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Winter
2000 We thought this proverb was a good entrance into the 21st century. Now that our feet are well planted in the new millennium (or at least a big toe), it is always a good idea to work on our inner security. That's what folks do here at the Center - build inner security. In this hard-to-keep-up-with world, it is this important establishment of inner security that creates balance. People always work hard and with great intent here at the Center. We would like to thank the participants involved today at Tesserville as well as all those who have done levels of healing in the past. We know for each person who deals with their "stuff" and clears out negativity, the world becomes steadier - and the planet needs that! The work of the IAM Center continues to flourish in new directions. Our new retreat brochure is out there stirring people to use the Center in new and interesting ways. The New York City Creative Day is a wonderful opportunity for participants to have stimulus in one of the greatest cities on earth! (Not that New Albany isn't exciting.(?)) Jack is leading a Lenten series in Elmira, NY and Fred finds himself in Miami in June to lead a four-day AIDS conference entitled Journey Toward Wholeness. Both Jack and Fred are doing a weekend workshop in July at Kirkridge entitled Finding the Image of God Within. We are able to do all of this because of the enormous support of our Tesserville community. Not only have you given us financial help during our fund-raising campaigns, but the cards and letters arriving every day let us know how important the work is that we are doing. This type of encouragement is so important to us as we continue our ministry. We thank you for this. We move into our third decade of healing our community with new energy, ideas, and creation power.
On the last day of the year/century/millennium I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to see the Egyptian Exhibit. On display were art pieces (mostly stone) from the time of the pyramids circa 2500 B.C. The power of these ancient stone pieces was overwhelming. On the dawn of the super-technological age, myself and fellow museum visitors were mesmerized by simple figurative works of art. Even the children at the exhibit seemed captivated and transfixed with a knowing that this was a visual experience that transcended Nintendo. Imagine that! That night, as the New Year changed, we all breathed a collective sigh of relief for no Y2K catastrophes. Computers boldly marched on into the 21st century like good soldiers, well-trained and never questioning authority. Most of us watched the millennium turn all day in different parts of the world. When it was the East Coast's turn, I almost wished some cliche would happen. New Yorkers could certainly show the world how to survive. In an instant, it could be like 2500 B.C.! Those very sculptures I had seen earlier in the day could become our reference point. That stone, carved millenniums ago, would have the collective power of all the crashed computers! That stone would contain the knowledge of the universe. Was this only the rambling of a middle-aged stone carver or the answer to a true dawning of a New Age? As many of you know, and as I write about in these newsletters, I struggle with the creative process. I teach this struggle in my therapy work and live this struggle in my own life. An issue I keep working through is the creation of my art work in my own relaxed and contemplative manner versus selling my work in the art market. In other words, I wrestle with the idea of what constitutes a successful creative life. Is it enough to create my work for myself or do I have to be recognized to be successful? Seeing that exhibit helped me work through layers of this issue. Not one artist was named in those works, yet the communal experience of viewer and art object was the power connection. That made me think. Those artists then were creating from their own need to create and perhaps, survive. It was a message for the ages even though they didn't know it. I realized I too was like those artists, nameless in a sense, yet motivated to always be creating as a way of expression. In growing up, I had two elder patriarchs who were self-made men. Even though they were shamers and emotional abusers, they were successful financially. Being powerful figures in my childhood, in turn they became internal demons who tell me it isn't good enough to simply create, there has to be monetary success or it doesn't count. Because of this internal pressure, I had always sensed I hadn't "made it" yet. Even though I had created a very interesting life for myself with the Center and my art work, it wasn't enough for the demons without the money and recognition. I had to go through my own demon battle with that one. I am the victor as I am much more at ease with my creative life. I am linked to those ancient Egyptian artists who created for creation's sake and who would give me a great gift on a December day millenniums later. I am glad the computers didn't crash - how would I be writing this all now? But the moral of my story is this - the creation process is the most powerful tool we have. Our ancestors created as a way of being. We, too, have this gift - perhaps an obligation - to create simply for creation's sake. Even in this computer age, pure creativity is our link to our past and brings us into the hope of the future.
As I sit here writing this to you all, I am celebrating the beginning of my 63rd year in this year of the Millennium. I remember at various times in my ‘younger' life thinking about the year 2000, calculating how old I would be when that time came upon me and wondering whether I would survive to that ripe old age of 63. And if I did, I considered in what condition would I find myself. The view I saw did not particularly attract me. Well, here it is - I have survived as you can well see. Not only have I survived to this ripe old age but I am living in a wealth that I did not possess when I was wondering about my existence in those younger and presumably better years. Certainly, my body is not as responsive as it used to be. But I need to say, the loss of responsiveness is not significant if I treat my body with the respect it deserves. I need to listen and pay attention to when my body calls out in aches and pains for care through exercise, stretching, massage and chiropractic adjustment. If I do that, I cease feeling like (what I suppose) it is to feel physically like a man of ninety years and return to the ease of moving like one of forty. The wealth that has come upon me as I enter into my elder years is enormous in other ways as well. |
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