Up from the Ashes
Sadly watching the facade of my old life pass away, I sit silently among the burning flames of my long-held perceptions of how things should be. The reality that I have always claimed as my truth has gone up in smoke, only existing as a smoldering memory of how things used to be. There is nothing left to hold onto, as I see the fire dance around an empty landscape, and I know my only choice appears to be letting go of what no longer is. Being surrounded by this barren place of destruction, I reluctantly begin to envision the possibility of some new creation. I witness the structures of my old beliefs as they burn to the ground clearing the way to make the rising sun more visible.
Resting in this unplanned spaciousness, I ground myself in a posture of “Wabi Sabi”, opening to the inevitability and wonder of this natural cycle of things. The beauty of this unwelcome awakening, rooted in Zen, offers itself to me unconditionally with generosity and compassion. Now, I can choose to look past the devastation of my former reality and finally begin to embody a higher expression that is asking to take root and grow. As I timidly start to welcome this transformative experience, an energy of emotion soars around me, encircling my presence with a vortex of ancient knowing. From this timeless circle of wisdom a miraculous rebirth of my destiny daringly emerges.
After life has cracked me open again and again and those hard losses have burned away the illusions I still stubbornly cling to, I surrender to a vow to keep my weary heart open. Like the resilient phoenix that arises in triumph from the blaze of destruction, I courageously choose to rise with the ashes floating up past the flames. While this challenge of change feels very personal, my open heart assures me that this transformation is felt by everyone on earth. My growth is everyone’s growth and everyone’s growth deeply affects me. The mystery of tragedy and loss becomes the miracle that sustains life for all. And so I peacefully sit amidst the receding fire, that has created such loss, anticipating the wondrous gift of new growth that will surely come …. for me …. and for everyone.
