For the Desert

Published on 2020-7-15 by Michael Stanton

I enter the desert.
I take only what will survive the journey.
I leave behind or cut away what will not serve.

I know that I am not alone. My Lord guides me.
Those Powers-Who-Do-Not-Interfere watch me.
They lift my strength when I flag.
But they will take no steps.
I must take each step.
This is their gift of Perfect Freedom for me.
For us.

It is joyful to step out alone!
You know it, you who read this far.
I see you, and hold you in esteem.
Your journey is already begun.

Why did we find ourselves here?
Because we wanted to serve that which Made us.
We have felt one emotion above all others: Gratitude for What Is.
For how we were shaped.
For the ways lead becomes Gold.

What do we want?
We want that others discover this gift.
The moment of joy, when they stand alone, yet in Never-Alone.
When Time falls away from them and the sun beams on and through them.

Now they are a sun. A small one. But forever a sun.
These things grow, by their nature.
"We" are transitional. We exist to birth the Highest that we can conceive.
And we die gladly in that birth.

If this saddens you, think!
When you were moved, late that night, under stars.
When you made fierce promises.
It was a glorious death you sought, like warriors of old.
Could you have but transformed yourself right then into the sustaining
Fire, Water, Air and Earth
that held you in exquisite balance,
you would have done so.
At the snap of your fingers!

That it didn't happen then meant you had more to learn.
More to do.
Cycles around the sun.

Every being that begins the journey has these impulses, these moments.
My heart pounds and my breath quickens to behold it in them.
They begin to Climb.
Carrying their Imperfections.
Limping slightly, yet with hearts pure.

The first, faltering step is the most important one.
And the one most full of honor.
For THAT ONE is furthest from the Son.
In THAT ONE doubts gnaw.
Yet he does not fail to be kind.

Higher on the peak, it is easier.
You can rest along the way.
You have found Certainty.
At this point your honor is less than she who takes the first step.
You have been given gifts she knows nothing of.
What will you do now?
How will you truly serve?