Excuse me for sharing a second newsletter issue this week, but I just wrote a short story and wanted to share it. This is a bit of an experiment, so please leave a comment and let me know whether you want more (or less) of this.
A yellow orb appeared over the raging river, as Dana sat meditating by the water’s edge. Almost as a reflex, he tried to blink it away, but the image persisted.
“What matters most to you?” a voice spoke inside his head. It was like an actual voice, rather than a thought. He knew it was the orb.
Out here in the wilderness, all alone, he felt no need to deny the existence of an imaginary orb. He simply thought a moment and responded, “My kids.”
“So you do everything your kids ask, and you seek to be with them every possible moment?” the orb inquired.
Dana thought a moment. He was often busy and distracted. Work, exercise, surfing the Web, a night out with the guys all competed for his attention. He loved his kids, but also had other priorities. “Being a good person,” he replied.
A portion of the yellow orb dissolved, revealing a red core under its surface. “Were you being a good person yesterday afternoon, when you raced a young couple to get the last loaf of bread in the general store?”
“That was different. I hadn’t eaten anything in 24 hours.”
The orb cleared its throat, or at least that’s how it sounded to Dana. “Do you know the last time they had eaten?”
Dana’s head dropped. “No,” he admitted.
“What matters most to you?” it repeated.
Dana took longer to think, five minutes or more. The orb was patient.
“Getting what I want?” Dana answered tentatively, as though the orb already knew the answer.
A bit of the red layer dissolved, revealing a green layer. It was becoming apparent to Dana that he was peeling away layers of excuses and false assumptions, moving towards the truth.
“What do you want?” asked the orb.
Numerous options flew through Dana’s mind. Love. Joy. Companionship. Great health. Money. Freedom.
They were close, but with a shuddering internal shift, the actual truth slid front and center in his mind.
“Not to be afraid,” Dana admitted.
The green layer opened a window to a smaller blue core.
“That is a correct statement,” said the orb. “Perhaps it is time to seek out the reason for your fear. I will come back another time, after you have had time to reflect.”
That was three years ago. Dana is still reflecting.
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You know the answer Bruce, don't you, keep it up.
I love it -- more, please!