When I was back in Australia I helped a friend out at a PFLAG camp for young people who had been abused and discarded by their families. We were out in the bush as we Aussies say the middle of no where. On one of the nights I gave a talk about Spirituality then guided them through a meditation and as I walked Spirit whispered your footprints are important and this became the theme of the night. We sat and discussed their thoughts hope fears things which came up for them. But that’s another story.
The next day we went to this course which was a set of about ten poles like the electricity poles you see but strung between them was all these different types of rope bridges and obstacles.
Not all the kids wanted to attempt the course and in a fit of what were you thinking I declared if each child at least tried to climb the first tree I would be brave and try too.
Bare in mind my fear of heights I have a list of phobias longer than my arm.
Turns out each child did try and then at the end all the expectant eyes focused on me. Well…..um…you know…um I stuttered…..but you said you would they cried.
So now we come to the bit about walking your talk.
Its one thing to sprout the words it’s quite another to put action behind them.
So up the wooden ladder I climbed only to be confronted by 2 ropes horizontal to each other wide enough for a body to hold one and tread on the other. Did I mention these ropes must have been a mile long!!!!
But with expectant eyes upon me I had to move slowly I edged off the platform…..I should mention I had a harness on and was securely tied to a buddy below. However when I stepped onto that rope and it started to sway all the courage I may have had went the other way I wanted to scream get me off!!!!
Then the voice of Spirit whispered “If you want to teach you have to practice what you preach”
I sighed and with knuckles whiter than the first snow fall continued on. In fact I managed to do the whole course and even did the flying fox at the end.
Ironically I had become the student and all those young people who stood below me encouraging me on had become my teachers enabling me to overcome my fears.
I was asked not long ago what being a Spiritual person meant to me.
And although I had to think about it at the time now I can say it means
“Walking your talk and standing in your truth”
You cannot be a teacher if you are not willing to learn yourself.
You cannot put forth words and say this works unless you are living those words everyday.
As the Wise man would say in those old Kung Fu movies
“Ah grasshopper you cannot lead the way if you are standing still”
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