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Making it to Higher Ground – A Planned Path
March 3, 2010 | 1 Comment
Making it to Higher Ground – A Planned Path
Just over five years ago the world watched in horror as a tsunami struck Thailand and surrounding countries with devastating force killing nearly a quarter of a million people. So many were unaware of the signs that could have warned them to get to higher ground in order to save their lives. One of those signs was the ocean water receding to such an enormous degree that the bays and inlets emptied. The eyes of the world stayed fixed as they watched this new disaster replay over and over again on every television and computer screen and implanting the fear of unsafe ground into the subconscious of anyone living close to water’s edge.
Last week another threat of a devastating tsunami came to life following the reports of an 8.8 earthquake striking just off the coast of Chile in South America. I soon remembered how occupied my mind and actions were after the Indian Ocean Tsunami hit. Everywhere I would go, the scenario would play out in my mind as to what path I would take to get to higher ground. Because I live close to the ocean this soon became part of my protective nature to plan a path to safety if I saw the waters recede.
Does it take a disaster in our life, or the lives of others, to force us to plan a path for safety, or are we always looking for higher ground? Years ago I heard a Native American saying that has given me a compass to help keep focused on my responsibility to self. This quote states: “Look to the seventh direction.” The first six directions are North, South, East, West, Earth and Sky. The seventh is simply . . . . . Inside! If life gives you problems don’t cast blame elsewhere but rather “Look to the seventh direction.”
It is up to us as individuals to keep safe ground beneath our feet. This safety I refer to is not only to protect our mortal bodies but also to protect our soul. Sometimes it’s easier to blame others for our circumstance and where we stand, but if problems put us in harms way we need to look inside to our internal compass and do what we must to get back on course. The dangers to ones self are sometimes not seen, or even recognized as the waters recede. Not knowing what those dangers are is different than choosing not to look in the direction from which they come and running as fast as you can possibly go to save yourself from eminent death. If your life is in peril you will scramble to save it. Your efforts will be what are needed in stepping over the debris at your feet, but the higher you climb the clearer the path will become and it will be worth the fight. And finally, as you scramble away from water’s edge and no longer focus on the debris below you . . . look up! There you will find others who have made it to higher ground before you with outstretched arms wanting to pull you to safety. Let them!
In Others’ Words:
“I wish Daddy would come home.”
~ This was spoken by a six-year-old child as she wishfully blew on a
seeded dandelion and watched it’s feathery seeds float into the wind.~
Comments
1 Comment so far
Elaine,
Beautifully written;inspiring words. Thank you for the time you take in your life to reach out to others with the written word.
Your are Awesome!
Sandi