Road Less Traveled

I thought about calling this "things I have learned from my dog."  I'm referencing the way she (Maggie) loves to dig holes. When she digs she is in a fury, slinging dirt everywhere. She recently decided to dig a hole right next to my flower bed that is teaming with beautiful purple Wondering Jew. Much of it became covered in the dirt hiding it beauty and causing it to be weighed down. I realized how much this reflects my life's current state. I started out just kicking a little dirt around aka allowing things and people back into my life that had formally been shut out. It was fun, fresh and I felt in control, but the more dirt I moved the more it resembled a hole. The dirt began to pile up on things I once held dear. Most notable was my authentic self. Once the hole was deep enough I could see where I was losing my freedom.  The dirt had weighed be down and caused me to bend low in order to sustain the weight (burdens) now piled on me. My once bright light was now beginning to dim. I noticed in my flower bed that some stems were lightly dusted and a swift wind would blow off the dirt, and some of it required a strong shake,  but some of it had bent so low that it needed to be broken off in order to save the plant. I see all of these in different areas of my life. The wind of the Holy Spirit blew through enough to allow my now dimmed vision to clear. He spoke to me through a dear friend who could see my pain when I had convinced myself I was utterly useless and fattily flawed. She "shook" me so that the dirt could fall away and allow more light in. Some things will have to be broken off. One really cool thing about the plant is that when you break off a piece you can put it in a glass of water and it will grown roots and can be replanted. So those seemingly broken places in me will be restored to their former beauty but even stronger and better. I'll need to refill the holes but keeping in mind that when you first fill a hole the dirt has to settle and may be unstable until it is packed tight. 

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

By Portia Nelson

I

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

II

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place
but, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

III

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

IV

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V

I walk down another street.