A STORY. 42. IN A MOMENT, EVERYTHING CAN CHANGE

It’s the author once more.

In Lord of the Rings, Gandalf the wizard comes to Frodo the hobbit. Frodo says yes to Gandalf, and Frodo’s friends say yes to Frodo.

For a moment there are two potential paths. In one, Frodo says no. In the other, he says yes. But actually, given that Frodo is Frodo, there is only one path.

For many of us, often there is no Gandalf, and there are many potential paths.

In a moment, everything can change. Or we may stay stuck, undecided.

On the other hand, often we long for such a moment, and there is none. There is no Call of the Wild, except within us.

Right now, I look ahead. So many paths for the story to go along, those paths again branching in different directions. I can’t see far ahead.

I’ve been thinking, lately, of moments that pull us along one lifeline or another.

There was the moment the words came into my head:

A STORY. 1. THE BEGINNING

Everything has a beginning. Open any book. It has a beginning.

If I went with the words, they would take me on a path. I could have decided against going along that path. I had no idea where I was heading. All the same, like Frodo set out, I set out.

Other moments like that are coming to mind. I have taken many paths.

But just now, looking back, coming to mind are moments when I didn’t give a moment a chance.

https://elsasemporium.com/in-a-moment.html

In a moment
      in a flash
           I walk past

     the moment is gone
    I’ve walked on
     have not paused
    returned the glance

I remember a minister talking about sitting with many people who were dying. All the regrets were about things not done, chances not taken. I’m sure the regrets were not about all the roads not taken, but about those where there was an inner yes, especially a strong inner yes.

in a moment
     in a flash

the moment comes
     is there

the moment’s passed

I’ve recently written more than once about chances not taken.

https://elsasemporium.com/in-that-moment.html

For a moment, a minute
     two paths 

In one 
     we let the moment pass
In one 
     we somehow
          somehow somehow 
               meet

But that’s not what happened.

I let the moment pass
     break the look
     walk on
          as if it hadn’t happened
     I don’t look back
          except . . . 
          except . . . 
               I am looking back
          except . . . 
               the moment 
                  has stayed in me
                     frozen in time

I did not let this emerging story pass. I listened to the inner yes.

A STORY. 1. THE BEGINNING

Everything has a beginning. Open any book. It has a beginning.

Now there is something as crucial as allowing the beginning to happen - the ongoing journey. In many ways, the initial flash is easy. There it is, yes or no.

But following the yes is not enough. What happens next? And then? How do things move from an initial flash to a good ongoing middle?

Just think of the high divorce rate.

But there is also the possibility of something ongoing and good.

To be continued . . .
A STORY. 43. THE CALL OF THE WORLD
https://elsaiselsa.substack.com/p/a-story-43-the-call-of-the-world

A STORY. ALL THE CHAPTERS ... UP TO NOW
https://elsaiselsa.substack.com/p/a-story-table-of-contents-up-to-now

Posted May 3, 2024