Yodel-leigh-hee-hoo!

Reading an article today, I came across an analogy about how the ecology of a mountain is similar to our spiritual growth (but we can apply this to all aspects of life). At the base of the mountain there is movement, small creatures, streams and rivers, plants, all sorts of life. But as you go higher, the life becomes less frequent, harder, the climate is less inviting, more secluded.
Just like our lives when we focus our energies/attention.

Anyone that has focused more intently on their inner being (or any interest) will know that when we do this, we alienate ourselves from those who do not understand that type of thought pattern. I don't care if it's working on cars, playing frisbee golf, reading scripture, or hula hooping... as you focus more intently on it, those who cannot accept that thinking fall from your life.We leave the 'known' world behind, and if continued, we pull farther and further from the mindset of the people around us who are not in the same mindset. If continued on that course, we will eventually reach the "summit". There will come a point in all of our situations where we have reached a point of seclusion, a point we can not go further, a point when the second half of the journey begins...
Our return.

As creatures of choice, we can either stay in seclusion, or spread the Love and Knowledge gained to the rest of the world, making known what we have found. Sharing what we have come to realize, the gifts we have gathered.

For what is the purpose pf a scientist climbing a mountain or a mechanic learning a car, if they don't share what they learn with oihers?
We must realize that our sense of achievement does not come from the journey itself, or from the problems we face , but from our experiences we create AFTER our journey, from overcoming and enduring our problems.

As we return with our knowledge, our 'circle' can once again grow.
We come back, changed forever by the knowledge attained; we come back, with the opportunity to change the world forever.

I finally feel like I'm returning... like this point of my life is over, and there are new sites to see, new mountains to climb. I know one part of my life that is lacking, that of companionship, but I have faith that is right around the corner. We'll see how 2010 goes... maybe by the start of next year I'll have a Mrs. Zak.