The Inner Voice
In the last column, I wrote about the importance of staying in present time, and not letting the past or future assume a more important role at this very moment. Now I’d like to discuss the relativity of time and how it becomes almost emotional when looking at past or future. The present moment is real, the rest is so tied up with how we feel. For myself, I cannot accurately know how long ago something took place. I think I have my past ordered by topics. When someone says when did that happen? I have to say I’m not really sure, but if it is important I can try to find out.
For example, now that we are entering holiday time, we know what we are doing in our present. Often memories flood in relating to important people or events of the past or hopes for our or our loved ones’ futures. For some of us it is difficult to remain in the present because of the emotional connection to our memories or desires. Hopefully we can keep ourselves at peace as so many feelings intersect each other.
One of my readers sent me a book of her poetry called “Riding Time.” One of her poems illustrates what we have all felt when time goes by so slowly because we are waiting.
”Waiting for your Safe Return,”
by Ethel Olicker
Time’s great white moon hangs limp, impaled upon the sky, waiting-
Time’s tall tenements float above the bare rock, empty, waiting-
Time’s pinched winds coil flat, without breath, waiting-
Time’s heart holds between two beats, throbless, waiting-
Time’s ghost shuffles nowhere, in slow motion, waiting,
Waiting till the sight of one face, a gripping of hands, the crushing embrace,
free a tidal joy that bursts time’s dam.
The sky outstretches, the moon sails free-
The buildings fill with festivity-
The winds, the hearts, the ghosts recover in the living presence of our beloved.
Of course, when we are enjoying ourselves time seems to fly by in a blink. During the holiday season, I’d like to wish everyone joy and peace as we all appreciate our present moment as a fleeting instant, but very real nonetheless.