Logan begins his journey as he waves goodbye to Celeste in the distance. When he starts walking, he begins to notice that getting his body in motion does lift his mental fog. He starts feeling less dejected and even somewhat enthusiastic. The sun doesnt seem unbearable, especially as a cool breeze plays with his hair. He reflects on Celestes words. She was right: Now that he is taking action, he does feel better.
After 20 minutes, Logan notices he does feel more motivated, but the journey is only a third complete. He looks off into the distance. He sees the hill. With that sight, he regains his momentum. Simultaneously his negative thoughts disappear like nocturnal creatures that become inactive with daylight.
Logan starts to see his journey as an adventure. He feels like an explorer trekking his way through the wilderness with only his tenacity and intuition as guides. He will triumph like a mythic hero, bringing back the prize: Muriels medicinal herb.
While in these thoughts of optimism and grandeur the next forty minutes pass, Logan reaches the hill more quickly than he had anticipated. Wow! That wasnt so bad.
As Logan stands at the bottom of the hill he gazes up to the top, feeling somewhat concerned at its immense height. But, he reminds himself how far he has already come. He hears Celestes voice: Remember action before motivation. As he remembers her words, he feels that he can do it. He can scale the hill and it should take him no more than fifteen to twenty minutes to walk to the top, and so without another moments hesitation the next leg of his journey begins.
A scent of wild roses fills the air as Logan walks along the path. Birds sing, melodious and free. Their tune carries him along with greater ease. Butterflies playfully dance as they flutter amongst the flowers. One butterfly lands on Logans shoulder and he feels encouraged, as if this is a good sign.
Logan begins to walk swiftly but always carefully maintaining his footing.
The scenery is so beautiful around him that he looses all sense of time. Then, he remembers to keep moving his body. As he does so his motivation increases. With newly discovered motivation, his energy becomes more charged. Logan begins to realize that the climb is not nearly as difficult as he had imagined.
Suddenly Logan stops abruptly. From out of nowhere a diminutive, white bearded man appears, carrying a large staff.
Logan is so startled that he veers back off the path and falls over the edge of a dangerously steep cliff.
He luckily grasps onto the edge of the cliff, with his bandaged hands and holds on for dear life. His struggle to hold on is intense. He fears that if he loses his grip he may not survive the fall.
Who are you? the white bearded man asks.
Im Logan, he gasps while trembling.
No, who are you really? the man insists.
Alright, then if Im not Logan, then who am I? Logan cries trembling with fear, as tears and sweat run profusely down his face, his shirt drenched.
Ah, now youve asked the key question. Who am I? smiles the man.
I dont care who I am or who you are. Help me before I fall! I cant hold on much longer! Logan pleads fervently.
Oh, no. Why is it that the most simple is often the most difficult to find? continues the old man. He seems lost in his own riddle, unaware of Logans predicament.
Help me, please. Help! Logan is terrified, barely able to hold on another moment.
Suddenly, the white bearded man holds out his staff and says: Here, hold on to this.
One hand at a time, Logan grasps onto the staff. The old man effortlessly pulls him up onto a grassy area beside the path. Logan moans in relief, rubbing his sore hands that are now irritated even further. The pain is excruciating. The old man takes some pieces of a plant out of his pocket. He rubs the succulent leaves gently on Logans hands as he explains that the aloe-vera leaves will help accelerate the healing and ease the painful sensations. Logan is surprised when he finds that the pain is instantly relieved.
Amazing, declares Logan. And how did you manage to pull me up when I weigh much more than you?
The old man obliviously continues talking as Logan recovers from his ordeal: You are not just your body, mind, senses, or name. You are the Eternal True Self. When you were falling off the cliff, you were frightened because you equated your self as synonymous with your body. Yet, even if your body composed of five elements becomes extinguished, you will still live on.
With that, the old man points his staff up into the air and brings it down with a heavy thud on the ground to emphasize his point. You are the miracle of life and you have unlimited potential. You are light, love, and energetic motion and stillness. Remember who you are! Do not see yourself in a static mould, you are being even in motion. To define or label yourself narrowly is not to understand the depth of your own self. To believe I cant is an illusion, but to believe Ill try is to recognize you have no limit. Be free from setting narrow boundaries on yourself. Remember to first take action, and then even the impossible is possible the old man reiterates passionately.
Wow, declares Logan! Thats just what Celeste told me.
She is a wise woman, this Celeste, the old man says with absolute confidence as if he knows her well. My name is Sunny but Ill have to go now. Good luck on your journey. Then just as swiftly as he had appeared, the man turns and leaves, wandering out of sight behind trees off in the distance.
[…] Michael welcomed everyone and introduced Debby before she began her first reading. She gave an introduction to “Nexus” and then began her First Selection, which highlighted the struggle of Logan Andrews climb to the top of a hill. During a short break, we had engaged discussion with people about our novel and our journey as writers. We also sold more copies of “Nexus.” […]