There are times when my spirit escapes the world completely and soars above the earth's atmosphere to where unlimited freedom exists .. It soars where the morning sun ripens from pink to gold .. to where the gull escapes the green tinge of the sear below.
My spirit soars to lunar heights where Job's stars sang together at dawn .. but, then sometimes, it becomes dull, covered over with the smoke and dust of idleness .. and weighted down with weariness and apathy and ugliness .. but worse than any of these --- hopelessness.
Then something happens to change its direction .. not some outside influence .. but the spirit within was ready to soar again .. ready on it's own, and it merely opened up and received nourishment or illumination to soar again .. this time even higher and all I remember is that each time it lifts up .. it remains on a higher level ..
I need only to know that no matter if it glides downward again .. I know now that It can shake off the negative attitudes and fly again to even greater heights and more freedom than ever before.
Joyce Hifler (All Rivers Run to the Sea)
