Life with a Builder
Now my boys are growing in to teenagers and seem to be getting “bigger” both physically and energetically everyday, we decided we needed more room. What began as building on a small extension transformed into a project which means that every single room in the house will be changed! Life always shows us aspects of ourselves and the sacredness that is inherent within all of life. I would like to share with you some of my experiences with the builder! (All perfectly innocent and clean!) The first thing was the digging out of the foundations; this seems to me to show a parallel with the path of life.

Unless you dig deep enough foundations you will not be able to stand firm and tall in life, the first sign of a storm and you will collapse in a heap to the floor. Also it symbolises that just to scratch the surface of ourselves will not allow us to really know what is deeper under the surface. We need to dig deep in order to grow tall towards the light. As I peered into the dark depth of the earth, I saw my own darkness, those things that I want to keep covered were exposed, all my creepy crawlies, my negativity, my judgements, my self loathing, all brought to the surface to be examined and accepted.

To turn away, to fill in the hole with distractions, food and self deception is no good, I have to bring these aspects to the surface in order for me to build the foundation that will support my growth to the light. People often talk about “protection” and external energies invading their energy field. I personally prefer to make my focus the light, if I am in the light nothing can affected or harm me. My beloved builder has helped me to see how hard it is to stay in the light when a foreign body enters your space, but we have to be able to hold the light at all times, not just when all is going smoothly and well.

He is a great teacher, as his radio plays daily and his shrill whistling pierces my peaceful meditation! I smile to myself; it reminds me of the early days when the whole house had to be quiet because I WAS MEDITATING, and watch out anyone who dared disturb it! I was missing the whole point, to be able to maintain a centre of peace in the chaos of life is what we are here to demonstrate, how full of self importance I was to expect life to fit around me! For along time it felt as though nothing was happening, the builder would appear every day (he is a very hard worker) but I couldn’t see any progress.

Again a parallel with the path, we so often feel as though nothing is “happening”, we are not growing, and yet these times are necessary to reinforce the growth that has already taken place and to create a firmer foundation. Then slowly, as time passes things seem to come together more and more. The basis on which we have built supports our further growth, our practice allow us to unfold in to a work of beauty and expansion. I often feel as though I have been married to my builder in a past life.

When I go out to speak to him I feel myself becoming this nagging wife, “when are you doing…..” “What about……” Initially I was horrified; I seemed to have no control over this control freak that was manifesting within me. One day life taught me about instant karma and the need to be mindful of our behaviour all the time. It was tea time and my new kitchen was supposed to be delivered in about 4 days. As I looked out into the extension I realised that this was an impossibility, short of a miracle and as I was in “nagging wife mode” a miracle was also impossible. “You told me it would be ready” I accused, “well it’s not” he replied. “That’s not good enough” was my answer, “Well nothing I can do love” was his reply.

The conversation carried on in a similar vein; there was no anger just a bantering back and forth. I then look around into my old kitchen, which was consumed in black smoke and orange flames. I had left the wok on the stove, with oil in for my stir fry and forgotten all about it as I was busy nagging my hubby of life times ago! What a reminder of how we loose ourselves in what is not important and to remember the importance of being mindful and of holding the light in our daily interactions. When we forget who we really are we fail to see the beauty in another. This beautiful man has taught me many more lessons; above are just a few. I smile to myself as he sings “OM” as I pass by; he smiles to himself as I hand him the crystal to place under the floor boards. I feel as though something has been healed between us, I have a genuine care and deep acceptance for him.

He has shown me that whoever comes into your life for however long, be it moments, weeks, months or years, they deserve our respect, our acceptance and our love. Thank God for the builder! If we can love our greatest challenges then we truly are walking in the light!

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