When I meditate, I frequently see a golden sunlit path. I’m standing on it, and people are walking by smiling, nodding, laughing, and I am smiling, nodding, and laughing too. From the vibe of the other people, they seem to be fellow meditators or 12 step recovery members or just happy and lucky enough to be walking in the light. 

Sometimes I find myself off the side of the path, crashing through brambles, tripping over rocks and tree roots, stumbling through poison ivy. I’m unaware of how I’ve landed there, and I wish that I was back on the path.

I forget that all I need to do is move 6 inches over, change my perspective the tiniest bit, have the tiniest bit of willingness, and I can step back on the path.

Sometimes from the path, I see other people off the side in the thicket, and I want to dash off the path, grab them, and force them onto the path. But that doesn’t work – each person has to make the choice to get back onto the path.

What I can do is reach out at hand from the path to invite these folks back on and give them a tug towards the path when they reach back. Really gutsy people (after making sure they have a rope tied around their waist held by a multitude of friends on the path) climb off to extend a hand. They can’t force a person onto the path, but they can let the person know that they’re not alone, and remind them that there’s something beyond the brambles and thicket. Then they hold their hand out and show them the way back to the path.

No one really wants to be lost in the brambles, scared, hurting, alone. It’s different in the brambles- we see no way out and see no one there with us.

We all end up in the brambles at points, wishing we weren’t. If you find yourself there, look over 6 inches. There are people who care, who are reaching out for you. Grab their hand and let yourself be pulled back on.