The Tea Cup
8/25/15
That’s
not my cup of tea, she said, with a wink of her eye and a tilt of her head. So
disconnected I have become, trying hard to connect with the all great one. Do
you know why this friendship works? Because neither one of us gives a shit! He
turned his head to face her. “And I thought you cared,” he said, sarcastically.
“I’m
not sure I really like your new attitude," he continued. "Ever since you started
this practice, it’s been harder and harder for me to understand you. I find
that rather disturbing at times. I thought if I allowed you to go follow your
guru, you would return a better person, and instead you have returned a
challenge.” She almost allowed herself to react to his stupid words. Oh wait,
that would be judgmental of her, okay, not stupid, just … stupid.
He
had had every opportunity to join her in the new journey. He was invited every
step of the way, but instead he decided to be a part-time participant. Instead
of going with the flow, he stayed stuck in his old patterned beliefs. Everything
he believed, he had been told or taught since he was a child. Choices, it all
came down to choices. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day
we were making choices, and he couldn’t keep his eyes open long enough to see
that, but it was she who had the “new attitude.” What a pompous ass, she
thought. If he doesn’t see the path soon, I will have to let him go, and I will
do it with much joy, she thought to herself.
“My
new attitude, as you call it, has saved this marriage. Had I not changed my
ways we would have been divorced by now. Don’t you realize that finding inner
peace and happiness is the key to all things? I no longer wish to participate
in your bouts of anger and accusations. I’m tired of feeling down. I know there
is a better world out there, and actually, it’s really within all of us. All we
need to do to find it is seek within. Why won’t you come along with me? Why do
you choose to remain where you are? Can’t you see that I’m still in love with
you?”
He
placed his hands gently on her shoulders and looked deeply at her face. Her
beautiful light blue eyes reminded him of the time he sat on the banks of clear
streams that flowed in quiet places. He remembered being surrounded by trees
and listening to the sounds of nature. Her skin was still so soft and radiant looking
with only fine lines from the years gone by. He remembered how much he had
always loved slowly touching the back of his hand against her cheek just
because it felt so soft. Her hair still shined but now had streaks of grey here
and there, and even though it seemed a bit thinner, it still bounced and curled
around her shoulders and face.
He
loved this woman very deeply, and she deserved the happiness she was seeking.
“I will try harder, he said. If you will be patient, and understand this is a
huge step for me. I was raised with beliefs that will be difficult to let go
of, and take time to change. I too want to be filled with peace, love, and
happiness. I can see that what I have insisted upon holding on to, has not
brought me those things. I love you so much. Thank you for loving me.”
He
held her close and began to cry. Something men weren’t supposed to do, or at
least that was what he had been taught. Well, that was the first belief he was
going to trash. It felt good to let go and allow his emotions to flow. It was
like an inner cleansing. Perhaps his spirit was becoming lighter already.
Either way, he knew it was good, she was good, and this new path was good.
