I’ve Come From Elsewhere

So on this long holiday weekend, I am nursing a pulled tooth socket and worrying about what kind of disease is besetting my beautiful old Japanese Maple.

My thoughts turn towards Rumi and Jesus, who both said they came from elsewhere.

Where is elsewhere but outside the human mind?

For Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden because they ate the forbidden fruit.

Being a direct descendant of those two rascals (as we all are), I can’t help but wish they had minded the Father!

Rumi says “I didn’t come here of my own accord, and I can’t leave that way. Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.”

Jesus just put it a bit differently. “My kingdom is not of this world.”

It is clear to me that I don’t belong here. There is simply too much pain and downright evil on this planet.

With that in mind I determined to find a truer voice than that of the ego.

There are only hints about where the human soul came from and whence it shall return.

Meanwhile we are enshrouded in paradox and robed in hope.

We recognize fellow pilgrims, don’t we? We know the secret sign. Oh, what’s that? You don’t know?

There are millions of secret signs given every day. Things like pain and suffering and ignorance of who we are and why we are forced to misbehave. Yes, we have no choice but to misbehave, at least until we find out why we came here to this low planet.

Rumi speaks again: “If you can’t pray a real prayer, pray hypocritically, full of doubt and dry-mouthed.”

And so I do, and so do you.

Rumi: “Don’t move. A sublime generosity is coming toward you.” And old love said, “Stay with me.” I said, “I will.”

Vicki Woodyard