His name sounds as Finn. He has beautiful blue eyes and the blondest of blond hair. He shares his name with Fionn Mac Cumhail. This is frequently anglicised as Finn Mac Cool. Finn Mac Cool is one of the most celebrated heroes in Irish myth.
Little Finn will be tall and beautiful. Now he is small and beautiful. He is learning to talk. He is learning to put distance between his immediacy. There will be a time when he thinks about his life rather than allow it to flow. He will learn to dance rather than be the dance.
Being around children reminds me that they feel their experience moment to moment. When they look they see what is before them. They do not judge their experience. They are their experience. This is why they are so delightful even if sometimes they behave as if this world belonged to them and them alone. They know this world belongs to them until they are told differently. This is their real understanding of this world. It is we who have forgotten. They are there to help us remember.
I am standing at the edge of Lough Allen. I have come to visit Corry Strand.
This is where I meet this giant among toddlers. My partner Barbara has met this child before. His Mum had come to hear a concert or play at the Glen Centre in Manorhamilton. While Mum watched the play Barbara minded child. When he became fractious and upset she walked him down the main street. She held him close in her arms and sang Gershwin. He settled at the sound of this melody sang softly into his shell like ear.
He quickly learned my name. He quickly gave me the gift of his trusting heart. It came as a delightful surprise to find him placing his little hand in mine. He had decided he and I would take a stroll along the sand. We walked and came to sit by the remains of a campfire. He told me stories. These were one-word stories.
These were one word stories facilitated by finger pointing. He reminded me of the old Zen Master who tells his student "I am only the finger pointing at the moon." Here is my little Zen master teaching me the simplicity of seeing.
One story is "stone." The other story is "dog." Each is direct and immediate. There is no sense of fear. There is only the continued pointing of the finger. He makes the stones come alive. He sees them before ever they have labels.
Too soon there will come a time when he lives in labels. Too soon he will think he knows what a "stone" is. Soon he will forget how he once saw the wonder of that "stone" and that "dog." He will swap wonder for knowledge. He will swap what is partial for what is holy. He will become a rational person rather than the mysterious little being he is.
He reminds me of Yoda in Star Wars. The force is with him. He is a wise little being with a hand that shows art in every gesture. He shows me the gladness of the ever-present moment. He is selfish as all children are. This is their world. However, they love to share it with you. This world is their playground and they want you to play here too.
On this shore of Lough Allen he reminds me of that other shore. This is the one we seekers long to sail for. It takes us to that timeless shore where we are forever young. My work is to do what Finn does best. I spend time patiently allowing myself to enter this mystery of life. He is still held within it. I am the amateur and he is the pro-fessional of presence.
He is a fount of wisdom. He does not have the words. He only has his finger. He uses this to conduct dialogues with this mystery of life. He allows the music of life to play through his little body. I am only a part of the orchestra and too often I feel apart from the music. He plays all parts expertly and is the music.
Time will be when he will forget he is the play of God. Time will wrap around him and he will be taught to "do life." He will be taught that life has to be earned. He will be advised that it is more important to earn a living rather than be alive to love. He will be taught his creativity does not fit with economics. He will become productive and competitive rather than celebratory and abundant. He will give up his wondrousness for acceptance.
He will forget that he is forever enough. If he is lucky he will meet with other wise men and women who will tell him to "risk all for love." He will forget that love is all he needs. He will turn from love in action to love of activity. His is the fall from the grace of being to the non-grace of persona. We are all destined to fall from this grace. He will be loved but he will feel separate from all that is.
When he is older he will, I hope, take another hand. He will stand on another shore. He will remember to look at the beauty of what is without labels. He will no longer see it the way that we lost in social consciousness see it. He will, I hope, one day see again via his heart. The way he sees now. When this happens he will be a giant among men. He will be Finn. He will be fair of face and fair of hair.
Thank you Finn for your instruction. I am blessed to have shared your wisdom. You are already a giant among men. You are a child of the Universe. Never forget little one. May the force be forever with you and may you stay forever young in that little heart that you are so ready to share.
© Tony Cuckson 2004
Tony Cuckson is an Anam Cara. This Celtic term means "Soul Friend." He specializes in providing insight for the spiritual journey, Blessings for YOU, words of wisdom and finding inner peace. Visitors to Irish Blessings Matter website and Tony's Blog get the opportunity to develop a purpose driven life through articles, newsletters and other programs.
Get your free report called "7 ways to it's a wonderful life" at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.com/, or go to Tony`s Blog at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.info/ for YOU Blog, where you will find links to information related to spiritual parenting, spiritual coaching and spirit in business.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|


1. Life is a precious gift given to us by... Read More
I had the intention of writing about Soul Mates but... Read More
Are you facing some challenges in your life right now?... Read More
An etheric body, also known as the aura, surrounds every... Read More
Life is full of ups and downs, trials, and tribulations.... Read More
There was a time in my life when I seriously... Read More
What really binds us to any negative emotional state in... Read More
Believe it or not most astral Attacks are not caused... Read More
We, a group of ordinary people who believe in Jesus... Read More
What could be a scary thought for some? How bout'... Read More
You can't help but feel a sense of electricity in... Read More
The Evil Eye has been around since the beginning of... Read More
Not a Failure!Those of you who are unemployed, or desire... Read More
In my work with clients who have physical illnesses there... Read More
In my yard are quarter-circles of grass growing taller than... Read More
Were you lied to as newborn Christian? I was...let me... Read More
In an edition of Reader's Digest, I stumbled upon a... Read More
1. The name Uriel means "Light of God" or "Flame... Read More
How do we feel the fullness of life itself?We have... Read More
Recently I was watching a re-run of "Everybody Loves Raymond".... Read More
As we go through life we all have to deal... Read More
Before we dwell on the subject of Self Realization we... Read More
The question of life after death is one that continues... Read More
In a recent case study which I also summarized in... Read More
In my life, I have tried... Read More
One cannot make a decision in the moment of now.... Read More
1. Identify a woman who is "like minded," who has... Read More
Don't be confused that a saint is a religious leader... Read More
I once read a story about a Catholic priest who... Read More
(Channelled)Roy, this morning in "Roy Bits," you tried to write... Read More
Can I be honest with you? There are days when... Read More
Angels, those divine beings of love and light, are here... Read More
"All you who are thirsty, come and drink." ISAIAH 55:1,... Read More


Do you have a servant's heart? Has God blessed you... Read More
Yes, we are living in a world where we are... Read More
Almost every spiritual and religious teaching exhorts its followers to... Read More
I can truly say to this day of August, 2005,... Read More
As you grow in wisdom, you will release, more and... Read More
The dictionary defines the word forgive as: [to pardon, as... Read More
Until recently, miracles were usually credited to a supernatural power.... Read More
There is light at the end of the tunnel, but... Read More
The human body is surely a miracle of God's creation.... Read More
One day Gilligan ventures off as usual into the jungle.... Read More
You are a spiritual being. You recognize something in you... Read More
This statement sounds incredible. ASK and it shall be given.... Read More
I can't boast about my culinary skill, because I just... Read More
There is an inherent generosity in the human spirit to... Read More
Charity isn't the easiest virtue to master. And with St.... Read More
Life is growth. For many people life is like a... Read More
My thoughts can get a little edgy at night. Possibly... Read More
As Christians, we know we need God in every aspect... Read More
Do you want victory in your life? Do you have... Read More
Lectio divina is a very useful and practical discipline for... Read More
Let me explain my approach to the practice of ritual.... Read More
Every workday, five days a week, I take the light... Read More
Feeling restless? Is part of you calling out for change,... Read More
"If you can't dance with the devil You will never... Read More
One thing that Jesus was NOT - was flashy. When... Read More
An etheric body, also known as the aura, surrounds every... Read More
When King David was old and well advanced in years?... Read More
Some say praising Jesus is just singing. Others say it... Read More
One of my favorite movies is "The Green Mile". A... Read More
Last Saturday, the children were down at their grandparent's house... Read More
An analysis of Western man's guiding presuppositions, A Review of... Read More
THE KABBALAH OF PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION: TURNING DARKNESS INTO LIGHT"In the... Read More
God poetry is one of my favorite genres, although I... Read More
Spirituality |