices.  I must bear my own consequences.  Others may be cruel and cause suffering among us, but that does not have to change our true selves.

We all need to find our personal North Star.  The internal map, the inner guide.  We can get through this.    Theresa M

PS - We can always find our way, even when there seems to be no way.

wallpaper image unknown source

Parable of the Key

Keys have been around for thousands of years.  Everyone has something they want protected, from those tiny keys for diaries, to our doors, our cars, and safe-deposit boxes.  Yet many locks can easily be picked,  Why bother?  Well, I think there is a feeling of safety and security we get from having our keys.

kitty diary - my pic

A key is a tool to get through a blockade of some sort.  And of course some use substitute tools to get through.  So I figure there is a right way and a wrong way to go your own way.

That makes me think of the Bible verse Matthew 7:7-8 NIV:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

To me that means Christ is the key.

OK, so maybe you are not religious, or a spiritual type of person, but surely you believe there are powers greater than yourself?  And I would hope you have respect for certain principles, eg, compassion, honesty, justice.

So we all search for the right keys to get through life.  Once we find the right key we hold onto it.  Remember that panicky feeling when we lose our keys?  Yep!  That is how important it is to have your keys.

📸Schluesseldienst on pixabay

As far as giving someone the key to your heart, well, as with anything there is a risk.  Good luck with that!

Can you imagine a world without keys?  I can’t.  There is no way trust will ever be that strong.  Nor respect.  Nor lawfulness.  Yes, our world needs keys to keep our worst instincts from trampling the rights of others.  I just wish those who break the law - who are getting away with it - would be behind bars where they cannot have the keys to free themselves.  But they get away with things as they use other tools - and fools - to do their bidding.  Wait till they go knocking on the Lord’s door!  He holds the final key.       Theresa M

PS - “Knock-knock”  “Who’s there?”  “Me”  “Me who?”

           “Me who lost my keys!”

📸cocoparisienne on pixabay

Parable of the Lamp

A neighbor was cleaning out the house nearby where her parents lived till their death.  She offered me a set of lamps for free.  Beautiful clear base, simple white covers.  When I got home, I was delighted to see not only the bulb at the top worked, but an additional switch for the base lit up - warm crystals of light emerged.

my pic of Lilly🌈

Lamps come in all shapes and decor.  To me, simple ones are the best.  Lighting for reading, cooking, keeping me feeling safe.  Whether powered by electricity, oil or battery, the lamp brings me out of the darkness.

How often I have depended on lamps.  I have them in every room.  Desktop ones, tall ones.  All I need to do to feel safe is turn on a lamp.

Darkness can never defeat the light.  We have only to reach out.  Kind of like prayers.  Send out the need and receive.

my pic crystal base lamp 

Recently I was awakened at night by a tornado warning.  The first thing I did was turn on the lamp next to the bed.  Instantly, I could see before me what I had to do (cats into carrier, emergency bag, etc).  Without having the light to guide me, I may have fumbled and stumbled (and easily lose a cat!).  But we were all snug and safe and the danger passed.

We all need light.  Not that darkness is all bad.  It has its place with nighttime creatures, crickets, moonlight and such.  But other kinds of darkness can be cold and cruel.

Remember:   “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”  John 1:5 NIV

Additionally:   “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 NIV

We all need to light the way for one another.       Theresa M

PS -  Where there is darkness, let there be light.~ St. Francis of Assisi

my crystal base lamp with Rumi quote