It costs so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the enlightenment, or the courage, to pay the price. One has to abandon altogether the search for security and reach out to the risk of living with both arms. One has to embrace the world like a lover, and yet demand no easy return of love. One has to accept pain as a condition of existence. One has to court doubt and darkness as the pain of knowing. One needs a will stubborn in conflict, but apt always to the total acceptance of every consequence of living and dying. — Morris West, The Shoes of the Fisherman
As I typed and reread the quote just now, I realize there is a LOT there to digest. My suspicion is that some of you want to run away from being fully alive if this is what it means! Others of you find certain pieces of the quote resonant. I am pausing in this moment with this piece:
One has to abandon altogether the search for security and reach out to the risk of living with both arms.
Security for me in this context includes:
- knowing that I’ll “succeed” and “you” will like and appreciate my offering
- knowing that I’ll have the energy to do “it” when the time comes
- knowing that I won’t make a fool of myself
- knowing …
Reaching out to the risk of living with both arms includes:
- letting go of the crutches of over-planning, over-practicing, perfectionistic tendencies and trusting my heart to lead
- letting go of concern or worry about what you’ll think of me
- letting go of my definition of “success” and allowing “failure” to show up
- letting go of the need to know and trusting I’ll have what I need when I need it
- letting go …
Perhaps you are drawn to a different piece of the quotation. So I ask you:
What resonates in you?
What does it mean to you?
How might these ideas render you more FULLY ALIVE?