Let Spirit Lead

Stay Open

“I will write my way into another life.”

Ann Patchett (Truth and Beauty)

Have you ever changed direction completely without meaning to? Sometimes, we arrive to now by different route than any we would have selected. Droves of people have staggered, stumbled and fallen into their current circumstances only to find they are happier than ever being where they are. I know numerous people who plan their lives carefully, have a straight trajectory from there to here, and never waiver. Some of them are content, and some of them are just going through their lives on autopilot. Recently, I've talked with a number of people who are truly burned out with their jobs, tired of their lifestyle altogether, but won't make a change for fear of what might come, or not come, next. Fear blocks all forward movement.

To live a creative life, we have to stay open to possibilities. We have to let go of control, and let spirit lead us to what comes next. It's like pinning a butterfly to try to grab hold of the rudder, and steer the ship. Something truly bad happens to the butterfly when you do that. Sometimes spirit leads us to stay, sometimes, to move on, and if we don't follow, spirit leaves. That's when we feel flat and disaffected. What we can't do is squash the desire to do something different and unplanned because it's inconvenient.

My friend, Renae, and I talked this week about the muse, and how mercurial it is. It will come, light on you as an inspiration, and if you fail to act, it will simply move on. We sometimes remember years later “that great idea I had” only to find someone else has done it. We may have a strong urge to go to a particular place, though we don't know why we want to go there. It's as though it pops up out of the ether and stares us in the face. We can choose to ignore it, or we can choose to take the adventure of going. Who knows what might happen if we follow that urge. As Helen Keller said, “Life is either a great adventure or nothing.” Trust spirit to lead and you will discover the truth of that.

                                                         In the Spirit,

                                                            Jane