[singlepic id=7 w=320 h=240 float=left]Artist: Rhonda Harman
Title: Auraura’s Crystaline Presence
Medium: Acrylic paints
Contact: rhondajoyharman@gmail.com
FEATURE ARTICLE
Where is Faith in a Storm?
“We’re in lockdown!” he bellowed down the heavily static communications line. “There’s a blizzard outside and we can’t go anywhere. No, it’s not coming. It’s here. Look, the line’s very crackly and I can’t quite make out what you’re saying,” he yelled as he jammed his gloved finger into his spare ear to block out the unrelenting howling of the wind.
As loose branches crashed against the bare windows, the small group inside huddled together, not only for warmth, but also for reassurance. They knew that if the windows broke they would freeze to death. In this moment all they could do was stay put and hope they weren’t buried too far beneath the snow when the storm subsided.
They had lived in this village at the foot of the mountain for a long time and there had been storms before. But this one was different. The intensity had not been noticed until it was too late for any of them to leave the village for safer territory. So now there were three men, one of them elderly, two older women, a young mother, three kids and a baby. What was the worst that could happen, he thought, except that they would all be buried alive? He shivered and someone threw a blanket around him.
“Come on,” said the older woman. “Let’s not play, ‘what could possibly happen?’ Let’s play ‘what do I want to do with the rest of my life?’ Who wants to go first?” She looked around at blank faces. “Alright, I’ll start.” She looked skyward as she thought, and tried not to look alarmed as the beams moved overhead. The weight was piling up on the roof; she hoped it would hold.
“I’d like to travel,” she said, “South America. I’d like to visit amazing ruins, gigantic waterfalls and experience some sacred areas.” She paused and noticed she had the group’s attention. “I’d live amongst the people for a while and get to know their language and their culture so I could appreciate the continent from their perspective.” She smiled in contemplation. The circle was silent.
“I’d like to see my baby grow,” the young mother started suddenly. “I want to see him run and jump and play sport at school.” She started to cry. He shone the torch and noticed the windows were white. That meant the snow had covered them completely. There wasn’t much hope now. This was the rescue hut, buried, and he couldn’t even save himself let alone get to anyone else.
The older lady was gently enticing the young mother to speak. What sport did she want her son to play? The sobbing stopped and she refocused. “I’d like him to play hockey like his uncle. He was a great player,” she reminisced. She smiled at the baby, as if imagining her son grown up. “He’ll be very handsome and charming,” she added with a lump in her throat.
“Well, I’d like to write a movie score,” one of the men blurted out. Everyone turned in his direction. They had all known each other for a long time and this was the first any of them had heard this mentioned. “What’s a movie score?” one of the kids asked.
“It’s the music for a movie,” he answered softly, appreciative that someone was interested. “Do you play an instrument?” said another of the kids. He held their undivided attention as he spoke about his guitar and the music he had written, his connections with Hollywood and his dream to one day be part of it all. He felt alive for the first time in a long time.
A beam cracked overhead but still held. It brought their attention back to the present with a jolt. He wondered how much air they had now. “What about you?” The older lady nudged him while he was deep in thought. He couldn’t think of anything positive to say. He was responsible for all these people. He felt he had let them down.
The older man had been listening, but now spoke. “I’m happy I am here now, with you all,” he said with a smile that crinkled his eyes. “I’ve done a lot and seen a lot. I’ve watched my kids grow and held my wife’s hand as she died and through all of that I have had faith.” The older lady smiled and nodded. She knew what he meant.
“You mean faith in God?” asked the woman who had been silent until now.
“Maybe. It depends on what you believe as God,” smiled the older man. “I’ve learnt that faith doesn’t belong to religion, it belongs to people. I’ve always had faith that I would find happiness and I have. I’ve always had faith that I would love those around me, that I would find peace with myself when I couldn’t find love and that I would find a way of appreciating every moment I had. Just like you all here, I had a vision of what I wanted and I held on to it. I knew faith was always about believing in myself, not something outside of me. And just as I have had faith as I live, so shall I make peace with what I can’t control, which is right now. So, now to you all,” he smiled broadly at each person, “I thank you for sharing your visions with me and ask that you have faith in what you are wanting. You will find it too.”
“Well, I just hope we get out of here alive,” he couldn’t hold it in any longer. “It’s great thinking about what we could do in our future, but what if this is it? What if we don’t have any future?”
“I don’t think you understand dear,” the older lady placed her hand gently on his forearm. “Faith doesn’t stop here. It is boundless and spans lifetimes. A belief that you hold on to and nurture is faith. In fact, it’s more than a belief, it becomes a knowing. You know at the core of your being that this life isn’t all there is. That’s faith. You know that despite the rain and the blizzards, the sun will shine tomorrow. Whenever tomorrow is. Isn’t that faith?”
“But there might not be a tomorrow.” They could all hear his frustration.
“I understand what you’re saying,” the old man replied, “but none of us have any control over what is happening now. The only thing you ever have any control over is how you feel about it. So find peace with where you are at. Besides, there is always a tomorrow.” He chuckled suddenly. “It sounds like Santa is trying to get down our fireplace.”
“The chimney!” the rescuer sprang to his feet. “It might not be far under.”
“Is that faith?” asked one of the kids.
“That’s hope.” The older woman turned to the boy. “When you have faith you can feel it. Do you think we will get out of here?” she asked the boy.
“Oh yes,” he said confidently.
“How do you know?” she smiled.
“I can feel it in here.” He held a fist over his heart.
“Now that is faith,” she acknowledged.
Gayle Maree, Stewart Natural Health Yungaburra 07 4095 3600
REGULAR FEATURE
Wildlife Wisdom – 29 Crocodile – Roll with the Times
Wily Crocodile has been around as long as time, a prehistoric relic from the past. Crocodile is here for the long haul; his design has remained virtually unchanged for millions of years. The old saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” certainly applies to crocodile.
This tropical inhabitant was created with longevity in mind. Countless species have come and gone but Crocodile’s ancestral line has remained stable; he has witnessed them all.
Under normal conditions Crocodile moves at a slow and methodical pace, he knows that time is his ally; he has existed through eons and has time to be still, watch and wait for fate to deal him a positive hand. He is in no hurry to change; his methods have served him well for centuries.
Crocodile is an ambush predator, an opportunist and a decent meal will satisfy him for many weeks. In fact a large crocodile can live on his fat reserves for about a year. When an opportunity presents itself, Crocodile is ready. He knows the importance of patience and is willing to ‘roll with the times’ when opportunity knocks.
In times past Crocodile was a target for human predators, but today he is protected by law and he has relaxed back into his natural state of observation and readiness in his tropical paradise.
A master of silence and observation, Crocodile takes a breath and submerges for long periods. Even when submerged, his senses are acute and he feels the vibration of unsuspecting prey as they walk by his watery lair. Once the vibration is pinpointed, he silently moves his submerged body making ready to strike with lightening speed. As they drink from his waters or take a dip to cool in the blistering sun, Crocodile seizes his prey, striking with his crushing jaws, dragging them to their watery end as he performs his renowned death roll. Travellers beware! Be vigilant when in Crocodile’s territory. You never know where or when his silent form will lie in wait for the opportunity to feast.
Crocodile knows well the folly of not ‘rolling with the times.’ Many species that have walked upon this earth have come and gone, but time for Crocodile forever moves onwards. He is here to stay.
If ancient Crocodile has entered your territory through the cards today, the ancient one brings you his timeless wisdom. “I have witnessed so many species exit my world,” he smiles. “They were too busy ‘doing’ rather than ‘being’ and did not notice their impending doom.”
Crocodile adds, “It is time to focus on the big picture of life. Be constantly aware and make the corrective moves to offset the sometimes hidden situations that could spell disaster.”
If prudent action is not taken, crocodile tells you of his journey in order to prompt your urgent response. “Throughout my earth walk I have constantly stayed one step ahead of fate by shifting my focus and mindset. I have learnt to be silent and patient. I am flexible to my environment and it is my greatest attribute.” Crocodile asks that you also adopt the same resolve of patience and flexibility. “Take a good look at your relationships, home environment and career,” he says. “Don’t be too busy ‘doing’ rather than ‘being’ in order that you can continuously re-evaluate all aspects of life and living.”
Perhaps it is time to take that action you have been putting off, make that decision you have been procrastinating on, take that course, make that move or fix that relationship.
Crocodile, the ancient one tells you, “Don’t be a victim to the hustle and bustle of modern life. Use your senses to pinpoint what is needed to create longevity in all aspects of your life, like me. If the thought of change brings you fear, my advice is to ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’”.
Crocodile’s powerful jaws, his silence and patience, his flexibility and ability to ‘roll with the times’ have helped him to outlive many species. Now that you share his wisdom, you too can stay one step ahead of potential doom. Crocodile says, “I look forward to seeing you on this earth walk for some time to come; I will test your step to see if it can stay one step ahead of the jaws of stagnation and procrastination. Be vigilant, flexible and take action when your intuition calls, this is my medicine.”
© Trevor O’Sullivan 2009 & Susan Skyring 0417 730 313. Visit www.metaphysicallyspeaking.com