A Journey Without Distance

To a Goal That Has Never Changed.* ACIM pp,150

Our Journey Back Home

Tired of his meaningless life, which led only to disappointment and depression, the young man set off on a quest. His life of collecting things had left him wanting. There had been no genuine fulfillment. There was never enough. There hadn’t been enough cars, houses, relationships. Nothing filled the hole inside of him.

He knew there was more to life. He knew that peace and contentment were possible. The negativity of this life only prompted the question, “What am I missing?” He had read many books on the power of positive thinking and how it could change his life. So far, it was just information without application, leading to frustration. There had to be more! Even with all the reading, all the groups he had attended, and the work he had done to grow, he was still hungry.

Therefore, he packed the barest necessities: backpack, food, water, rifle, and knife, and began his journey up the mountainside. At first, his pessimism ran amuck, and negativity ruled his mind. Yet, he was determined to see things differently. He was vigilant for the peace he sought.

At first, his thoughts were like this; ‘Everything here is living, and all must kill to live. The oak tree outgrows the maple, choking it off at the roots, and so the maple tree dies. The mountain lion feeds on the deer. The big fish eat the little fish, and the little fish eat bugs. On and on it goes, and we call this survival (of the fittest). As for me? I utilize it all.’

The beauty I see in the oak means nothing to me when I need a fire. The shine I see in the bear’s pelt has no value as I begin to feel the cold of winter. The grace I see in the antelope has no place in my heart when I know hunger. The joy I feel in loving loses meaning when I am in fear.

Is it beauty when all things that live must die? Does Everything always have to live with the fear of death? Even I, the most intelligent creature in these woods, must be alert. The bear and the mountain lion are capable of taking my life in an instant. Is nothing that lives ever to know safety? The mountain itself can take my life, even the weather. I must be forever watchful.

So must the people at the bottom of this mountain, seemingly safe in their homes. They have houses that protect them from weather and guns that protect them from wild animals and each other. As for me? I have my rifle and my knife at my side. Still, with all these things, I feel vulnerable to harm.

I know there is a Creator. Is He insane? Why would the Creator of life create life to watch it die? It makes no sense to me. There must be something I cannot see. All I see is pain, fear, and death. This Creator scares me. Has He created this world I live in out of boredom? Is all this a background for games to be played at His leisure? Can’t He see all this suffering?

I see a young cub caught in a bear trap, screaming in agony to warm someone this winter with his fur. I see the mother bear powerless over the trap, crying for her young. Can’t the Creator see this? Can’t He stop it? He angers me with His game. This game is not fun. I see pain everywhere. I must escape from the pain. I must hide from Him and His stupid game. I know! I will refuse to play. I will stay on this mountain and eat plants and berries; I will no longer kill to live.’

The climb became more strenuous, and the path more overgrown. Suddenly, the young man saw a path and realized there must have been others who had gone before him. He was determined to find them and ask what they knew about this Creator and His stupid game.

A newfound energy and hope accompanied him now, and his determination became fiercer than ever. Whoever had gone ahead of him was leaving signs to follow, and he realized that if he slowed a bit, he was better at finding them.

The signs now seemed to be messages, each answering questions he didn’t realize he had even asked. He wondered, ‘Have these messages been here all along?’. Has my anger at the Creator closed my eyes so I couldn’t fully use my senses? Each of these messages was so foreign and profound.

The first stated, “You chose this path.” He laughed, ‘The one who goes ahead of me must be insane. Why would anyone choose to see all this pain and agony?’

As he continued his climb, a curiosity came to him, ‘Maybe I have needed to see this pain to prompt the questions I need to ask.’

As his pace was now slower, he began to enjoy the journey more. He stopped to eat some berries, and on a branch, he found a note. “There is nothing to fear,” it read. He read it over and over again. ‘What of the lion, the bear? Surely I need to fear them.’ He decided to sit for a moment with these thoughts. He realized that no matter how strange the messages were, they resonated as true for him.

Anxious to find answers, he heard these words whispered in the wind: ‘The life you have been protecting is not the life you are.’

Now bewildered, he continued to relax and think.

It occurred to him that he had been climbing for days without food, without water, and he hadn’t stopped once to sleep. Yet he felt no hunger or thirst and wasn’t in the least bit tired. He felt vigilant. ‘How can this be? All of these things are essential for life and energy?’

The insights themselves were now frightening him. They were the opposite of what the world below had taught. They were challenging his every belief. Still, there was a certain comfort in their ring of truth.

After a few days of reflection, his desire to learn pulled at him again, and with much trepidation, he began to journey on. As he walked, he asked, “If the life I have been protecting is not the life I am, then who or what am I? Soon after asking the question, he spotted a tree with a carving on its trunk. As he got closer, he read this message: “The life you think you are needs no protection. The life you are can never die.” He continued his journey, feeling confused and yet reassured by this new thought.

As he walked on, it occurred to him that the days never ended, and night never came. The new concept puzzled him somewhat; however, he started to get used to things on this mountain being a bit strange. Besides, he was too consumed by his new learning to pay too much attention to such things now.

“If the life I am can never die, then what am I?” Immediately, the answer appeared scratched in the ground at his feet. “You are spirit. You are love.” A chill ran up his spine, and goosebumps covered his body. These sensations were followed by a gentle warmth and a feeling of peace he had never experienced. He decided to be still and bask in these for a while.

Sitting with his back resting against a pine tree, he realized it was Spring! And that it had been for quite some time. Oh, how he loved the season! He took in the freshness of the air, the smell of the flowers blooming, and the colors of the dogwoods. Everything was so crisp and clean. As he thought back, he realized he had no idea how long Spring had been. He had been so thoroughly engrossed in his plight for months.

He had once walked heavily along on this journey, not enjoying it at all, but now it brought him pure joy. He had lost all sense of time and had no idea how long he had been sitting. Only now, he realized he had seen no bear traps for quite some time. ‘It must be too high up for trappers.’ he thought.

As he stood, he noticed a Grizzly bear, and it had spotted him. Struck with a sudden sense of fear, he reached for his rifle. It wasn’t there. He had left it behind when he had sworn he would not kill to eat. What could he do now? The bear was coming closer!

He remembered the messages: ‘You chose this path. There is nothing to fear. The life you have been protecting is not the life you are. The life you are can never die. You are spirit. You are love.’

By now, the bear was upon him. It didn’t appear to be angry, nor did it appear to be hungry. Instead, the bear nudged him with his nose and then snorted.

He was astonished! The bear had come to play! He surprised himself, for his fear was now gone. And so, he played with the bear. They wrestled and frolicked for hours. When he arose to look about again, he was amazed. Everywhere there were animals. Animals he had known to be prey one to the other, and now they were playing as though they were friends.

A mountain lion cuddled with a fawn lay at the edge of the woods. A badger was teasing a rabbit, and the elk and moose seemed to be playing tag. They all appeared to be in perfect harmony with each other. The sight brought tranquility and new serenity to him, yet somehow so natural.

‘I could live here forever,’ he thought. ‘No more searching, no more learning, just being. But this place had prompted just one more question. “Where am I? “What is this place of joy and harmony?

He looked and listened for his answer. He saw nor heard anything. He had learned to ask again. The answer would come when he was ready to hear. So, he quickly asked again. “Where is this?” And a gentle wind answered to him through the trees.

Look about you, my son

And know that you are home.

Here, there are no differences. All life is love.

There are no paths to choose from here; they all lead you home.

There is nothing to fear here, for all things come from love.

Here, there is no life to protect because all life is eternal.

This place was created for you. It lives within you. The peace, harmony, and love that you experience here are within you.

Remove the blocks that keep this from your awareness, and it is available to you every moment of every day.

Many miles, we must travel.

To learn the lessons we’ve come here to learn.

Still, the miles can be shortened, and the lessons learned.

If we release ourselves from the fear of learning them

Father, help me to see with Your eyes, to hear with Your ears, to speak with Your voice, to understand with Your heart, and most of all, Father, help me to live in Your Love.

Thank You

Excerpt from “The Final Mile Home; Tales of Self-Discovery”

Author: Johnnie Calloway

• A Course in Miracles pp. 150