Love & Distance

So, what is it all for anyhow? They say only you can answer that, but then they go and seek answers anyway. Why does someone else—or something—need to address this question then? Well, why do questions need answers? Is it because things have a beginning and an end? But there is no end, and there really was never a beginning... not one we're aware of at least. Are you telling a story? If so, to who? Are you telling a story to yourself? Are you telling the truth or a lie, or somewhere in between? Are you telling a story to someone else? Are they impressed? Will they even remember? Do you even remember? Okay, so what was the story about then? You might say some variation of “Well, it was about this, that, or the other Thing...” But, what was it really about? Was it about you? Was it about your experiences? Why does any of this matter? “Oh, okay! I get it now my story doesn't matter! You weren't listening anyway!” Alright, what's this all about? “Well, if my story doesn't matter, maybe it's no story at all!” Huh. “My life is just a series of chaotic events that I keep stumbling through one day, one week, one month, one year at a time! It's meaningless? Giving it a narrative gave it meaning! So, there! Are you happy now?! I'm just a dumb animal anyhow.” What about our story? “What do you mean our story? What is that supposed to mean?” Well, if we told a story together, what would the story be about? “Well, I hadn't thought of that.” Take your time. You sure? Absolutely. Ok, give me some time to think. Talk soon. Sure. Bye.

How do you get someone to talk? How do you balk at the phrase emotional comfort when you need it and have never felt it? Emotional Comfort? Huh? What's that... Why am I even sitting here in the lounge with this book, the phone left, left unanswered. Well, enough said. We're done ....

My capital vices. Lust — intense longing, unbridled desire. The least serious capital sin. Gluttony — over indulge me. My indulgence in your own delicacies. Greed — my inordinate desire to possess and sway you. Sloth — lost in the insurmountable acedia you lit my westward red star. Wrath — uncontrollable feelings of anger and rage that washed over me when my journey interrupted by an adversary that would not let go! even the innocent punished — desires of grave harm unbridled. Envy — what do they have that I do not? Lashing out joyfully and rejoicing in hatred of those with more. Pride — the original and worst of the seven — the opposite of humility. How dare they take from me what I spent so long building? It was through Pride that Lucifer became wicked. Pride severing spirit from God. Yet... yet, yet... yet! The Holy Spirit comes with Seven Holy Gifts to bring you back to me. Wisdom — my bride to be. Understanding — the provider of secure attachment, Counsel — without which I am lost between the mountain and the sea. Piety — my immense gratitude to creation and all that has benefitted us. Courage — How else could I ask you to sit on this limb with me on this great tree and watch the sun set with your hand cupped in mine together, your head pressed up to mine resting on my shoulder. And lastly my immense respect for God's place among all this without whom this is all but a fleeting dream and is threatened to forever be only just that. Come, liberate me from this eternal prison I've spent too long in. The dialogue begin anew. Under the auspices of the lady of snows.

Make it obvious You got a Mount Everest Climb it Vibe it Climb me Vibe out With her, and maybe Soon with me

And, what will you have for me today? Some Thing nice! And how will I respond? You decide. Okay, I will decide. Respond with a silly grin, there's another beautiful morning in paradise in store just for you today. There's a man out there working the garden of Eden, and keeping it for you.

Our detachment in the face of adversity. You say I've abandoned you yet Christ says otherwise. He says, “Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’” Like me, He advocates for a form of detachment from the material and a focus on one, yes, that's right, your spiritual priorities. Mine, yours, and that's right, yours. I frequently say, and so does He, come walk with me. We warn against greed and malice and so it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God. Do not resist the evildoer. Turn to God, seek peace and pursue it! Love thy enemies, and pray for those that persecute you. Do good unto those that hate you, and bless those who curse you. I beseech thee, absorb their malice! Detachment from the material is not about disengagement from the world but about not being enslaved by it. Love is an active and engaged practice. Loving one's enemies or responding to evil with good requires detachment from one's immediate emotional or ego- driven reactions. Refrain from your natural base instincts toward retaliation and self-protection. Facilitate love by freeing yourselves from personal grievances, serve others, serve peace, serve God. Detach from sin, selfishness, the fear of loss, it is all already lost otherwise. Come and rescue me.

Dedicating our actions to a higher purpose. The process of using karma to liberate ourselves. Every day acts of kindness. Committed every morning with mindfulness and devotion. Not a process of entanglement, but a process of liberation. The kind activity that frees us. The kind of activity leading us to our higher nature, toward our freedom. Performed joyfully and effortlessly. It is karma yoga. Come practice it with me on this fine morning, sunshine. For your attention is holy. Come spend your soul with me.