FLOWING FORWARD
The creek overflows once again, as the runoff from
two days of heavy rains flows into the catchment. The bridge is almost
covered too, so I am stuck at home. (I love this fact).
There is a part of the creek where it splits into a few smaller streams, then comes together again. It makes me think of life and the decisions we are faced with. Watching the creek tells me that we can choose various ways to go. And obviously the journey will be different whichever way we choose. But ultimately, it still all leads in the same direction, at least for a while, until the next moment of split and decision.
So when faced with huge or small decisions, there is always free will. But there are some things we are destined to experience and move toward in our lifetimes. The choice is in which way we go to get there. Do we choose the apparently easiest or quickest way? Do we take the slow, scenic route? Or do we face the challenges straight on, take the bumpy road, but get to the other side with more strength and insights into ourselves, making the journey beyond that so much more worthwhile?
The water flows on and comes together again. But further downstream, it splits again and goes off in a variety of directions. Some of this joins other creeks to become a mighty river, eventually flowing strongly down to the ocean. Some of the original creek continues to join other small streams. Some of it stagnates, coming to a point where the flow has stopped completely, at least until another major rainfall. Then off it goes again too. Eventually though, it ends up where it is meant to, as do we.
We shape our lives by the decisions we make. Just like the creek choosing to flow one way or another, we too are given free will and may choose which route to take on our own journey. Yet regardless of the choices we make, we continue to move in the right direction for our soul's learning and evolution. There are just some things we are going to learn about ourselves, no matter what.
Sometimes, like everyone I am sure, I can make decisions quickly and clearly. Other times though, some things need much contemplation. There are times when the answer is not clear and the best thing to do is to simply be. By not forcing an answer to come, it is allowed to reveal itself at the right time. And it usually does.
There are other times though when the answer itself is to make a decision. That is the answer; that one cannot delay or put one's head in the sand in denial. There comes times in all of our lives where we truly do have to make clear choices. Sometimes the decisions that have been brought to the forefront of our lives, awaiting our answer, are the biggest decisions of all, and therefore, often the most painful.
But just as making major decisions can be painful, so is living a life untrue to one's self (as written about more in the article Regrets of the Dying). Lately I've been faced with some major decisions. And there have been moments that I've wanted to ignore them, willing them to go away. But of course they don't go anywhere. So I waited until the answers revealed themselves to a calm mind. And now I move forward, trusting that the decisions I have made are the best ones for my soul's journey.
And as I watch this creek bubble over rocks and reeds, going off in new directions, always ending up where it is meant to, I smile in trust and hope. I have made my choices. My life is flowing in the right direction for my own evolution. And though I may hit a few snags and detours along the way, I am not a drop of water sitting in a whirlpool, not knowing which way to go. The decisions have been made. I am flowing forward, not knowing exactly what awaits as a result of these decisions, but knowing that it is all for my best in the long run.
Life, life, life! What a gift of free will it is. Decision time comes around to us all. Eventually we simply have to face the choices and trust where they take us. It's all growth. It's all evolution. So at the end of the day, really, it's all good.
There is a part of the creek where it splits into a few smaller streams, then comes together again. It makes me think of life and the decisions we are faced with. Watching the creek tells me that we can choose various ways to go. And obviously the journey will be different whichever way we choose. But ultimately, it still all leads in the same direction, at least for a while, until the next moment of split and decision.
So when faced with huge or small decisions, there is always free will. But there are some things we are destined to experience and move toward in our lifetimes. The choice is in which way we go to get there. Do we choose the apparently easiest or quickest way? Do we take the slow, scenic route? Or do we face the challenges straight on, take the bumpy road, but get to the other side with more strength and insights into ourselves, making the journey beyond that so much more worthwhile?
The water flows on and comes together again. But further downstream, it splits again and goes off in a variety of directions. Some of this joins other creeks to become a mighty river, eventually flowing strongly down to the ocean. Some of the original creek continues to join other small streams. Some of it stagnates, coming to a point where the flow has stopped completely, at least until another major rainfall. Then off it goes again too. Eventually though, it ends up where it is meant to, as do we.
We shape our lives by the decisions we make. Just like the creek choosing to flow one way or another, we too are given free will and may choose which route to take on our own journey. Yet regardless of the choices we make, we continue to move in the right direction for our soul's learning and evolution. There are just some things we are going to learn about ourselves, no matter what.
Sometimes, like everyone I am sure, I can make decisions quickly and clearly. Other times though, some things need much contemplation. There are times when the answer is not clear and the best thing to do is to simply be. By not forcing an answer to come, it is allowed to reveal itself at the right time. And it usually does.
There are other times though when the answer itself is to make a decision. That is the answer; that one cannot delay or put one's head in the sand in denial. There comes times in all of our lives where we truly do have to make clear choices. Sometimes the decisions that have been brought to the forefront of our lives, awaiting our answer, are the biggest decisions of all, and therefore, often the most painful.
But just as making major decisions can be painful, so is living a life untrue to one's self (as written about more in the article Regrets of the Dying). Lately I've been faced with some major decisions. And there have been moments that I've wanted to ignore them, willing them to go away. But of course they don't go anywhere. So I waited until the answers revealed themselves to a calm mind. And now I move forward, trusting that the decisions I have made are the best ones for my soul's journey.
And as I watch this creek bubble over rocks and reeds, going off in new directions, always ending up where it is meant to, I smile in trust and hope. I have made my choices. My life is flowing in the right direction for my own evolution. And though I may hit a few snags and detours along the way, I am not a drop of water sitting in a whirlpool, not knowing which way to go. The decisions have been made. I am flowing forward, not knowing exactly what awaits as a result of these decisions, but knowing that it is all for my best in the long run.
Life, life, life! What a gift of free will it is. Decision time comes around to us all. Eventually we simply have to face the choices and trust where they take us. It's all growth. It's all evolution. So at the end of the day, really, it's all good.
