Illusions, Delusions and the Bottom Line

One of the things that I do for a living is to be there when people regain consciousness. And it’s rather amazing to watch at times. I jokingly and with love make comments to some of them as I can see them cross back over to my side. There is something absolutely intriguing and fascinating about this whole process. Where do you go when you get rendered unconscious? From a scientific standpoint I don’t know where you go. From a spiritual standpoint I don't know where you go. But I can tell you this. You are rendered unconscious artificially and all your guards come down. There is absolutely nothing masking you anymore. Complete loss of control. Scary, isn’t it?

So this week I’ve had a rather rare occurrence happen two days in a row. Two adult males regaining consciousness and coming to in an utter emotional disarray and upset. Sobbing. Releasing those tears that will only flow freely when you feel completely safe or have zero guards up. Which normally does not happen to any grown male on a regular basis. Our society has a knack of beating that natural cleansing process right out of them. Not necessarily physically, but in the many other mental and emotional ways that we are so good at. I can’t give you hard statistics here, but the falling of tears after regaining consciousness, that sort of emotional dishevelment, if at all, happens usually in the teenage population. Not having mastered the art yet of getting one’s guard right back after it gets knocked off, they are the most susceptible group to that kind of behavior. In general terms, the younger population just doesn't have enough concern yet to worry about any image to keep up, and the older population seem to be able to get an almost instant grip on themselves. We are well trained after all.

One of the man couldn’t contain his tears out of relief and gratitude that his son was there with him. And I guess more so, for him. Usually people ask for additional time before they allow you to expose them to their loved ones after experiencing such an emotional state. But I brought his son to his side as he was still crying. Even after he finally stopped and calmed himself, he was unable to make eye contact with his son. The other man couldn’t contain his tears because seemingly his whole world fell apart even though he had “done everything right”. He would not allow me to bring his mother to his side because “ she can’t see me like that”. I am sure he must have been her rock through some mutual hard times and he simply couldn’t allow her image of him to be destroyed in that brief moment of vulnerability. Before his mother came to his side, I told him that he may wish to belief what he chooses, but control is an illusion. We are not in control of what happens. We are only in control of how we respond. That’s the bottom line.

So in the words of Jacob Nordby : “ This thing about living, well it’s not about saying something wise or dressing in the armor of our day so nothing can touch us…it’s about opening ourselves and growing into the space between birth and death."

http://jacobnordby.com

https://youtu.be/VRPJZD1d-TE?list=FLAE5Spz5MzwDZ1VRiz0tN6A