Saturday, July 26, 2008

Impatient Child



Please do not allow yourself to be fooled by the white beard. I ask that you disregard the vocabulary and all that would seem to be unwavering confidence. For I must, in all candor, let you see the truth. There is a part of who I am that is yet, an impatient child. Yes … ‘tis all too true. And I can give you an example of my childlike impatience.


It was in the early morning … dawn had yet to declare itself fully. And I was about my business of considering the significance of life … all of life … and my own individual life as well. I was engaged in a dialogue with the distinct (yet silent to the ear) Voice of Life … as It whispered to my Soul.

You might ask (as many have, well before our time) what language Life speaks in. And I can bear witness to the fact that Life speaks to each of us (in whatever country ... continent ... or nation we inhabit) in whatever linguistic form and style we are receptive to … and open to hearing. Testimony to that truth can be heard in Life’s response to my articulated question on that morning … several years ago. “What is all of this for? Where am I going? To what end is all of the accumulated experience, that I have known?” I queried. And Life responded, not in a dialect familiar to the King James version of scriptures. Nor in any rhythmic rhyme of homiletic agreement.

Life responded in a language … and a form, that delivered Its Truth as a key, that is intricately designed to satisfy the discriminating requirements, of one particular lock. Just as distinctly as any declaration made, by any other companion, in any moment of my life … Life said (gently and softly) “None of your damn business.” And I stopped the van, that I was delivering newspapers from … and laughed. Out loud and with neither hesitation, nor doubt … I laughed with Life. And I understood.

It is all about Trust. Belief and confident faith in Life is what it all revolves around. And if I have that Faith … if I am confident in Life’s worthiness of my trust … knowing where the path is ultimately leading, is, indeed “none of my damn business.” Hence, I have been completely comfortable with all of the bumps, detours, hurdles, and challenges that I encounter … as I faithfully exercise my confident faith, in Life, to tend to whatever Purpose, my living may serve. And it is a wonderfully enjoyable place … that my Soul rests in.

I do, genuinely, live in accordance with the scriptural lesson taught in the fifth and sixth verses of the third chapter of the Book of Proverbs, as it says (to my Heart) “Trust in Me with all of your Heart, John-Michael, and lean not on your own understandings. In all of your ways, acknowledge Me … and I will direct your paths.” And that, My Darling reader, is all that I need to know about “Life’s meaning.” That is everything that I require for my personal GPS guidance in living. I highly commend it to you. That ... guided by Love ... does it for me. (And quiets my inner, “impatient Child.”)


17 comments:

Anonymous said...

John-Michael many times I've looked to the heavens and asked "WHY"? Like you its none of my business. I know someday I will have my answers. In the meantime we go along doing the best we can & loving those around us. If we knew ALL the WHYS, would it make a difference? I doubt it we'd still be us. So I no longer ask why, I accept. Maybe not at first but eventually.

lime said...

i am giggling as i imagine some cartoon of a guru on the mountaintop with supplicants reaching the peak in exhaustion to ask your very question and hearing the guru intone, "none of your damn business." i must be as warped as you. but it's a fun warping.

John-Michael said...

Electing Trust and Faith certainly makes the journey far less stressful. I thank you for your kind visit, Dear Anonymous Friend.

namaste ...

John-Michael said...

We are in complete harmony, you and I, my Dear Lime. I know that you understand well, why I spontaneously laughed when I received Life's response to my intensely 'profound' questioning. It was beautifully perfect!

'Sure do love You ...

Joni said...

Love it! and sometimes it is "none of our damn business"...if we knew the particulars the journey would not be as joyfully interesting and chances are we would bury our heads in the sand...but the present search keeps us curiously intrigued and willing to stretch our minds around all that presents itself to us daily...I like your take on living and particularly the calmness you exude from knowing what patience is all about...truly...your journey's acceptance only adds to the joy of knowing you.

John-Michael said...

I love You, Joni! Yes, indeed, I do. Your arrival is, to my Being, as the arrival of a favorite culinary delicacy, or musical presentation. My Spirit sighs a sigh of pleasant delight. And I celebrate the moment. Thank You, My Darling Friend, for the Gift of your love. You bless me.

namaste ...

SandraRee said...

I struggle with faith of the moment, I struggle because I'm scared that he may not come home safe...but only in my darkest moments. Mostly I keep myself in a good place, looking for the beauty in moments that will show me, that there isn't really any reason why I should struggle. Because what will be, will be. I take comfort in your words, John-Michael. You are a beautiful soul and I thank you for all your wisdom. :)

John-Michael said...

May I take the liberty to confess two weaknesses to you, Fair Sandra? First ... I too, know an awful Fear for our Son. Your Son by birth ... my Son by loving kinship of choice. For I know (as you do) that there are individuals who would intentionally do him harm. Hence I ask Life to shield him.

Secondly ... I know a sense of Inadequacy. For my love and high regard for you compel me to desire a lessening of your burden of fear and concern. Yet I can do no more than care ... and give you all of my Friendship as frail as those seem in the face of all that you face. But, as it is, I am at your service.

Lovingly ...

Anonymous said...

I love the response John-Michael. It really is so perfect. Thanks for sharing. Lisa

Kissing of the Frogs said...

John-Michael,
I am smiling here as I read your entry, because I can just picture you and life speaking! And your description of the account is... well none other than your typical brilliant writing.
Hugs,
Rose

John-Michael said...

My Dear Lisa, your "Thanks for sharing" just brought the joy of my favorite dining experience to mind. I take particular delight in sharing a fine dinner with a lovely lady. Though it has been many years since I have had the pleasure, this shared experience is one that I find particularly intimate and enjoyable. The last time was in a restaurant three floors above the pier on which the establishment was located ... overlooking Tampa Bay. The service (which I took care to inform that the gratuity would be commensurate with what would be expected for two dinners ... and generous) was marvelous. And the combined ambiance and company were magical. Ahhh! Sharing!

Thanks to Life for the recall ... and You, Sweet lady, for the spark!

John-Michael said...

Rose, my Darling, You just simply make me feel good right to the Core of Me! You really do. Knowing the Person who You so beautifully are ... and loving every aspect of your tenderly caring Personhood ... my Being celebrates each visit that we share ... however brief. I love loving you (and am grateful for your much-longed-for hugs.) [smile]

Judi FitzPatrick said...

Thank you for another inspirational post.
Peace, Judi

Suldog said...

That quote from Proverbs so speaks to my own soul, too, J-M. The other (from Isaiah) "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" is sometimes all one can fall back on when the question is "Why?"

Faith, though, as you say, is where it's at. In whatever form you can find it.

John-Michael said...

That passage from Isaiah is another of my favorite reminders from Life Jim. Don't you just appreciate the way that we are encouraged (when we care to listen) to enjoy and celebrate who we are in our individual world of circumstances, opportunities, and contacts ... and trust Life to attend to those matters beyond our realm of responsibility? I find that quite calming and reassuring.

Thank you for joining me in this, My SulDog Friend. I do love every element of your Being.

Cath said...

A wonderful testament of faith if we can follow those words to the letter. I see so much scripture in your post and these comments that you know will warm my heart J-M.
A great writing, with the humour of life nestling within the sentences.

I am sure I commented another time I visited, but I am having a spot of internet trouble. It'll come right in a few days.... *sigh*

John-Michael said...

HiYa, Sweet CathDaughter! I started to say how nice it would be if we could, indeed, live every awareness of life "to the letter." But then reconsidered when realizing how much of what i have enjoyed of living would be lost had I not drifted from that "straight and narrow" course. So ... I'll just happily embrace the realities of my silly predispositions to meandering about ... and enjoy the grace of Life's loving and sustaining me. [smile]

Lovingly ...

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