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Creating Bridges: Spirituality & Philosophy:
The Conscious Column
Turn Around
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by David Ault |
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Last year I wrote a personal pledge of allegiance that debuted in my Meta Arts July 2004 column. In reviewing it, I decided to expand on each of the twelve points for a future book. Here is the first pledge and how I apply it today.
Turn Around
I pledge allegiance to breaking the self-imposed barriers of my humanness. I recognize that my time on this planet is precious and limited. Every day is a canvas on which I can create. Everyday is an opportunity for me to move in the direction of the dreams and the expanded vision I feel inside. By setting aside petty grievances, past mistakes, righteous anger and my broken story, I pledge to move forward and embrace the experience of freedom right here and right now.
It was a strange perspective. With the hidden cargo seat flipped upright, the one who lay claim to it had a direct view out the rear window. No matter what the make or model, most station wagons of the 1960?s had this feature and our old rusted, Pontiac was no exception. As a child, it felt somewhat private and fort-like to crawl back there and claim it as one?s own. I could color or roll a metal toy car along the windowsill while periodically gazing at the cars that traveled behind us. I could sometimes manage a wave or smile from the driver following which for me, was as big a thrill as getting a big rig driver to toot his cacophonous horn.
This day, my dad and I, along with a stray dog I had befriended a week earlier, made our way down a dirt road that jettisoned the wide, marshy fields that dominated the rice growing regions of Southeast Texas.
The dog, who I was hard-pressed to pin a name on, continually rubbed his black moist nose into my hand in an attempt to get me to keep scratching him.
At 5 years of age, all I seemed to long for was a dog of my own.
Yet, no matter how carefully timed I felt my requests were, the answer was always an immediate no. Imagine my unmatched delight when this unexpected wiry spaniel sauntered onto our porch ? sort of like an unseasonable gift from Santa or an answer to the earnest, pleading prayers that I fashioned from watching grown-ups in church. "Please God, just a dog ? four legs, fur and a wagging tail," went my childlike version.
"We?re going for a drive," my dad said earlier, ushering me to crawl into the car and get settled in my familiar rear seat.
I thought nothing of the marshy scenery or unfamiliar route. It was just me, my dad and this glorious new gift on an uncharacteristic adventure. My daydreaming subsided as the car rolled to a gentle stop. With the motor still running, Dad stepped out from behind the wheel, approached the rear of the car and opened the hatch.
"Son, let me have the dog," he said softly.
Not questioning, I ushered my new friend to go to my dad. Taking him in his arms, he carefully closed the hatch door of the station wagon.
Walking approximately 25 yards behind where we stopped, he set the dog down in the middle of the road, jogged back and quickly jumped behind the wheel, putting the car in drive and slamming his foot down on the accelerator.
Sitting in that bumper seat, my view was painfully and panoramically clear. With what seemed like canine intuition, the dog knew it had captured my heart and determined to keep it that way by running towards us as fast as his legs would carry him. But, because of Dad?s unrelenting momentum, his efforts failed and my view of the dog shrank to nothing more than a small speck off in the dust soaked distance.
"We can?t afford to keep him son," he offered as consolation. But even the gentle, quiet explanation felt sorrowfully hollow. "Don?t worry though, there are plenty of farms around here. He?ll find a good home."
My heart seemed to explode like the boiled eggs my older brothers stuffed with leftover firecrackers.
As much as I wanted to cry, I knew better and did my best to not make a scene. Even at five years of age, I understood that "times were hard" because both parents repeated that phrase like a religious mantra. Buying food for a dog, let only paying for vet bills was out of the question. The dog was an unnecessary burden.
At some point soon after, I remember rationalizing that I, too, could be considered an unnecessary burden. I, too, could be driven to a marshy back road and possibly let out and forced to fend for my own. Although in reality that was far from true, it was a self-imposed barrier established in my psyche that would invariably color my relations, choices and actions for many years following.
We all, in some way or another have felt the pain of abandonment and loss. Family members die or leave, ties are severed with play mates through relocation. We become attached to teachers only to have to move on and start the bonding all over again. Adolescent crushes are unrequited and we feel as though our world will end. Divorce bulldozes through supposed strong foundations and sometimes even the most loyal of friendships inexplicably take diverging paths.
Through it all we gather up the fragments of our tender, broken hearts and somehow manage to survive and continue though life. Yet, some of us never emotionally turn from staring out the back rear window at that painful history. And with that intended focus, we disregard or become blind to the fresh possibilities that lie ahead.
As the opening pledge says, our time here is precious.
Everyday is a continual opportunity to strengthen our foundations and build mansions with our thoughts and intentions or each day is a continual opportunity to stay imprisoned in the tenements of our past.
Of course watching that dog disappear was devastating. Yet, choosing to never allow myself to get close to anything or anyone for fear of losing it or them seems pointless and destructive.
So turn around.
That?s right, physically , emotionally, spiritually make the choice to turn around. Look at the limitless opportunities that lay ahead. Focus on the simple beauty that is this present moment. See the entire life journey as a master class in making better, more honorable choices.
Buddhist nun Pima Chodron wrote, "Now is the only time. How we relate to it creates the future?. What we do accumulates; the future is the result of what we do right now."
What do you want? To be happy, to create a thriving life? Then the decisions you make now are what will affect the landscape of your future.
As I apply that power of conscious decision more and more, I see the celestial speed up of demonstration that greets me today.
Now, more than ever, I choose to honor everything in my past knowing it has fostered within me the need to continue seeking, to nurture my spiritual home-sickness by continuing to learn, evolve, go deeper. I choose to cherish those in my immediate circle. I choose to view grudges as a waste of time and become less and less tolerant of any excuse for not living a bigger, bolder life.
Where is your focus ? the life of old or life anew?
By daily choosing to travel with freedom, self-respect, purpose, and love, we set the limitations of our past hardships and pain on the road behind us and leave ourselves open to consciously discover the brilliance that lies around and ahead.
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David Ault
Visionary Vocalist, Author & Motivational Speaker
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David Ault is highly regarded as one of the finest visionary vocalists and motivational speakers within the New Thought/transformational movement.
His focus on remembering the Divine within and reclaiming that connection has empowered hundreds of thousands on their spiritual journey. The union of David’s charismatic message and heartfelt singing has elevated him to guest speaker of choice in many nationwide churches and global organizations.
As a licensed minister and practitioner through Religious Science International, as well as author, songwriter/recording artist, David has traveled and shared his gifts for well over fifteen years.
Working closely with notables Louise Hay and Marianne Williamson and sharing the stage with many cherished mentors ranging from the late Og Mandino to Dr. Barbara King, Jerald Jampolsky, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Father Leo Booth and Mary Manin-Morrisey, David harvested that experience and developed his own unique style of teaching. His compassionate presence, warmth and humor continue to be an unforgettable guidepost for audiences as they rediscover and reawaken to their personal magnificence.
Starting out as a professional actor and singer, David worked extensively in Broadway tour shows, film and television winning critics awards in both New York and Los Angeles.
Throughout the 1980’s, David, along with the late Jerry Florence and Keith Kimberlin made their mark in New thought history by helping pioneer an unexplored musical genre—visionary vocal music. Known as Alliance, their remarkable blend became legendary, helping establish them as one of the most successful vocal groups in the Spiritual recording field.
David continues this musical path with the release of his critically acclaimed recordings, The Healing Bridge, Travelin’ With The Angels, All Is Calm, All Is Bright, And Then It Is Morning, all distributed through his Los Angeles based organization, The Conscious Company. Now, his highly anticipated literary debut, Where Regret Cannot Find Me, is heralded as “a fresh and exciting discovery in Spiritual literature ... a work of pure heart!”
“I feel extremely blessed and grateful in following this path”, says David. “It is my ongoing intention to create a message in word and music that assists us all in reawakening to our personal magnificence!”
www.davidault.com
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