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| Eno River State Park, North Carolina (photo by Jake Risch) |
Lesson From a Southern Snake
Fear is something that is precise, concrete.
It’s there for a distinct reason –
that being protection.
A snake on a trail
in an unfamiliar place produces fear,
at least in me. I knew to be wary as we walked along.
Warm climate, wet conditions
had my well-learned hyper vigilance activated.
And there it was
right in the trail,
though deeply disguised.
I may have sensed it before seeing it
as I called out in alarm.
My fellow hiker turned back
and once we realized we were safe,
that the snake showed no inkling to strike,
fear shifted to awe.
It was actually quite beautiful as it
slowly slithered into a pile of detritus
left behind by the previous night’s rain.
There were clear boundaries
as we respected its space,
and it ours.
Then there are shapeless things that
cause anxiety.
Relationships that do not have
understandable borders.
Erroneous beliefs
imposed by outside forces
during tender life phases.
Those who have no desire to
explore, discover, change.
As one heals, it becomes more clear
the difference between anxiety and fear.
Fear can serve an important purpose
in the right conditions.
Anxiety, though nebulous,
can be acknowledged
and released
as one assimilates, brightens,
trusts the pure and benign
power of Love.
Fear is something that is precise, concrete.
It’s there for a distinct reason –
that being protection.
A snake on a trail
in an unfamiliar place produces fear,
at least in me. I knew to be wary as we walked along.
Warm climate, wet conditions
had my well-learned hyper vigilance activated.
And there it was
right in the trail,
though deeply disguised.
I may have sensed it before seeing it
as I called out in alarm.
My fellow hiker turned back
and once we realized we were safe,
that the snake showed no inkling to strike,
fear shifted to awe.
It was actually quite beautiful as it
slowly slithered into a pile of detritus
left behind by the previous night’s rain.
There were clear boundaries
as we respected its space,
and it ours.
Then there are shapeless things that
cause anxiety.
Relationships that do not have
understandable borders.
Erroneous beliefs
imposed by outside forces
during tender life phases.
Those who have no desire to
explore, discover, change.
As one heals, it becomes more clear
the difference between anxiety and fear.
Fear can serve an important purpose
in the right conditions.
Anxiety, though nebulous,
can be acknowledged
and released
as one assimilates, brightens,
trusts the pure and benign
power of Love.
Sarah Carlson
June 21, 2019
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