THE RIVER
THE HERACLITUS’ EPIPHANY:
No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.
THE RIVER:
That symbolic metaphysical place in our Soul that CHALLENGES our consciousness and very IDENTITY. Like all rivers, it can be wide and deep or shallow enough to sluggishly WADE ACROSS. But make no mistake- IT IS A BATTLEFIELD, where COMBAT takes place (thus the pic), and our ACTIONS determine if we are ALIGNED WITH OUR CORE VALUES. If we erroneously identify with a FALSE SELF, we can quickly succumb to THE RIVERS strong whirlpool of undercurrents (temptations). In its treacherous rising waters, we can be instantly PULLED DOWN (manifesting Wrong Thinking & Wrong Actions) and the sudden drop-offs can cause foot entrapments (stuck in habitual repetition of error). If we do NOT learn to CAUTIOUSLY cross THE RIVER with spiritual READINESS, we can easily drown in Hypocrisy and Self-Condemnation.
“When you can clearly recall that moment-
life ripped out your gut.
When your tire tracks
keep bringing you back-
to that same ole rut.
When what you vowed to and swore by-
you, yourself, betrayed.
When the world became imbalanced-
and your faith turned afraid.
When your knees buckled-
& the sword dropped from your hand.
When panic ruled the day-
& your convictions relinquished command.
When a second guess challenges-
every decision you ever made.
When a Dark Hour demoralizes-
& a False Self charades.
When fatigue took its toll-
though the finish line’s in sight.
When self-blame broke your soul-
and your wings refused flight.
When there’s so many things
you would change-
but none can be atoned.
When it was all for naught-
& all you want now, man, is go home…
To just go home.”
-Ethoas (Lyrics from Offa that Ground)
THE HUMAN DILEMMA:
As flawed as we are, how can we learn- from our past sins, missteps, mistakes, blunders, lapses, transgressions, errors, misdeeds, missing the marks, failures, and past unskillful actions?
LIFE LESSONS:
Aeschylus, the ancient Greek tragedian, said, “Wisdom comes through suffering.” Truly, Falling from Grace is undeniably painful, but it can glean a unique perception that ONLY striking the VERY BOTTOM can UNVEIL! Where else can you find THE HABITAT of Acceptance and Self-Forgiveness? What other mental atmosphere can these ATTITUDINAL SHIFTS take place in? (Think about THAT for a second)… If we can just drudge through the NON-JUDGMENTAL PROCESS (Not easy to do ☹, but IMPERATIVE)- paradoxical insights (wisdom) will manifest. Given this, our past failures can either make us foolishly repeat them, or they can MOTIVATE US TO SURMOUNT them, by LEARNING FROM THEM.
In my song called SO IT SEEMS, I introspected, “I guess I had to break-down, to break it all down.” Indeed, through my own gut-wrenching wrong-doings, I have reluctantly ascertained the following truths:
1.REGRET, (although a natural response of conscience), shackles us to the VERY SIN that caused it, prevents Inner Peace, and impedes the POWER OF MOVING FORWARD.
2.Where there is PERIL- there is OPPORTUNITY: Behind the Temptation to Transgress, lies the Possibility to Transcend!
3.Transformation can only take place if there is RECTIFICATION.
4.Sin (Wrong Action) and the manifestation of a False Self- IS ALL PART of the Liberation Process, NO ONE is immune to it…..No one…NO ONE!
5.The very thing that defeated you yesterday, will MOTIVATE YOU to defeat it today.
6.Knowledge is power, but the Greatest of Powers come- when you LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES, thereby annihilating the repetition of error!
7.To Learn from your mistakes- means REFORMATION, and Reformation is ASCENSION, which is always forged by fire! You MUST FIGHT FOR IT!
P.S. Eph 4: 22-23: “You were taught to put away the old personality that conforms to your former course of conduct and that is BEING CORRUPTED according to its DECEPTIVE DESIRES. And you should continue to be made new in your DOMINANT mental attitude and should put on the NEW PERSONALITY.”
B.P.S. No man ever enters the same RIVER twice- for it is a different day, a different time, and they are a different man. The REFORMED do NOT fear THE RIVER, for they know- Everything is different now, because THEY ARE DIFFERENT- & that, my friend, makes all the difference…from the Lookout Post.