Blog 391 – 08.31.2016

Small children are often fearless. Fear is a learned response. One that we need to unlearn. Saturday evening in small town Wisconsin I went to the drive-in theater and saw Disney’s remake of Pete’s Dragon. Before a five year old Pete is in a terrible car accident in the north woods and loses both his parents his mom says to him, “You are the bravest boy I have ever known.” Those exact words are repeated other times in the movie by just about everyone who meets Pete.

The secret to Pete’s tremendous bravery is simple really – Pete is never alone and Pete knows he is loved. The first time you see this seemingly wild boy running full out and jump off a cliff knowing that his boon companion will not only catch him but take him soaring your heart will soar too.

When I was in college, back in the day, we used to practice a trust exercise where we would fall back into the waiting arms of a friend. It was really an unlearning fear exercise. I sent a birthday message to a dear friend today in which I mentioned that she had just lived through a very difficult and challenging year. I went on to say that we are all tempted to allow tragedy to define us but that we are all so much more than the worst that has happened to us.

We often are afraid of change but we only need to change that fear. Love changes everything. That is why we are here to change into the beautiful butterflies we have really always been. “We are magnificent beings awakening to our highest potential.” We, like Pete, can be courageous because we too are never alone and are loved. I have it on the Highest Authority.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White