October 09, 2021

01

When it is time to go,
everyone knows it,
and everyone goes.

How do they know it?
We will never get to the bottom of it.
We don't know how we know what we know.

Know it. Do it.

That's the rule.

When we know something needs to be done,
and don't do it,
it cycles around again and again,
until we do it.

Once we break the cycle by doing it,
then we are in the cycle of doing it
every time it comes around,
like the tides
and the seasons.

We are one with the rhythm,
moving with the motion,
swimming with the current,
a part of the flow,
of life and being.

Like migrating birds,
and butterflies,
and salmon.

Everything is a part 
of the movement of life.
Everything knows when it is time
and what it is time for.
All of it knows without knowing 
how it knows,
or caring.

Know. Do.
That's all there is.

Why? Just slows things down.
And why do that?

There is mythos 
and there is logos.
Unconscious knowing,
and conscious knowing.
Reason and logic belong 
to conscious knowing.
Instinct and intuition
belong to unconscious knowing.

Integrating mythos and logos
is a superpower,
allowing us to live on two levels
at once.

Knowing and doing
without worrying about why.
Or how.

Know what it's time for
and do it.
If you are wrong,
it cycles back around.
Keep practicing until you get it down.

Knowing. Doing.
That's all there is.
Like birds on a wire.
Or returning to Capistrano.

–0–

02

Who enjoys the benefits
of your protection?
The comfort of your 
benevolent presence
regardless of the intervening distance?

This is the company
of your companionship
I'm talking about.

Who are your traveling companions?
No matter how far apart you are?
What does the protection
of your presence mean
however far away you are?

Do you keep each other safe
in your thoughts
and kind regard?

Do you guard each other
in your tender mercy?

How tender is your mercy?
And theirs?

How extensive and encompassing
is your protection and compassion?
And theirs?

When you extend to someone
the companionship
of your caring presence--
or withdraw it--
can they tell?

How safe are they in your presence,
whether present or distant?
How safe are you in theirs?

In what ways is your presence--
and theirs--
a blessing and a grace?

Mock companionship 
is no companionship at all.

What shift has to take place
in your perception and orientation,
intention and execution,
for your companionship
to be actual and real,
tangible and true?

For you to be a worthy companion,
in season and out of season,
through all the seasons 
and times of life?

–0–

03

The nature of the journey
makes/requires companions.

We have to be capable of companionship
to make it all along the way.

We do not--cannot--travel alone.

We are comforted,
guided,
protected,
kept safe
by those who have gone before us,
come after us,
travel with us,
from start to finish--
if there is a finish,
which I doubt.

I see us as going on forever
on a trek that has no end,
but is, itself, 
that which we all seek,
and produce by looking,
searching,
inquiring,
observing,
seeing,
hearing,
understanding,
knowing,
doing,
being...
without end.
Amen.