Footprints in the sand

Flip Flops in the sand

I took a journey.  I took a journey that I had been preparing for all my life.  It was the most important trip of my life and it began in darkness.

I walked into the darkness.   

I knew I had to do it.  I knew I had to walk into the darkness like never before.  There was help to guide me through though.  Mighty Help.  Deep Pervasive Blue Eyes that I could see in my mind’s eye, and behind them an Angel of magnificence standing by my side.

I was instructed to go into an alley.  It was so dark that I could not see what was in it, or to the other side.  This is the darkness that must be overcome, and fully experienced, in order to emerge.  What will be on the other side I was told will be far more beautiful than I can even imagine? 

So I started to walk into the alley but was stopped.  The Angel said I must remove all my clothes before I went in.  And fear was welling up.  I will be fully exposed, naked, and vulnerable to anything.  I gathered up all my courage.  I held tight to the belief that the Angel would somehow stay with me.  I told myself if I started to get afraid I would see those Blue eyes and feel comforted.  I started in and again the Angel stopped me again.  He said you can wear these and handed me a pair of flip flops.  Little help I thought but I was grateful and said thank you! 

As I started in. It immediately became very dark.  I turned around in uncertainty and still saw the lighted place I was leaving.  I took another step and suddenly all the light was gone.  This was it.  There was no turning back.  As I started to walk deeper into the darkness of the alley I realized that I must be walking in sand, like on a beach.  My flip flops were sinking into what felt like wet sand.  It was totally dark now and even the sounds of the outside world had gone away. 
Every fear in the world came into mind.  I continued in and took another step.  Then I took another and another.  I thought, what if there is someone in here with me, a mugger or an animal or something far more dark and sinister?  I was overcome with every feeling of loneliness, unworthiness, self pity, and shame I had ever had.  I took another step and fell right into a whole.  It wasn’t too deep but I skinned my knees.  My elbow was bleeding and I could feel the blood dripping down.  I sat up, naked in the darkness and called out for help!  Please someone help me.  No one answered.  Still somehow I felt the presence and protection of the Angel.  Even though I could not see him, I did not hear him, I felt his presence.  

So I stood up and started out of the whole.  As I got to the top, not knowing which way to go, I heard a sound.  It scared me to my very core.  It was a slight hissing.  It seemed to be getting louder, closer, and then I heard a rattle.  God help me I think it’s a rattle snake.  I had no clothing except the flip flops which had remained on my feet.   I turned away from it and started in the opposite direction.  To my relief the hissing and rattling began to fade away as I ran blind into the darkness. 
I began to slow down again and continued to walk.  I walked what seemed like hours listening intently for any other sounds that might alert me to some unknown danger.  I put my arms up in a defensive posture and tried to protect myself if I ran into anything. 

Just when I began to feel a little bit more confident I tripped over something.  It was in front of me and again found myself sitting in the sand.  My toe was throbbing now.  How can I make it.  I don’t even know where I am or where I’m going.  How can life be so cruel and leave me so miserable.  I thought about all the things I did not have.  I thought about all the opportunities I had missed or blown.  I thought about how everyone else seemed to have all the things in their lives that I wanted.  Why was I denied all those things.  Why would God do this to me?  And why would God let our world become so messed up?  Why was there such injustice in my life and in the world?  It was totally unfair.   I became angry.  Now I was angry on top of being frightened, scared, and alone in a dark alley with who knows what else I would come upon. 

Determined now more than ever, I stood up again.  I dusted the sand off myself, keenly aware that now my knee hurt, my elbow was bleeding and my big tow was throbbing.  I limped on.  I imagined what it might be like if my life was different.  If I had all those things in my life that I wished I had had.  I though how wonderful it would be to not have to worry about money.  How wonderful it would be if I had a perfect relationship.  How wonderful would it be to be if I was able to do the things I had always dreamed of doing.  I kept on going. 

I don’t know how long I walked from there, reaching out into the darkness with my hands.  I reached out into the darkness with all the senses I could imagine I had.  I visualized a barrier of protection surrounding me.  I visualized that Angel walking next to me.  I took step after step into the unknown. 

Then I felt another strange sensation.  It was like a cool breeze blowing in my face.  It smelt sweet with the aroma of fresh flowers.  Roses.  It smelt so wonderful that my heart opened and I began to feel confident.  I felt confident that I was reaching the other side of this alley way and I would soon see light.  I walked on.  Each step it took I felt somehow lighter.  Each step I took the fears and the pain of all I had endured seemed to wash away.   I became aware, as I began to see a faint light up into the distance, that there was another presence beside me but I could not see.  It was not threatening.  It did not bring up any fears.  It seemed to be somehow reassuring and comforting.   I walked on toward the light.

As I stepped out of the darkness and into the light of the new world it was breathtaking.  The colors of the sky and the plants were like a pastel masterpiece painted in reality.  Everything seemed to vibrate.  There was an unmistakable hum emanating from everything.  Even the rocks seemed to be alive and vibrating with pure joy.  My heart was uplifted.  My fears were gone.  I felt renewed and confident about the future.  I was not just confident about my future but the future of the world.  I felt as if nothing could stop me or for that matter the rest of humanity from emerging from the darkness as I just had. 

I turned around and looked back at the alley way I had just come from only to discover it was now fully lit up.  And when I looked back I could see my own footprints.  The flip flop markings left in the sand stretching back for miles.   And then I began to laugh.  I saw that the flip flops had left more than just flat marks in the sand.  Each step along the way impressed into the sand spelt out, “Thank You”…”God”  As I walked each step, my left foot printed in the sand “Thank You” and then my right foot printed “God”  

I turned back toward the lighted world and realized too that I was now fully clothed and there standing beside me was the Angel with piercing blue eyes.   He stood tall and clothed in white and golden robes.  He said “You have emerged from the darkness and never again will you have to carry the weight of your past.  All that you have lived through, all that you have experienced has brought you here right now.  Look at yourself.  What do you see?   How do you feel?” 

Quietly and intently I looked at myself.  I looked at my hands.  I looked at my body.  I saw what appeared to be scales or flakes on my skin falling away.   I looked down and saw the empty skin of the snake I had run from.  I had outgrown the skin of my past and had emerged  into a new enlightened world.   I could feel  vibration in every bone, every muscle, every cell of my body.  It was humming like everything else that was around me.  It felt as if there were no separation between me and that we were all connected and part of a oneness which was everything. 

I looked back at the Angel and he smiled.  “Now you have a task to do.  Now you must, as you fully realize your connection to everything and everyone, shine your light unhindered.  You must realize that any time you block yourself in any way from shining your light, you are depriving the world of the light is so very much needs right now.  The illusions of lack and limitation and all the fears that go along with those feelings are like dark shadows which prevent the sun shining down upon the world.  You are a part of God.  You are a magnificent be-ing of Light and Love.  We have been with you every step of the way on this very long journey and will not abandon you now.   As a part of God you are given unlimited everything.  There is no end to what you may co-create here right now.  Keep your focus on that which will uplift and inspire yourself and others.  As you do you will be uplifting the world.  Keep your thoughts, words and actions in alignment with Love and kindness.  Be forgiving of others, all others, even those whom you may feel undeserving for they too are, as you are, a part of the oneness of God.  The world is a better brighter place because you are in it.  You are so very loved.  You are important and valuable and make important contributions to this world.  It is time to awaken to take on your most honored place in this planets emergence from the darkness.  May the Blessings Be”

I turned to the Angel and said “Thank You” … “God”

I stepped forward confidently and with purpose.