A bridge over troubled water

Recently in the London/Tower Bridge area I saw a type of fountain I’d never seen before.  It was a narrow conduit running I guess 100mtrs.  Metal paving crossed it every few metres so people could walk over rather than hop across the open channel.  The flow of water was not the same along each section of the fountain.  Seeing the paving I thought of the Simon and Garfunkel song ‘Like a bridge over troubled waters’, and began to think about what it means to be a bridge.  

A bridge is defined as a structure that carries a road or path across an obstacle; an access point.  As a metaphor it speaks of support being given to others who, dealing with the flow of life, feel ill-equipped to face challenges.   As a bridge you help them to reach the options they feel unable to negotiate on their own.   You take some of the burden, lending them the strength and ability needed to reach a resolution.   You’re needed for a limited time; how long is hard to determine.  But having crossed their obstacle, the confidence you’ve helped them to grow will take them forward without you. 

Sense in the stillness

When you don’t know what to do, what should you do? May I suggest you stand still?  This isn’t the same as doing nothing. 

Doing nothing is the act of someone who feels helpless, without power, confused by what they see, deafened by what they hear, burdened by what they feel.  The  mind ceases to creatively manage the bombardment of incoming information.   Emotions become muddled, forcing retreat into inactivity.  Fear, rising like a stratus cloud, brings inability to settle on a course of action.

In standing still you allow your senses, rather than your intellect to speak to you.  How many times have you sensed what to do, not done it and later said “I knew I should have done that” or spoken about the gut feeling you had?  Intellect will rationale things away.  Standing still results in alertness and readiness to take the right step towards the outcome on the horizon.  Your heightened awareness brings sensitivity to the atmosphere, and promptness in dealing with whatever comes next. 

Standing in this stillness doesn’t mean that everything will fall into place just as you want.  But it will cause you, in your response to it, to be controlled.

Rising out of the ashes

The phoenix – a mythical bird found in the stories of a number of countries, has a lifespan of up to a thousand years.  Once this period has passed it sits in its nest, self-combusts, and is destroyed; the resultant ashes evidence the bird’s past immediate existence.  Out of these ashes a new bird is birthed.  What strikes me about this process is that the replacement bird is just that. Nothing changes, the story remains the same - life, self-destruction, death, rebirth ...; a repeating cycle which the bird is destined to replicate no matter what.

Unlike the mythical phoenix when we rise up from the ashes of the fires of anger, frustration, hurt, disappointment, heartache and/or pain, we are presented with an opportunity to make a choice.  That is to change how we will live our future; how we will respond to life’s challenges; how we will change what we don’t like about our habits; how we will connect with others.   We don’t have to repeat the mistakes, bad decisions and wrong turns already practiced. We can transform the life we had into the life we want. We, unlike the phoenix, have the capacity to decide to and make change.  

Makings of a winner

We often think its strength and numbers that help us to win a particular battle.  However, when we look at history, we find that some armies totally outnumbered, seemingly out-trained, somehow won.  Dazzled by or complacent in size and quantity, a company of great numbers has its own weakness.  The multitude carries within its ranks numerous motivators governing its participants’ actions.  Such disparity of purpose and lack of awareness results in loss.

Wisdom, determination, endurance, and diligence are among the key factors in anyone overcoming any challenge.  Before a marathon the wise runner exercises, trains and warms their minds and bodies, in readiness for the coming challenge.   The distance stretched out before them, they wholly determine to get the better of it.  Once started, with endurance they pace each kilometre and stride their internal hurdles.  For some being first in crossing the line, in certain time is their goal.  Others know they will not be first over it, but rely on their diligence to take them through to the end.  They take one step after another because they know that this is what will take them to their goal of completion. 

What makes you a winner?

The Turning Point

The instant just before 2011 ended and 2012 began was the turning point, transferring us from one year into another.   Countless people with bated breath, awaited the new year’s arrival.  Some slept through, its entrance bearing no significance to them.  Others hastened towards its beginning, desiring to say goodbye and good riddance to a difficult, challenging period.  Minds and eyes set on seeing the clocks show  midnight, we listened for the bell’s chime, ready to emphatically declare ‘Happy New Year!’ to one another.  In all this, the moment - just before the hour struck - went unnoticed; we were already living past its immediate history. 

The turning point is important if change and transference is to happen.  Sometimes it’s evidenced in a moment.  It can show itself through various circumstances bringing about a difference.  It may present in - what is for us - an unusual manner, requiring our mindset to be open to our unexpected.  The moment generally heralds breakthrough and portends better to come, but sometimes brings the opposite.  Its flow and wave can be used to transport us to wherever and whoever we want to become, however the point arrives. 

So, how will you manage yourself when it does? 

Mind the gap and have a prosperous New Year

“Mind the gap” is a recorded phrase intonated on the Central Line at Bank Station.  Its platforms are curved, whilst the train carriages have straight sides.  Standing at points where the gaps are widest, you have to stretch across to board.  You are reminded to take care not to fall into the space between the platform and door openings.  This scenario brings the word ‘opportunity’ to my mind; the greater its potential the more effort it can take reach it.  Sometimes it seems hidden from us or even when recognised appear inaccessible.    

‘Gap’ is the expanse between where you are now, and where you want to be.   Sometimes its span seems too wide to traverse.  However, the determination, insight, support and quality of resource you have will aid its crossing.  ‘Mind the gap’ doesn’t necessarily warn of danger; it can indicate the need for awareness of what you already possess, and consideration of how best to utilise it, so you reap success.   Closing the gap may require a change in mindset, more education, good support, relevant contacts, training, even a physical move to where the opportunities exist.  Whatever it takes, you can bridge the gap, being mindful of the threats, but not allowing them to deter you. 

Rising from the pit

The pit is the hollow where you’re hidden from sight, in discomfort; its walls seeming higher than you can reach.  Though seeing light above you wonder if you’ll ever escape its dark confine.  Tired, helpless, voice gone through continued calls for help, faith sinks, no sound rising to fall on deaf ears.  You try to climb out, using bare hands to create - with what little potency you still have - finger and toe holds.  But strength sapped, you slip, drop.  Sitting on the hard dirt, you decide to make the best of it, and wait to be swallowed by hunger and thirst, imagining you’ll be dried husk before you’re found. 

The pit can be experienced mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically, be inside – clinging like a chest infection, or external – seated in your circumstances.  Still hold on to your hope.  The right people will pass by, who possess the correct knowledge.  Their desire, seen by action will drop a rope down to you.   To help you up, out towards luscious places you’ve not been to before, where you’ll expand and excel.    Eventually you’ll rise, stand free in the gold of the sun and enjoy its shine.