by Digger Barr
https://gaiasgardens.guru/
Kick, Glide. Kick, glide.
Have you ever decided to swim across a body of water?
Maybe a lake or a pond? And when you get to what you think may be the middle, you stop so you can look around.
You calmly treed water and spin to see where you have been and then look to where you are headed.
There are a couple good reasons to do this.
One of course is to enjoy the view from the middle of the lake, or the journey as it were.
Another is to get your bearings so you know where you are headed and what is still ahead of you.
It is so easy to get off course from point A to B.
And this means it will take longer to reach your destination.
If a course correction is in order it’s better to know before you arrive.
Halfway is the ideal place for this.
You might not be half way. Sometimes it’s difficult to see or judge how far it is to go.
And distance isn’t the only factor in how long it will take to arrive.
It will depend how well you can swim, what stroke you choose and how good of shape you’re in. How often do you stop to rest?
And in large part your progress depends on the placidity of the water itself.
Are there other obstacles like boats tearing up the water’s surface creating waves and turmoil?
Will you run into stands of seaweed or flock of birds?
There are many variables to take into account when considering a seemingly straightforward task.
Have you picked the best place to arrive?
A nice stand up beach or dock with a ladder to climb?
Or is the landing a jumble of rocks that will need to be navigated?
Can you steer away from the sheer rock face cliff towering above the water’s surface?
Or does a prevailing wind drive you straight into a crop of reeds or pile driftwood?
What seems simple as a solo endeavor gets complicated quickly when conditions are not ideal.
When best plans go array or outside interference steps in, how do you react?
What is your contingency plan?
Or perhaps it goes smoothly until you reach the middle of the lake and then as you pause to re-access, complications come into your awareness.
When swimming as we all know, it is best not to panic.
This will be the least desirable situation.
Keep a cool head and stay determined, reset your goal and head for it.
The middle of the lake is no place to change your mind in doing what you are doing.
Naturally, I am speaking about the US elections.
Of course I am.
This is the greatest story being written as we live and breathe. (Harry Potter anyone?)
It is the center ring in a 3 ring circus. A five ring circus. A multi ringed circus.
So many layers, who knows how many rings are connected.
Does it matter how many rings there are?
We are here. But we have been here before.
Twice before recently.
The first time, 2017, we arrived nicely at a dock and climbed up the ladder and stood and waved at all the support along the way.
Last time, 4 years ago, boats crisscrossed the water cutting us off.
The manufactured turbulence drove us into the reeds then head first into a sheer rock faced wall.
We were denied our quest and the victory of our journey.
After an emotional and physical challenge, chaos kept us from the shore.
In retrospect we can see that cool heads prevailed.
We did not drown. We dove underwater.
We, in fact, became stronger swimmers.
And apparently, we had time to perfect our strategy.
But this story is also about us.
The small lettered ‘us’.
And this is the us that involves everyone no matter where they live.
We are the ones swimming across the lake. This is our journey too and we get to choose how we want to do it.
Wear a life vest, carry a swim board or put your face in the water and breathe in sync with each stroke.
We can choose to swim together helping each other with encouragement and shared guidance.
Others may find themselves making it a solo trip.
These folks are strong and become one with the water.
They appear to have an internal honing device that gives them everything they need to find the welcoming shore.
Solo or in mass, it is happening.
No one needs to drown.
A team has arrived on shore and is showing us where an ideal place to land will be.
We can adjust our sights from the middle of the lake or start the swim from the beginning.
Wherever we are at in our journey, know that the rough waters will subside.
You may not even like the landing crew but they respect the journey you have yet to embark upon.
Maybe the water is not placid quite yet.
And it does kind of feel like there is a huge jet boat hiding somewhere offshore revving its engines just to be a spoil sport.
Honestly, I think we can handle it at this point.
We have surfaced to re-access our position and are closer to shore than we knew.
We have traversed the deepest part of the channel.
Stand up.
Actually, We may no longer need to swim.
Find your footing. Take a well deserved breath.
Stand in the shallows and be the encouragement others can use.
Once you get back on your feet and have a look around, new questions will arise.
When we arrive at the welcoming shore and our regular breathing has returned, what will we do next?
When we have truly arrived it will beg the question, now what ?
The swim was tough and we put every ounce of energy into it.
Why did we do it?
Did you haul all your baggage with you?
Or did you use this time to shed your weights and swim free and clear ?
How much lighter do you feel?
However you choose to answer these questions or come up with a few of your own, take time to reflect on the immensity of our quest.
The immensity of our success.
Be in awe.
Just for a moment, Kick and glide.
Give yourself the gift of perspective.
Then be in awe again!
Digger2024