returning to freedom...

a man lived in a country

where there was only good 

he lived there quite easily for 

a long time ...

but eventually began to grow restless within

and then sought to know 

something other than this..

he sought to know what brought pleasure to him

and gave him something to call his own..

he sought to be *known* and given attention

for being who he was

he was not satisfied just being and living in joy

and light as a soul that was not different

he looked to find a way to move into a place that 

he could be like *he* wanted and not 

like the free being way of where he was..

he decided to leave this place of freedom

and seek out a way to bolster himself up

he packed his bags in the evening and began to walk out 

of the place of freedom

a man asked him where he was going 

and he said to somewhere *other* 

for i am not noticed here as the man that i am

i am not recognized here so i must go and find 

that which brings something to me 

that feels better than this..

the man that was living in freedom said 

you have not loved this land of of freedom 

as yourself 

you have set it apart from you and looked away 

from the simplicity and beauty that is here 

this freedom land is very peaceful if one can settle in

and be here, not restless looking about for something 

that is outside of here ...

my friend, you can go if you choose, but know that you will 

encounter a lot of mischief in your soul when you seek to

be something other than this ...

the man that was determined to go said 

i am going away 

i seek to be recognized as someone that is not of this freedom place 

i have nothing here ...

i have nothing that i can call mine ...

i am a nobody and feel very much ready to move on...

okay friend, if you must, but know it will be a long road for you

out there if you are to look away from this land of freedom

because it is in your soul and in your heart 

it is not to leave you...

you leave it, by your choice to be affirmed somewhere in the world..

i am sorrowful for you, but may the best be on your journey...

here is some bread to take --

eat it and remember the land of freedom that is in your heart...

the man took it and said okay, thank you, and left

he walked on quite miserable and in confusion

he ate the bread when he was hungry and when he did 

he remembered the land of freedom

and he longed to go back 

he walked on though looking for a place to be noticed 

and taken in...

he rested very unsettled and felt lonely away from the land of freedom

yet he walked on and on ...

until he came to a house with a light on 

he knocked on the door  --

a lady answered and said, hello, can i help you

the wandering man said, i am so very lost --

i left the land of freedom in search of something other ..

now i am at a loss for what to do...

i cannot forget this land of freedom, yet i desire to be a man of the 

world in which i am recognized and loved and found to be knowledgeable 

the lady said, oh my, you left the land of freedom --

this is not a good thing dear ...

for i have never been there and so desire to go ...

i am so very much wanting to be free and feel at rest...

my heart aches all the time in this place of the world ...

pray tell me how to find the land of freedom...

i am very much aghast that you would leave, for it is my souls desire to go there...

the man broke out in tears and said,

this place i am not sure of how to find again...

i have lost my direction there and have very little energy to seek it out..

can i sleep here and we will find a way to return tomorrow...

the woman agreed 

she found him a nice room and he fell asleep exhausted from his travels

he dreamed of a great white horse that came to him

and looked him in the face and almost felt as if this 

beautiful creature spoke to his soul 

to say -- my friend get on and ride to the place of the sun

where all hearts melt together as one 

where the body is gone and the world that appears as a dream is shed 

and the living light of all is front and center 

(the peace that passes understanding) ..

and the man felt himself to get up slowly and then float onto the horse 

where they rode away at a fast clip...

and though he knew not his way there ... 

the horse found the land of freedom swiftly and stopped at the place so 

familiar and yet so very unknown in the way of being 

completely different than the place he just left...

he got off the horse and greeted all there as if he never left ...

his heart was light, so very light ...

right away he felt the difference of being calm and quiet and not 

bothered so by pulling desires and intrusions of mental waves 

and he said, oh my -- what was i thinking? what was i doing 

desiring to be away?...

for i now have experienced the startling difference

between restless longing and seeking ...

and have no desire to leave this peace that is here 

i am yoked to this 

beauty of o ne everlastingly...

what grace to go away and come back...

my eyes are now open and not complacent --

he walked through the land, like a man of new birth...

and then he awoke with a start --

the sun was rising over the mountains and he could smell food cooking...

he walked into the room where the lady was standing 

the lady said, we can get an early start this morning to head on to our destination

the man smiled and said, yes.....

we will head out today...

and not return here ...

and he ate a hearty breakfast..

a gentle, quiet calm filling him as he ate...
a pure presence coming forward in the very place he sat..
and he laughed to himself...
in knowing this peace is right here
and he need not go anywhere...
yet he got up and took his bags
and said to the lady, let's go...
and off they went...
never to return...