Metaphors - Convergence...

   I believe there is a tendency for we humans to seek convergence. We want to be able to bring together all the diverse paths in our lives to a central unity of existence where all the discrepancies are integrated into a vibrant, living center.

   I found this photographic metaphor at the end of my walk to Burnt Head on Monhegan.  The trail to the cliffs was rough, twisting and at some points obscure.  You just kept putting one foot in front of another and trusted that you would end up some place. (That's the advantage of islands, not much chance of getting lost!)  There were several trails you could take to the cliffs and they converged at the breath taking edge.  We met some other people who had come another way but we both share the joy of making it to this amazing place.

   This metaphor also made me think about how each of us finds our own spiritual path but that all paths converge in the end. Well, at least that's my personal feeling.  The differences between us and our beliefs seem so trivial when you except this concept of convergence.  The longer we live the less different we actually become as we all move to this point of convergence and unity. There is a wonderful Chinese proverb that illustrates this so simply...

There are many paths to the top of the

 mountain but the view is still the same.

   Just as we came by different paths to the Burnt Head cliffs on Monhegan, we all had the same view....