We are here to be who we are and do what is ours to do. And we know what that is, but we can be sidetracked by things that are attractive to our eye and a torch to our desires, and led far from the path that is our path to take, and come to ourselves years later, lost in the wilderness with no idea of where to go from here to find our way to where we need to be, and would have been, if only we had consulted the emptiness, stillness and silence and done what we knew to do but ignored in our quest for happiness and high times NOW!
The story of the Garden of Eden is not about sin, it is about the danger of wanting the wrong things, of caring about things that are not important at all. We have to sit with the silence in order to discern what matters and what does not matter, and give ourselves to the service of the things that are true to ourselves and express who we are and do what is ours to do. We have to know and do what is “US” and avoid doing what is “NOT US.” And that is all there is to it. But how often is it done in every generation? And here we are, lost in the wilderness, not knowing where to turn.
The way is always the same. When we don’t know where to turn or what to do now/next, turn to the emptiness, stillness and silence and wait to see what stirs, arises, appears, occurs, happens there in the way of guidance and direction and something calling our name. And do what seems to be called for. And see where it goes.
Jim Dollar's Photography and Philosophy 