Exploring the Depth

For years, depth was a foreign country I never visited.

I had read books about it. I had seen pictures. I listened to other people describe their own visits to the Depth; what they had done, seen, and tasted. I had heard a lot about the Depth, but I was not convinced that I would ever actually explore it myself.

For me, exploring the Depth was like performing a concert at Carnegie Hall or playing professional basketball. I saw that some people could do those things, but they were not things I would ever be able to do. I did not have the talent necessary for exploring the Depth.

Depth was beyond me. I put all my effort into understanding two dimensions. I focused on forward and behind, the right and the left.

I was an activist, living in the real world. I was motivated to get things done, and the Depth did not seem to be particularly productive.

When I did, rarely, take time for the Depth it did not impress me. It was silent, dark, foreign. There did not appear to be much happening. My reaction to the Depth was often to take a nap.

There were a few things that helped put me in touch with the Depth. Walking in the woods, especially in the autumn, is one. There are one or two pieces of music that draw me deeper.

The Depth waited patiently for me. There when I was finally open enough to it to appreciate it, the Depth embraced me when I most needed it.

With help and guidance, I have become more familiar with the Depth.

The more I explore the Depth, the more I am at home there.

What draws you deeper?

How far are you willing to go to explore the Depth?

[Image by Gianni Dominici]