Category — Personal growth

I read this on Facebook, and wanted to record it here for future reference… 

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

— Unknown

I especially love this: Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person…

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has courage to lose sight of the shore. – Andre Gide

I’ve always liked this quote, and lately I’ve been feeling the essence of what this quote means in my life. Funny how that happens, you like a quote, then you find yourself living it…but I digress…

I’ve been working through some major life changes, and the closest analogy I can come up with is that it feels like I’m swimming in this huge ocean alone.  And swimming itself is tiring, it requires lots of energy and focus.  As I paddle from wave to wave, which I can compare to my emotions in dealing with this change, I sometimes need to just float along, look up and rest, and give myself a break.  At then at other times on this journey, I find myself turning around and looking back at the shore where I started out.  It looks safe… a place I can go back to.  But at the same time, I know I cannot.  The safety it offers is an illusion.  The reality is…there is no going back to my past, intellectually I know it will not serve me.   But it doesn’t stop the thoughts from forming when fear kicks in – maybe I could try this…maybe if I did that…gosh that shore looks easier to get to than going forward…and I’m feeling so tired.

Yet, my spirit calls me forward…to keep swimming along.  I know I will get to a point where I can see new land and new shores that will hold a future of my choosing.  This excites me and keeps me going.  Sure, there will be some storms along the way and I know I’ll have to float my way through it.   It’s par for the course.  The old sage saying is every journey begins with that first step.  The rest of the steps just seem to follow along.

Whenever I travel, interesting things happen to me.  I’m not sure if its because I’m out of my element and I’m more aware?  I don’t know, but I am starting to see a theme of when I receive interesting life messages.

I was in St. Louis for the past week for a marketing and sales conference that I help organize every year (with a fabulous team of others).   This was our 6th year with the event, it is always a good time to reconnect with peers and recharge the creative batteries.

After a very busy morning of back to back presentations, I went to sit outside to get some fresh air and sunshine.  It was a lovely day, and I was feeling the relief of having some of my bigger commitments for the event behind me.  The  sunshine felt so good. As I sat there, I imagined it was similar to how a cat may feel when it curls up in a spot of sunshine.

As I was sitting there, I noticed a praying mantis making its way, crawling up the side of the revolving door.  It was sitting right on stainless steel, appearing to hang from nothing.  I could not remember the last time I saw a praying mantis up close.  So I watched with fascination as it made its way up the doorway frame.  It had this very gentle, slow approach. It bobbed up and down, gently placing its foot/claw (what is that thing anyway) on the metal,  testing each step out before shifting itself forward.

How was it holding on <I thought>?

Slow and methodically, it made its way up the wall of nothingness.  It did not rattle itself when someone would brush it’s quiet presence and swing the door around.  I was nervous a couple of times as it entered what I though was “dangerous ground” where it would be swept away by the door movement.  But, to no avail, the Mantis was vigilant and steady.

Capturing the Moment

At one point I decided to take a picture of this creature in which I was so absorbed in watching.  I got close with my phone and snapped this photo you see here.  As I got close, the creature turned its head and looked directly at me, leaning over toward me as I snapped it.  It kind of freaked me a little, what could it be thinking or, worse, what would it do?  Then I just laughed at myself, how silly I’m afraid of this thing.  He’s probably afraid of me!

I sat back down and just watched him make his way up the door, I eventually lost track of him. I felt there was some sort of significance to what I observed.  The slow methodical approach, taking careful, assured steps with a peacefulness about it despite the clear insanity of what it was doing – climbing a metal wall.   There is surely a life metaphor to absorb here.  I thought that was the end of my praying mantis brush.  I was wrong.

Number Two

We landed in Boston around 11:30 pm after a long day and connecting flights.  As I entered the jet way, I was expressing my gratitude with the crew for a safe arrival.  I was passing by the pilot, and he drew my attention to something sitting on the wall…guess what it was?   It was ANOTHER Praying Mantis. But not just ANY praying mantis, but A HUGE Praying Mantis.  I have never seen one so large.  It had to be as long and wide as my foot, and I wear a size 9 women’s.  It had the longest wings I’ve ever seen.  Again – it was in the oddest place – there is no vegetation there.  It’s in a jet way on a plastic wall, just hanging out.   So I laughed and stood, fumbled for my phone with the hopes to grab a picture (which I didn’t get) when  Shari, my travel partner was getting off the plane behind me.  I told her to look up so she could see it, and as she looked, it flew right across her to the other side of the jet way.  She freaked a little, but did pretty well considering.

<OK> I think in my head…sighting number 2.  If  I was confused about the significance before, I should not be now because this one was freaking huge.  I make a mental note to revisit the significance of a Mantis when I got home.

Number Three

Then this morning, I get up grab my mobile phone to look at it for the first time and what’s looking back at me on my phone?  The image of the mantis I took in St. Louis.  Now, this picture is nestled in the middle of the photo album from the event, it was not the last action I took on the phone from the night before because I remember I was texting updates about my arrival AND recalled looking at my phone in the middle of the night for a few moments in time.

“That’s IT!” <I think>.  I head over to set up my computer so I can look into the significance of these events. Surely there must be something for me here.  And there was.  The first thing I did was hit Wikipedia to find out about it.  What I did know about the Mantis is that is a form in Tai Chi that is pretty powerful as some moves were taught to me at one point,  but that’s all I knew.  Here’s what I found out (some of it was not so sexy but…):

The scientific name Mantodea comes from the Greek words μάντις meaning a prophet, and εἶδος for form or shape. The name was coined in 1838 by the German entomologist Hermann Burmeister. The common term mantis is also from the Greek word μάντις for prophet.^[3][4]

Ok, that’s interesting.  So I continued to search for the symbolic meaning of the Mantis and found a couple of things worth sharing…

The Symbology

One source noted:

The mantis comes to us when we need peace, quiet and calm in our lives. Usually the mantis makes an appearance when we’ve flooded our lives with so much business, activity, or chaos that we can no longer hear the still small voice within us because of the external din we’ve created.

After observing this creature for any length of time you can see why the symbolism of the praying mantis deals with stillness and patience. The mantis takes her time, and lives her life at her own silent pace.

This is similar to what I thought back when I was watching the Mantis in St. Louis.  Then I found this reference, and it startled me a little,’cause it reminded me of the moment of when I took the picture and it looked right at me:

The praying mantis is the oldest symbol of God: the African Bushman’s manifestation of God come to Earth, “the voice of the infinite in the small,”* a divine messenger. When one is seen, diviners try to determine the current message. In this culture they are also associated with restoring life into the dead. “Mantis” is the Greek word for “prophet” or “seer,” a being with spiritual or mystical powers.

Meet the eye of a mantis and feel the presence of God. Interspecies communicator Sharon Callahan says, “the I of me, and the I of the creature became one and we rested on the breath of God.” She notes that a praying mantis appears sometimes in person, other times in a dream or even in an object of art, but always with the “shiny conscious eye ~ God looking at me through the eye of the Mantis.”

<Shivers>…..

I surrender……MERCY I say….

As you go through your life, do you see recurring themes on your path?  And…are you paying attention to them?

You know, some days seem harder than others.  Walking in faith is a concept that I like to believe I hold, but all too often even the simplest things can throw me off the path.  Sometimes it’s my own stupid fear, other times it’s a curious German Shepherd who wants to say hello..or…Grrr…  I’ll share a story…

Most evenings, weather permitting, I take a walk in my neighborhood with my dog Sumo.  He’s a Shiba Inu, 35 lbs or so, looks like a fox.  I’ve come to learn it’s HIS walk, not mine and I’m just along for the ride.  He knows every house and where every  dog lives on the path.  He knows which ones are tied out on lines, which ones are behind fences.  As we approach each house that has dog interaction potential, he eagerly does this obnoxious loud breathing so they can hear him just in case they are around.

Sumo

Now the funny thing is, he’s the most gentle dog off the leash. But, when he’s on the leash he is more aggressive.  My guess is it is because when he was a puppy, he got attached by a pitbull when we were on of our walks. The dog charged us from his yard, crossing the street to reach us. At first I thought the dog was going to be nice until it growled meanly, jumped on him and grabbed him by the neck. I kicked the dog away from him, his owner yelling in tow but a few minutes too late.  Everything ended up fine, but I think it marked my dog’s memory and he’s on guard now when walking on a leash.  Off leash he’s a different dog.  And, I’ve tested this theory a few times letting other dogs approach.  It always ends with me stressed out, pulling him away from the other dog and wishing people would keep track of their dogs. Granted, we are walking by their yards, and they are just doing their job.  I get that.  But the street I walk on is somewhat busy with surprise curves and when the dogs are loose there is a chance they will get hit.  I’ve lost two beautiful German Shepherds to this street already, and I don’t let Sumo roam free for the most part.

So, fast forward, I’m on another walk. And I get to the top of the hill which is the turnaround point. It’s a perfect night – because ALL of the dogs were not out.  Of course, Sumo is disappointed, but I’m not!  So we turn around, start walking home, down the long hill making good time.  Sun is setting, there’s a cool breeze in my face.  As I approach a  couple of houses where dogs live side by side… I hear the owner yelling….”PEEEER….CEEEY….PEEEER…..CEEEY”…

Oh crap, I think.  That’s that damn German Shepherd.  Crap crap crap….  So I slow down, cause I haven’t hit the corner where the dog could see me.  We haven’t met Percy up close yet, just from a distance.  But I can hear the owner calling his dog.  Gee whiz…it was a NICE walk up until that point.  So I stop in my tracks.  I’m not sure what to do.  I have to walk by this yard to get home.  I’m nervous because I don’t want to be stressed out with an angry dog interaction.  But I can’t just wait this out.

“You’re being ridiculous” I said to myself.  Just walk and work it out.  “Oh Kay”… I walk onward.  Then I look up and there’s freaking Percy.  Shit shit shit… And he’s looking at us, from across the street, out of his yard and in his neighbor’s yard right on the edge of the street.  So, I stop walking, pull Sumo to my right side away from the dog (of course he’s pulling hard to get to the dog – wheezing like crazy cause I adjusted his collar to be tight under his chin for best control) and yell “GIT” in my deepest voice several times.  He just kept looking at me, making small advances toward us… Meanwhile back on the porch the owner is yelling “PEEEERCEEEY GET OVA HERE…COME….COME RIGHT NOW.”   Clearly Percy doesn’t give a f—.

Now, I’m trying to maintain some semblance of control and not project fear which I know Percy senses.  So Percy advances even closer and starts to cross the street.  I yell and take a few aggressive steps toward him with a NOOOOO..GIT.  He stops and turns back a little.  Huh, I think. Meanwhile, in my head I’m praying “Ok Angels, I need you here, help me get this dog to retreat… I don’t want to see him get hit” because cars were coming up the road on his side.    I have an affinity for Sheps, we raised several litters years ago.  Last thing I want to see is a dog get hit in front of me, it’s heartbreaking.

So I decide “F— It” in my head – now I’m pissed off.  The owner clearly is not in command of his dog.  I’m in command of mine even though he wants to check this dog out more than life itself.  I just wanted to take a stupid walk… So I just start walking angrily…Percy starts to come back at me…and then I give one last aggressive GIT – GO HOME while walking – and then, as if a magic wand was waved (or some big scary monster behind me), the dog did a double-take,  turned and started jogging home. I did get a second look and pause, but he then he jogged home to the porch to his owner.

The owner gives me a big wave, shouts an apology… I say thanks and walk on.  And yes,  I did mutter a few choice words under my breath.

PHEW….interaction avoided.  What just happened I thought?  Now that the moment has passed, I feel my nerves jumping around.

As I finished out the walk, I was thinking about what made Percy turn away all of sudden.  Was it me?  Did my Angels step in and help?  I suspect so.  Be even beyond that, I think it was a walk of faith.  In stepping out of my fear, I walked into the solution I needed.

How often do we do that – not step out due to fear? It could be big or small.  Stepping out is the key.  No matter what the outward appearances are. Who are the German Shepherds in your life?

This is a quick story worth telling …

I read the book ”Heaven is For Real” when I was vacationing in Florida that is about this little boy and his death experience.   As the family discovered he had this near death experience, his family tried to understand who and what he saw. He talked about relatives he had never known, as well as angels, Jesus and God as he saw them.  They would show him a pictures – of dead relatives who he was able to identify.  They also started showing him pictures of Jesus.  But there are so many pictures of Jesus out there, he kept saying “No”….until one day they showed him a specific picture and he said “Yes.”  I was so moved, I took a picture of book image and it’s in my phone so I can go back and look at it.

Fast forward a couple of months – and I’m heading home on a plane.  The flight wasn’t too full, but I ended up in a middle seat next to my colleague.  So when they airline attendants shut the door, there was an open aisle seat in the next row up.   I moved and sat next to a guy, who was fine with me taking that seat. There was still an open middle seat, plenty of room for both of us.

He was a nice, easy-going guy.  He had one of those moments where you fall asleep sitting up and then jolted awake spilling his water… Gosh knows I’ve done this a half dozen times.  We just laughed, I handed him some napkins.  At first glances, there was nothing unusual about him or the experience.

We finally landed, and we were in the first few rows and we were getting ready to deplane.  As I was getting packing my things up, I turned to him and said, “do you need to get anything or want to stand up” and he said with a smile,  “no…no…I’m very patient.  Patience is important. There are people here that are in more of a rush than I am” (and he gestured back behind him as he said that).    I paused and looked at him and noticed his kind blue eyes… and finally said, “Yes, patience is something we  can all learn.”  Then I got up and left. That was the last I saw of this man.

For some reason, his eyes stayed with me.  It was hard to explain.  Then, as my colleague and I make our way down to baggage claim,  the picture of Jesus mysteriously came up on my phone- I hadn’t been trying to look at my pictures.  I have an iPhone and the picture is in the middle of my camera roll.  And I did a double take.  It looked like the guy on the plane less the hair.  Then I heard in my head “patience”. And goosebumps came over my body.  All I could think was “wow…”.

As I shared this story with a friend, they shared something very wise with me:

Sometimes if we pursue, the spirit retreats and sometimes if we retreat the spirit pursues.  Patience and stillness can be very liberating.

I’ve been on a spiritual journey as you probably know if you are reading this blog.  I was completely moved by the experience. And now I hear the words “patience” echo in my head when I need it the most.   Here’s the picture in the book that I took:

I was walking along the dirt road in my vacation spot in Vermont, and I was really enjoying myself.  The birds were singing, I could hear the loons out on the lake crooning.  It was a surreal moment, feeling all zen.  Until the damn fly…or should I say flies…started buzzing around my head just enough to annoy me.  In my ear, around my head.  I walked by a patch of sunlight … just enough to see in a shadow reflection 3 or 4 flies buzzing around my head.  Cripskes, it was enough to make me start swatting, crazily, like some nut cake who is entertaining to watch if you happen to see them working their issues on the street.

So there I was, flies disturbing my zen.  It got me thinking…(surprise)…  Because I’m the type of person who can tune things out pretty well.  Why is this bothering me?

How often do we let small things, like flies or mosquitoes buzzing around us…just kill a moment of joy?  Extrapolating to bigger pictures, how often do we let small annoyances take a way from the bigger picture? That snide comment, the wrong order at Dunkins, the crappy attitude at the cashier…

Pretty often, I’d say.  Lesson learned.

I recently finished reading a book by Joyce Meyer, and I appreciate her no-nonsense approach in making connections between God (Spirit, source, whatever you want to call it) and ourselves.  I received possession of this book when I started out on a business trip, so it was prime time to disconnect from my reality and delve into the words she shared.  In the very first chapter, she introduced a concept that I didn’t quite understand: “You can’t give what you don’t have“.

What am I not getting?

Intellectually, I get it but intuitively I wasn’t sure how this played out. Does she mean me? Other people? All of the above?  How does this apply?  Humbly, I  really didn’t get it. Then the other concept that goes hand in hand that Joyce explained is that most people don’t know how to receive.  Dammit, there it is again – being able to receive.  I have some things going on in my personal life that make me do a double take here.   Law of Attraction talks about it.  And I thought I got it when I learned about it then, but apparently some blockages still persist otherwise I wouldn’t be so confused.  What am I missing (I ask myself as I fly along to my destination)?

As I was going to sleep that night, I prayed for some guidance on what all this really means. And fortunately God delivered. I’ll explain.

Song in my head

The morning I woke up, I had a song in my head.  This happens often. This time it was a song by The Who “Love Reign O’er Me”.  The words..”LOVE…Rain on Me… On Me…On Me… (it’s the end of the song when Roger Daltry really screams it out) was pounding in my head.  Interesting, I thought.  Ironically it happened to rain like a M-F the night before.  It could be a coincidence, but I don’t believe in them.  But still it left me with questions – how do I allow love to “rain on me”?  It is a conscious effort?  Or something deeper at a subconscious level?  Ah, heck, I’ll just go with it. Stop thinking (I say in my head)!

Then it started to happen all on its own.  I start noticing that I’m making deeper connections with people, and I’m noticing a difference in their response.  I began to feel really energized and in general, loving.  Loving towards others.  It just flowed out of me.

Ah…I think. Perhaps I was not able to offer this before because I technically didn’t “HAVE” it to offer.  But for some reason now, I do (I did ask for it??).  It felt like I was plugged into this powerful electrical current and it just flowed out.

Pure Love?

As I was going home, I wondered…is this love the pure love of God? Is this what I’ve resisted?  Or is this something else? And where do you get it? It manifested between people vs. something I could accomplish alone.  So, was God there through all of this directing it through me? Hmm, I wonder.

In general, I am the type of person to hold myself to a pretty high standard.  I don’t let myself off the hook.  I tend to replay things in my mind, wondering what I could have said better, done better, delivered better, etc.  What if receiving this kind of love is just really just an extension of forgiveness, and allowing myself to be open to receive?  Is it that easy?  I do tend to block my own self-forgiveness until I feel I’ve beat myself enough. Why do that when this is ready to be offered and just received?

Going beyond myself

Going beyond myself I started noticing others around me who are not receiving too.  It’s almost epidemic.  I’m fortunate to have a loving family, but each person I know has blockages around what they are willing to receive.  I started to notice that we put up walls to receive others love because we are busy judging them for what they have done/haven’t done.  “So and so didn’t do this, and that really bothers me.”  So, next time they saw So and So…they would hold that issue in between them, like opposing magnets.  While it’s not overt or obvious, an energetic block occurs.  So no matter how the other person felt, they could not share their love with that person holding the block, neither could that person receive it.

Let’s face it.  There are times when we desire to receive a certain type of response from someone else.  It could be forgiveness, mercy, hope, love.  You might find yourself thinking in your head..”Well they’ll just HAVE to understand.”  But what if they, historically in their life, have not been a recipient of compassion or understanding?  Are they really able to offer it to you? And if they do not, how do you react to that?  Is it your failing or theirs?

It’s really not about you after all

I hold the belief that how people react to me is 99% of the time based on issues they have vs. anything I’m doing.  But I also find that it’s hard to remember when I’m feeling hurt, rejected, and not receiving what I had hoped in return.  Well, perhaps it’s as simple as they can’t give what they themselves don’t have.  It’s really not about me after all.

So, then, who are we to judge? Ourselves or others? We’re all human trying to live our lives and be good people (for the most part).   Perhaps we should just try to learn how to love others around us and ignore that judgement voice inside.  Then perhaps we can offer something someone else needs, vs. what we need from them.  Pure love of God.  That’s all.

Image source

“Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.”
Anais Nin

I have to admit that this post has been percolating for some time.  I’ve been unsure of what exactly I want to say here, except that my thoughts around the act of be-coming has been something in the making.

I’ve been indicating that I’m in a point of transition.  I’m nervous about making that big step from one known entity of me to another.  I’m not necessarily creating a totally new version of me, but more a releasing of an older version.

Do you ever have the feeling that you have more to offer than what you are currently bringing to the world?

Do you ever feel trapped into staying and doing the “what’s known” side of you than venturing and investing into  a side of you that is more unknown?  Unknown in terms of how it will all fit in with home-life-career-family-everything?

And it’s funny because it’s not my first boondoggle making this type of change either.  I went through this process about 9 years ago when I started consulting for a living.  It was scary because at the time, I didn’t know quite how to do it and was worried about how it would all work.  Now looking back 9 years later, I’m still here, successful and know the ebbs and flows of working in this capacity.  The difference between today and that time is that back then, I was relying upon my marketing skill base as a means for generating income vs. now, where there are skills-I-don’t-have-yet-that-I’ll-need-but-won’t-know-until-I-make-this-move type stuff going on.  A bigger unknown looms out there.  It’s tantalizing at the same time.

But in the words of the late Clarence Clemons (who I will miss) said “my purpose in life is to bring joy and light to the world” and music was his way.  I feel this same desire and yearning.  Up to this point my “music” was marketing…  But I’m feeling the need go beyond that.  To a new level that allows me to use this gift, but in a whole new way.

Bear with me as I work through my feet in two camps.  It won’t be long.  The desire is too strong.

Stay tuned….

Image source

Luceat Lux Vestra. Let your light shine. These are the words of my dear friend who passed suddenly in 2008.  Her name was Christine, and she was truly unique and divine in so many ways.  I think of her often. She sometimes visits me in my dreams, for which I am grateful.  Her passing was so sudden and  quick.  No time for good byes.   I was fortunate to have a nice lunch with her about one week prior, she was full of life and dreams that needed conquering. She opened many doors of understanding and enlightenment for me, and to this day I still explore those unchartered waters and flora covered paths, trying to find my own way.

I felt moved recently to share her last post, just days before her passing.  I felt it was relevant to how I’m feeling and the changes I’m making.  Christine was a shining star, always wearing colorful outfits and things that dazzled.  She loved bling and expressing her most feminine side.  She was a true goddess in every sense of the word and addressed her friends as such.  Perhaps you’ll see a glint of that here, in her very last post:

Truth or Consequences time, best beloveds.

Are you willing to be different, original, authentic — truly YOU?

Or is acceptance more important to you?

The thing about being authentic and expressing your true self is that it’s likely to land you outside the mainstream, which may not always be a comfortable place. Especially if your private measure of success is acceptance. It’s just too scary to leave the pack and venture outside it. Much safer to take cues from external sources that will tell you what to do and how to be.

Just know that you’re making a huge tradeoff — because your fear is the absolute opposite of love.

So this question is addressed to those who ARE willing to be different, original, and authentic. Do you wake up every morning and commit to being in the flow of giving and receiving that is specifically for you? Here’s to your courage and boldness!

Go for it! Cut loose! Be creative! Make waves! Make a difference!

By being your authentic, divine self you will attract to you the circumstances and people that resonate with you. And yes, you’re likely to offend some folks. But if you are listening to your own Inner Being rather than the herd, you’ll be in the flow, and your reward will be great. It is far better to stand in strength than to sit in weakness. Let your light shine, for heaven’s sake!

Luceat Lux Vestra. Let your light shine.

Enough said.

I was watching the movie “Master and Commander” the other night which stars Russell Crowe (one of my favs for a number of reasons ).  For those of you who don’t know the movie’s premise, it’s set in 1805 during the gallant yet brutal Napoleonic wars. Crowe is a British Captain who commands a beautiful multi-masted vessel which is sets out on a mission to overtake a French enemy ship. He  pushes his boat and crew to points of almost disaster to achieve his quest.  It’s set in all it’s glory, epic like Gladiator… you can’t help but feel like you’re on the ship.

There were several gripping moments throughout the movie, but there was once scene that connected with me at a deeper level … and I thought… wow this is so relevant!!   I’ll explain…

Manuevering the Storm

The scene comes just after Crowe executes a brilliant naval maneuver and escapes a defensive chase from the French vessel by faking them out … and regains his position of power.   The crew is esctatic and thrilled to be back on the offense vs. the defense.  Then a terrible storm hits and the ship is rolling left and right.  All of a sudden survival is the goal.  Part of the crew are a number of young boys who are preparing for a life on the sea, it was very much part of the times and the expectation of making boys to men.  The storm came on so fast that they did not have time to take down the all the mast sails.  He send up one of the young boys who is popular on the ship to wrap up sails on the biggest mast.   He climbs up, and he’s hanging on for dear life as the ship tosses back and forth.  He looks frightened out of his mind, you can feel his fear.  He struggles while the boat is thrashing around, and yells down for help (and can barely be heard due to the storm), finally the Captain ordered another young boy to climb up and assist.  But just as the second young boy starts the treacherous climb, you hear a huge “CRACK” and then the mast breaks off with the boy attached and it falls into the turbulent sea.

Watching it you feel the horror, hopeful the boy will be saved.  The crew were all yelling to the boy to “swim!!” but you know he won’t make it through the huge wave swells.  The Captain is yelling to the boy, watching him struggle… he is visibly upset because he really liked this boy. But his officer is urging him to cut the ropes to the mast otherwise the whole ship will go down.  The mast is dragging down the whole ship, turning it on its side.  Stuff’s falling out, crew are clinging to what they can as the mast force pulls the weight of the ship down.   As awful as it was, the Captain realized that he needed to sacrifice the one life for the 100 on the ship.  And he grabs a sword and starts chopping at the ropes that is connected to the mast in the water, one by one.  Finally the mast is severed, and the ship rights itself back up.  You can see the boy in the distance sitting on the mast getting further and further away.  His fate was determined.

The Broken Mast

I felt a knot in my stomach watching this scene.  How horrible to make such a life or death decision.  Then something clicked in my mind.  Is there something in my that life represents this broken mast?  What is dragging me down and not letting me right up my ship? With that view of things, I began to relate on a different level.

With the economy being the way it is, I thought it was a good metaphor for the stormy sea.  It’s out of my direct control, and the only way to survive is to batten down the hatches, reduce expenses as much as possible and ride the storm out.  It will eventually pass. Storms always do.

Making tough decisions

It also put focus on the importance of making those tough decisions.  They aren’t easy and when we’re not looking at real life or death, we can postpone those decisions.  The reality is that we are hurting ourselves and others in not making them.  Some times we need to let go of situations, people, jobs, relationships, and so forth. Hanging on to things that are not helping and are dragging us down only perpetuates a situation that needs to be “righted up” like the ship.

We all have difficult decisions to make.  We all need to fill in the blanks for ourselves.  I filled in mine.

What does mast represent for you?