Saturday, February 16, 2008

Maybe



Here's a story the Jin Shin Do teacher told our class last week. It's about a man whose only horse ran away. The neighbors came over when they heard the news and said, "What bad luck!" The man said, "Maybe."

The next day the horse came back, and brought 4 wild horses with it. The neighbors came over when they heard the news and said, "What good luck!" The man said, "Maybe."

The following day the man's son rode one of the wild horses, was thrown off and broke his leg. The neighbors came over when they heard the news and said, "What bad luck!" The man said, "Maybe."

The day after that the Army recruiters came to town, but because the boy's leg was broken, they didn't draft him into the army. The neighbors came over when they heard the news and said, "What good luck!" The man said,

"Maybe."



It's an interesting paradox to hold, my situation, I mean, as a lover of signs and portents who understands that all my attempts to interpret these signals are faulty at best. I believe reality is co-created, moment to moment, so how can I see the future? How?

Still I can't resist the temptation to try to understand in which direction I'm headed, even though I don't have a clue whether I'm spot on or way off base. At least I can try, right?


The artist’s will is secondary to the process he initiates from idea to completion. --Sol LeWitt


One reason I love walking the labyrinth is because it's a meandering path. When I started the practice, I often became disoriented as I walked the pattern, even though I knew intellectually that a labyrinth is not a maze. There's one path only on the Chartres style labyrinth. So many twists and turns, though, worse than Highway 1 north of San Francisco.

All the portents of the moment point to huge life changes this year, necessary but rigorous. I talked about these changes all last year but ended up doing nothing. But now it's clear I need to act. I'm trying to imagine that in my life path I've just reached another hairpin turn on the labyrinth. Today's strategy is to slow down on the inside in order to move more mindfully through this swirling pattern of change. Is that a good idea?

Maybe.

21 comments:

Lynne said...

Well, NO maybe's about one thing at least and that is that you ROCK as a photographer! LOVING that last pic of you!

I keep trying to read my future and can't make head nor tails or anything the cards say ... what will be will be...

dennis said...

Dennis is doing super lately! Mercury must be in retrograde! Dennis is always trying to see the future...meal.

kob said...

I absolutely love that photo. On many levels.

Reya Mellicker said...

Thank you!

The mosaic is a huge tree (obviously) on the side of a CVS pharmacy. I believe the junior high school across the street made this with the help of the Capitol Hill artist who has a gallery at S. Carolina and 9th or 10th SE (don't know her name.) It's really cool. Have been trying to get a good pic of it for two years. I like these from today.

Reya Mellicker said...

I mean junior high school STUDENTS made the mosaic.

LadrĂ³n de Basura (a.k.a. Junk Thief) said...

A great post, Reya. That mosaic could pass for SF. I'm often inspired by your attention to detail in your walks of DC, and hope you enjoy my walks in your former hometown. Funny, I am often torn between Unity and First Unitarian of SF -- one appropriately metaphysical but a tad to inward and not focused on social justice, the other so focused on justice issues but seeming not quite focused enough on the spiritual self it takes to make those issues be addressed.

That's a swell photo of you in the mirror. I hope you do more of those. I always love seeing the author!

R.L. Bourges said...

Great shot, Reya.
Best in negotiating whatever the labyrinth throws your way.

Barbara said...

One step at a time. It's always such a good feeling to reach the sweetness of the center of the labyrinth. And then to retrace your steps.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

the maybe story is right on!

as long as we are moving that's the important thing...

love the picture of the gorgeous reya!!

Gary said...

Reya, you are simply smokin' in that photo.

Rick said...

Dog lover, photographer, and so, so easy on the eyes. Nice work.

Steve Reed said...

What a great pic of you!

I too love the "maybe" story. It's all about context and perspective, isn't it??

Reya Mellicker said...

Thank you! I thought I looked bleary and worried in the pic. It's a good one? Excellent!!

Squirrel said...

pretty picture. you do look kinda sexy there.

love the story.

Reya Mellicker said...

Sexy? Go figure. When I look at this pic I see someone like a cartoon character who has just been hit over the head with a baseball hat. My eyes look like red spirals and I see birds, exclamation points, stars, etc. flying and dancing around in an orbit around my head, at the level of the third eye.

You guys see sexy? Wow! See? Perception is completely subjective. There is no spoon.

Reya Mellicker said...

Baseball BAT.

See what I mean?

Hammer said...

Great post all around. There are a few different ways to look at that parable and although all are valid, I'll have to be sure to ask you about it next time our paths cross.

Reya Mellicker said...

Thank you, Hammer! Wow.

Look forward to bumping into you in the middle of the Maze of Grace that is this life.

(Thanks to Lee for the term Maze of Grace ... should it be Maize of Grace??) It would be such a great blog name.

Moonroot said...

I LOVE those photos! You look beautiful - but then again you always do.

Gary said...

Reya, yesterday I was babysitting a four year old and brought him to B&N. While he was playing with the trains there I read some books I was unfamiliar with. One of them was Zen Shorts by Jon J Muth. The beautiful art work caught my eye but as I read I came across your "Maybe" story! It is included in the book along with two other teachings. Isn't it funny that I read this after reading your post. Anyway, you might want to check out the book and his other one Zen Ties.

Reya Mellicker said...

Doesn't seem weird to me!