Mastering the Wilderness … (04/11/14)
“He paused long enough to hear the question behind the question and took a slow sip of his coffee. ‘If I could tell you for sure there wouldn’t be any bears, it wouldn’t be a wilderness now would it?'” ~ Charlie Slocum
Our lives are filled with journeys to the edge of the Wilderness — those times when we lose something cherished or long for more; those times when we are attacked or abused or betrayed; those times when we wince or ache or cringe. And most of the time when our Wilderness comes calling, we head the other way as fast as possible — back post haste to all things comfortable & safe & warm & friendly.
And yet no matter how far we run and no matter how well we hide, the Wilderness always returns — It always finds us; approaching silently from behind, either to tap us on the shoulder or slap us in the face — often in moments least expected; always in moments least desired.
Of course, it can be quite liberating to realize that it is not necessary to run from our Wilderness at all; to remember that it is deep within our Wilderness where our greatest of all Treasures resides; that without challenge, there would be only the suffocating malaise of endless ease … that without difficulty, there would only be the droning buzz of a never-ending series of meaningless “successes” … that without pain, there would only be the exhausting lull between life’s brief glimpses of pleasures hollow & unsustainable.
I am not advocating that you seek out challenge or difficulty or pain … indeed, the Wilderness is not something that can be sought, much less found. For, if the Wilderness is to be our Wilderness, it must do the seeking … It must find us.
And yet when its dis-ease does arrive (and arrive it will), we need not fight it or strive against it or complain about it. Yes, as thinking, knowing, conscious beings, we can choose to rail against pain and usher it out the door, and yet we can also choose to harness its awesome power instead …
We can choose to reap its hidden gifts — by setting aside our self-focused fears long enough to reach out courageously through our pain and extend Kindness to another.
This is the true power of our ability to choose … This is the true power of our selfless Self … This is the true power waiting calmly within our every Wilderness.
So, when your next Greatest Enemy approaches with snarling teeth and sword drawn, it is no longer required that you bar your door … No, when your fear growls deep within you and your pain howls near in the night, you don’t have to lock them out or shun them … When you would just as soon fend them off or slice them to ribbons, you can choose instead to show them the Honor they deserve. You can choose to open the door, to invite them inside, to seat them at your banquet table, and then to ease their voracious hungers with generous helpings of your reverent gratitude & humble graciousness.
The Wilderness will always find you, my Friends. Its drive is insatiable and its allies unconquerable. And yet, there is a way through its times of cold & shadow. And this path through the Wilderness requires not the “strength” of self-protection, but the ability to be gentle with others even while suffering in pain. It requires not the “power” of bravery, but the ability to be Kind to others even in the face of your fear.
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