In a recent dream, I admired the painted steps at a park. The artist had started with a yellow background, then added all sorts of animals: polar bears, lions, and there must have been elephants there too, with colorful flag-like tapestries draped on their backs. I sat on the steps and studied the design thinking,
I could do art like this…..if I had the time.
At least a dozen times, I’ve gone to an art show, or gallery, and said that same line to myself? If I only had the time….
A couple nights later I dreamed about trying to encourage an elephant into my dad’s backyard. It wasn’t working, so I woke up, thinking this was about trying to get Dad to move closer to where I live.
The next night, I was reading, A Second Look at Jesus, written by my friend John Evans. In chapter 5, “Meeting the Guru,” I discovered the following passage:
“Maharishi said that inviting God into our life was akin to inviting an elephant into our modest hut.The inevitable result was a certain amount of destruction. Then it was necessary to build a larger and stronger structure. This process of destruction and reconstruction continued over time until a vast palace was constructed and the elephant was in a properly proportioned and durable environment.”
The destruction that took place in my life at the beginning of this century – from divorce, loneliness, and trying to love the wrong people – was necessary to make room for God to fitย into my life in a bigger way, to make room for new surprises and new directions.
Sometimes we need to knock down walls to make room for something even better.
But knocking down walls can be scary. Can I just add on another room?
Or maybe knocking down walls could be fun and exciting.
I aim to find out.
The elephant photo is from http://pixabay.com/
February 3, 2015 at 3:40 pm
Reblogged this on IdealisticRebel's Daily View of Favorites.
February 5, 2015 at 5:14 am
Thank you! Its an honor to be there.
February 3, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Well there’re some synchronicities!! Elephants, indeed! How often do those crop up in your life (unless you live in the Serengeti) ?. ๐
Stargazer
February 3, 2015 at 6:53 pm
I know, right!
February 4, 2015 at 12:43 pm
Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole.
February 6, 2015 at 2:57 am
Thank you for visiting and for the re-blog!
February 7, 2015 at 4:36 am
Sounds like I could have written this myself. Nice post. ๐
February 7, 2015 at 1:41 pm
Thank you for the affirmation! It’s good to know we are not alone ๐
February 8, 2015 at 10:11 am
I love the analogy of the elephant and the hut. There’s a bit of remodeling going on with my own hut at the moment, and, yes, it’s scary and confusing.
“Can I just add on another room?” ๐ If only.
February 9, 2015 at 2:56 am
It would be nice it we could do the remodeling peacefully, a little at a time, and sometimes we can. But then there are those more dramatic moments when we just need to hang on to our hats! Best wishes in your remodeling adventures, Sarah. Thanks for commenting. ๐