11-19-2004, 04:41 PM
> > A Country Boy, a sheep, and a dog were survivors of a shipwreck. They > > found themselves stranded on a deserted island. > > After being there a while, they got into the habit of going to the > > beach every evening to watch the sun set. One particular evening, the > > sky was a fiery red, with beautiful cirrus clouds, the breeze was warm > > and gentle; a perfect night for romance. As they sat there, the sheep > > started looking better and better to the Country Boy. > > Soon, he leaned over to the sheep and put his arm around it, but the > > dog got jealous and began growling fiercely until the Country Boy took > > his > > arm from around the sheep. After that, the three of them continued to > > enjoy the sunsets together but there was no more cuddling. > > A few weeks passed by, and lo and behold, there was another shipwreck. > > The only survivor, was a beautiful young woman, the most beautiful > > woman the Country Boy had ever seen. She was in a pretty bad way when > > they rescued her, but they slowly nursed her back to health. > > When the young maiden was well enough, they introduced her to their > > evening beach ritual. It was another beautiful evening; red sky, > > cirrus > > clouds, a warm and gentle breeze--perfect for a night of romance. > > Pretty soon, the Country Boy started to get "those feelings" again. > > He fought them as long as he could, but he finally gave in and leaned > > over to the young woman, cautiously, and whispered in her ear... > > "Would you mind taking the dog for a walk?"
I realise that I have a past to break with--an accumulation of inertia, wrong, foolishness, rot, junk. A great need of clarification, of mindfulness, or rather, of no mind. A need to return to genuine practice, right effort. Need to push on the great doubt. Need for the spirit. Hang on to the clear light.
Thomas Merton
