“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.”
- Bob Marley ‘Redemption Song’
It was a turning point - one of those pivotal moments in a life that remain etched in your mind forever. The elderly gentleman sat across the table from me; others were present, also, but in that moment, only his eyes locking onto mine existed; all else, including the others, receded into a hazy background.
A patch of bad fortune had recently fallen upon me, but as often happens, my bad fortune was quickly followed by good fortune. First, was falling down an unseen rabbit-hole that challenged my mortal invincibility and questioned my immediate survival, then, followed by the good fortune of an older man whom I trusted, just ‘happening’ to arrive --- from 2000 miles away - Mexico.
Tlakaelel, an elder made wise through 90 years of life experience, had befriended myself and my family a number of years before. That was a previous good fortune - that somehow our paths from Mexico to Michigan would cross and a bond forged. His guidance and friendship had meant much to me throughout the years - but it all felt as if it had been leading up to this point - this single moment. His words became a guide to me out of the darkness. Nothing more than this needed saying, and in fact, I remember nothing more than these words from that visit. These were my marching orders. Five years later, they continue to be. Like seeds planted deep inside of me, I tend them daily, some days better than others, but tended nonetheless - essential truth to be embodied during hard and difficult times:
“If you are enslaved, do not be a slave. If you are imprisoned, do not be a prisoner.”
On this day, these words were planted deeply inside me - and thus began the Restoration of one man: body, heart, mind and spirit.
5 comments:
Ah, the magic of the unseen world at work. Call it destiny or whatever, it is real. And you picked up the lesson, the baton, and relay the message in a beautiful and inspirational way.
Blessings to you, el po. Thank you for the inspiration.
Thanks, SW - Synchronicity, being another word perhaps. If my eyes and ears are open, if I show up, if I respond and engage the moment - then some amazing synchronicities unfold. All I've gotta do is show up. But then it's equally amazing how many prefer to remain asleep at the wheel. As always, nice to share the road with another traveler who chooses to be awake! Happy Trails to you >>>>
Amazing, El Po. This will stay with me. Thank you,
may
you're welcome, May.
Enjoy that Texan sun -- we're still waiting up here. But those words about not giving in apply here, also, right? One more opportunity to practice not being defined by circumstances.
Thanks for stopping by and visiting.
still sending some sunny rays your way. at least it's daylight savings time tonight, right? of course if there's no daylight to begin with, then what's the point? i've never understood the point of that anyway....seems like a funny thing to save...
c'mon spring, c'mon!
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