Choosing Innocence
By Keith Varnum
Out beyond the ideas of right and wrong,
there is a field—
meet me there.
Rumi
Once in a while, I receive wisdom on the human condition from a specific
aspect of nature. These direct transmissions have consistently helped me
weather the changing tides of fortune and emotion in my life.
It was a crystalline winter afternoon. I was walking with my friend Ted
through the snow seeking solace from the fatigue and despair we were feeling
about the seemingly endless stream of challenges in our personal lives. Our
walk ended with us lying on the snow in the center of a stand of young, bare
birch trees. The sun was blinding, but soothingly balmy as it reflected off the
stark white, tender bark of the saplings. The welcomed warmth eased us into a
relaxed, receptive state. We asked the spirit of the slender fledglings for comfort and guidance to meet the
hurdles placed before us.
The unaffected, fresh energy of the virgin trees
shared a message about innocence:
“If you return to a state of innocence, your life will be much easier. The majority of humans are born with
natural innocence, openness and trust.
For a few years you enjoy a period of grace during which life is simple,
direct and pure. Later, as you gain
experience in life, you encounter dishonesty, abuse and betrayal. You
become wary, jaded and disheartened. But at one point in every human life, an
opportunity to return to innocence is offered.
“If you should choose to re-enter the state of innocence consciously from
free will, this openness can never be lost or
taken away—as was natural innocence.
When chosen innocence is fully embraced, you are free of judgment,
expectation, all conditioned beliefs and
restrictions of the past. You have no
limits whatsoever. Living in chosen innocence allows you to enjoy your
real self, your true power and the only genuine reality—the present moment. The present moment is the space of magic,
miracles, transformation and total supply. It is the path to
enlightenment and peace.”
Ted and I didn’t believe the birch trees. On that emotionally woeful day, we couldn’t imagine ever feeling good
about life again, let alone being able to enter into a permanent
state of innocence, openness and joy.
Some years later, I experienced a moment of striking clarity during which I remembered the tender message of the
young birches. I realized I possessed the desire and the power within me
to choose freedom from preconception and evaluation regarding every aspect of
life. I reached a level of spiritual growth in which I was able to comprehend
the great advantage in approaching each day—each encounter, each moment—with
freshness, newness and innocence.
On that day, I chose to be innocent again and
live in the gift of the present. And as the young saplings promised, I’ve never
lost that quality, that space, that grace.
About
The Author
Keith Varnum has 30 years of practical success as an author, accupuncturist, personal coach, filmmaker, vision quest
guide and international seminar leader, and is the owner of http://www.TheDream.com
and http://TheCareerDoctor.net.
Keith@thedream.com
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