another shift

I find that a subtle shift in emphasis or perspective can make right action quite a bit easier. One example of this is found among the screeches, muck, and discarded chewing gum of the NYC transit. When riding the subway my eye would occasionally prick my mind with an inquiry. "What was on that ad.?" or "What was scratched into the wall"

Once I inched my way toward the wall careful not to touch it for fear that its surface contained something such as, disease. I was right in thinking that the wall gave support to some unknown danger. I was foolishly clueless, to the fact that the real danger could do something much more significant than merely harm my body.

While scanning the letters I was given a hand. I had caught wind of the wretched stench that was not wafting up from whatever was decaying on the tracks, but from whatever was decaying in some one's heart, and was recorded on this wall.

Oh, but temptation had grabbed hold of me. I told myself, "Don't read, Don't read." The prohibition was fuel for the flames. The glutton, Temptation, was growing fat.

I read it. I opened my mind and soul to it. My guilt flowed.
Then to my mind, like a simple clear note, came the words, "Remind yourself of this before you read something next time. When curiosity is strong be firm in your memory of the possible and likely result of looking. And don't say, 'Don't read,' say, 'You don't want to read that."

It worked I didn't read another vulgarity. I wanted to at first. Upon remembering, I didn't want to. I didn't have to fight, to struggle against desire. I had realigned my desire with right desire, it was resurrected.

Love

B