LightBears

Many years ago, I happened to see on television some kind of ad which showed a person striding confidently into what looked like empty space, heading toward a mountain peak in the distance. What I recall is that, although it was into empty space that the person was striding forward, as their foot came down in front of them, a block of stone floated into being, literally materializing right beneath their foot as it was descending. If you looked, you could see that the pathway behind the person was filled with floating stepping stones, seemingly hanging in mid air. As the ad progressed, the person also continued to progress into that empty space, and a new stone would float up right beneath their descending foot. It was mesmerizing to behold! It made me think of Zen, of the unseen magic of the world around us, and of hope.

Today, I am thinking about hope, as I always do — and especially, I am thinking about trust. Blind faith. The sure knowledge, even though you cannot perceive it, that the stone to support your next step is there, all ready to materialize in front of you, if you just keep on going.

Right now, in times of challenge, it’s hard to imagine that a way will be made for you to move forward — and where you are meant to be heading, anyway? (a topic for another day!) But if you look back at your life, you are certain to see a series of unexpected stepping stones and unexpected allies that were there for you, just at your deepest moment of uncertainty — and, although you cannot understand logically how you got past whatever hurdle or obstacle you were facing at that moment in your life, a person, or a situation, an opportunity, a stepping stone forward, was there for you.

I know this is the case, because here you are now, as opposed to back then — just as I am, somehow, miraculously, here now. I can look back and see the bridges that filled the gap in my path forward, I can see the times of indecision that somehow clarified into certainty, enabling me to keep on going. And I truly marvel!

So, now, at this point in my life and the life of everyone in this world of change and uncertainty, we are called upon to trust, to have faith, and to keep on stepping forward. Because a way forward will present itself to you, and to me, and to every being in this world.

Trust is a beautiful thing. It is an unseen ally, linking us one to the other, forming a network of connections that keeps us going. It’s unseen, like the force of gravity is invisible but yet, somehow, it’s always there, holding us firmly to the solidity of the earth beneath us and preventing us from floating off the surface of the planet into outer space!

Hope, and trust: two essential things in life that help us move forward, keep us from lapsing into immobility. Sometimes we do falter, wondering how we can possibly go on. It’s like that, in life, when you are climbing mountains — and trust me, we are all climbing mountains, whether we are aware of it or not! The mountain peaks are glorious when we reach them and the view is so magnificent that we forget momentarily all that we did to reach them. But there are always additional peaks to be scaled, and always the need to keep moving forward. That is the nature of life.

So, my friend, I urge you to remember that the unseen stepping stone is waiting for you to put your foot down upon it, the path through the unknown is waiting for you, and an unseen ally is always at your side, helping and guiding you forward.

You just need to trust.

The Irish have a saying, “May the road rise up to meet you.” I laughingly used to see that as a literal thing, as in stumbling forward and landing nose first on the cobblestones in front of me — but indeed, using the image of the floating stepping stones that guide us through life, I think that old Irish blessing is true. The road will, indeed, rise up to meet you! So be strong of heart and purpose, and always TRUST.

And, as long as you are going to be moving along anyway, take advantage of the view, and enjoy those mountain peaks when you come to them!

I look forward to meeting you around the next bend in the road! What marvelous stories we will be able to share of how we got to where we are now, in the future!

Until next time, I encourage you to continue to be a LightBear, and shine your light to help others find their way forward.

May you flourish in all that you choose to do, and may the road always lead you to your best and highest good!