The Walk

Dear Reader ~

You may notice that I have returned from a sort of "sabbatical". Actually, and obviously, I had periodically put on hold my contributions to the world through these blog posts. However, each apparent sabbatical has brought me closer to where I am today. So, being here together, with me in my overstuffed Victorian red chair and you wherever you may (or may not) be seated, I offer my latest thoughts which I entitle, you may have already noticed, "The Walk".

To begin (again), I wish to point out a few things. First, I will write as if I truly believe that I have sight and understanding which has enhanced my own life. Second, I believe that my writings and the way your various minds interpret that which you read from what I offer through my blog (or elsewhere) may uplift and enhance YOUR vision and, thus, future life. Third, I realize that with a simple stroke or swipe you may clear my words from your view and, thus, me from your life. Fourth, I am at peace no matter who does or does not read, value, accept and act upon that which I write. :-)

All of the above serves as a mere preamble to this and all future posts.

Many have exposed (before me) that we are each, individually and collectively, on a "journey" of sorts. It is stated that the character commonly known as "Jesus" talked about being "the way" in which to maneuver through this journey. Many today reference "the path". I propose (using the words of poet T. S. Eliot) that: "We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." Although lost and mired in darkness (a.k.a blindness, unconsciousness, misunderstanding), each human being is "spiritually" walking a path to do just that: arrive back where he began.

Like salmon, each one has buried deeply within a "homing device" which, when listened to and heeded, allows for the journey to most efficiently lead them to that place of spiritual origin, our "spiritual spawning". However, being turned down to a level beyond sense, most wander around spiritually "deaf" or "past feeling" (of an "unsound mind") and are, thus, easily drawn away into temporary tantalizing distractions. More and more "experts" are touting their viewpoint as a correct revision to mankind's faltering steps. Being "blind", mortals look to these often "lettered" and validated-by-others "experts" as "eyes" to see for them in their blindness. However, all have fallen in spiritual ditches together.

I will dare to appear arrogant enough to state that I can (am able to) Truly "see" and also that I desire (Truly want) to show any interested "a better way". After all, again using Elliot's words: " Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"

With all the "experts", parents, churches, schools, doctors, lawyers, governments, organizations, books, seminars, channelers, hypnotists, gurus, etc. all providing more or less polluted direction, I will attempt to lend my own eyes (understanding) to assist you, Dear Reader, in your walk.

Symbolically presented, yet often having been interpreted as actual fact, another ("Jesus") who presented himself as having "eyes that see", walked with two others (his "disciples") along their journey. The story is told in Luke 24: 13-35 as occurring in the evening of the day of Jesus' resurrection. According to the story, the two disciples have heard that the tomb of Jesus was found empty earlier that day. They are discussing the events of the past few days when a stranger asks them what they are discussing. "Their eyes were kept from recognizing him." He soon rebukes them for their unbelief and shares with them prophecies about the Messiah. On reaching Emmaus, they ask the stranger to join them for the evening meal. When he breaks the bread "their eyes were opened" and they recognize him as the resurrected Jesus. Jesus immediately vanishes. Cleopas and his friend then hasten back to Jerusalem to carry the news to the other disciples, and arrive in time to proclaim to the eleven who were gathered together with others that Jesus truly is alive. While describing the events, Jesus appeared again to all who were there, giving them a commission to evangelize. Then he took them out as far as Bethany and blessed them before ascending back into heaven. A similar event is mentioned in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 16:12) although the disciples' destination is not stated.

Okay, now to expose the grand (yet veiled) mystery. Emmaus, whether ever in actuality a "real" place (which "experts" debate), means "warm spring". Again, like salmon, each of us were spiritually spawned (which I will unfold at a later time) in what may be referred to as a "warm spring". It is this originating point of being that each of us, subconsciously, is seeking to return to. Emmaus in some earlier versions is written "Oulammaus" which is, also symbolically, the place where the Old Testament Patriarch "Jacob" was visited by God in his dream while sleeping on a rock and received his vision often entitled today: "Jacob's Ladder". Additionally, it is proposed, the original name for this destination point was "Luz" (in Hebrew), meaning "light".

Using and unveiling commonly used metaphors and scriptural-ease, I will attempt to present "the way" it really is. :-)

Before I do, however, I will share with you a fable given by a collective entity commonly known as "Aesop" and called: "The Man, The Boy, and The Donkey":

A Man and his son were once going with their donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: "You fools, what is a donkey for but to ride upon?" So the man put the boy on the donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides." So the man ordered his boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along." Well, the man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his boy up before him on the donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said: "Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours and your hulking son?"

The man and boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.

"That will teach you," said an old man who had followed them.

(The moral of this Aesops Fable: "Please all, and you will please none.")

Like puzzle pieces from a grand collective puzzle, each of us are part of one great "body of Christ". Additionally, each of us have become smeared and covered ("veiled") by our acceptance of others' definitions of who we are and "should" be... until we fail to recognize even ourselves, take up a different character and role and engage each other in a mortal drama often viewed as a grand "tragedy". The only way to re-discover who we, individually, are and to "wake up" from our cosmic delusion (re-member the body of Christ, or properly and cooperatively put the puzzle together), we each must experience a "broken heart and a contrite spirit". To have our heart broken is easy. All it takes is interaction with each other to achieve that... repeatedly, it might seem. To achieve a "contrite spirit" (contrite means "rubbed") is to allow our self to become, again, "like a little child" and humbly realize that those to whom we previously looked for guidance were just as blind as we were. We "rub" or "polish clean" each facet of our inner eye ("puzzle piece") to where we can gradually, step-by-step, regain our way out of the ditch and back onto our corrected path, finally and again making our way closer to our original starting point. THEN, we can join with each other cleaned-up piece and assemble ourselves together... CORRECTLY! (As ONE "Body of Christ".) In essence, becoming un-blinded, we spiritually "strip ourselves naked" and without shame continue walking with more and more self confidence.

Again in Luke (8:17) we find that "there is nothing hidden that won't be made manifest".

So now, Dear Reader, I wish to expose (make plain, unveiled) what is really meant by walking the "Road to Emmaus" or, climbing "Jacob's Ladder" or accessing the "Stairway to Heaven". Before I do (which will be in future posts), I would encourage each dedicated seeker of truth to read, ponder and study the following words which are from the Inspired Version of Matthew 5.

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1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain to teach unto them the things which the Father had commanded of him; and when he was set in the place where he would teach the people, he called forth his disciples and they came unto him that they might hear more clearly the things that he would command the people, so that they could teach these same things unto the people as they had been given authority to do.

2 And after he had presented his disciples before the people, he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water, if ye repent and believe on the things which I shall give unto you from my Father; and after that ye are baptized with water, which is the covenant ye shall make before God that ye shall do the things which I shall command you this day; behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost, which shall cause you to know that the things that I shall give unto you are true. And this fire shall burn within you, giving you a remission of your sins by the peace that ye shall find in your souls. For ye are poor in spirit and seek for the kingdom of heaven. And it is this kingdom that I shall give unto you this day.

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me and learn that which the Father hath given me for them; for their spirits shall be filled and they shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 And again, blessed are they that mourn because they seek for more righteousness, but cannot find it in the doctrines and precepts of men which they have been given; for they shall be comforted by the words which I give unto them this day.

5 Blessed are the meek who seek to do the will of the Father in all things; for they shall inherit the earth that hath been prepared for them.

6 And blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness in meekness and lowliness of heart; for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost who shall teach them all things.

7 And blessed are the merciful who love others and extend to them no judgment for what they do, which is evil; for they shall obtain mercy for that which they do, which is evil.

8 And blessed are all the pure in heart who in righteousness seek to know God and His ways, that they might understand truth, and not to consume it upon their lusts as do they who are impure; behold, they shall know God.

9 And blessed are the peacemakers who contend with no man over doctrine. Yea, these shall come to know the true doctrine, and then they shall be called the children of God.

10 And blessed are they which are persecuted and mocked by others because of their righteous works; for they shall find their peace and happiness in the kingdom of heaven.

11 And blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, because of that which ye do for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad in your persecutions and afflictions; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you, who I sent unto the people to teach them these things; for your reward shall be given you from heaven by receiving peace and comfort from the Spirit of God.