Saguaro Wanderings: Seeing 2012 (#62)

For your consideration: a brief exercise in compare and contrast (one of my favorite English class challenges) — Turtles vs. Whales. Regard the images below . . .

I was an only child, raised largely by my grandparents on a parcel of urban land inhabited by retirees. Consequently, I spent much of my youth playing outdoors by myself, with my own imagination as the primary source of entertainment.

One tends to gravitate towards the familiar, so I suppose it is no surprise that I've spent considerable periods in my adulthood as a single, free-spirit. On the surface such a lifestyle can appear deceptively attractive: nobody to be responsible to (on the domestic front, at least), keeper of one's own schedule with a minimum of socially-imposed obligations, reduction in conflict by way of less need to integrate desires and responsibilities at an intimate level; keeping house in any manner without restraint, going to bed whenever it pleases . . . Ah, yes, "freedom." Our modern society, with its ever strident emphasis on Self and the disposable nature of all things, seems more and more predisposed to a populous of solo agents.

Yet, swimming solo, as self-directed as Moby Dick, ironically and ultimately creates a journey of far fewer possibilities, greater vulnerabilities, and narrowed vision. An incipient loneliness takes hold, barely discernible in its embryonic stage . . . yet a discomfort which inevitably grows, gnaws, and eventually undermines the illusionary romanticism of unfettered wanderings. One awakens to an ache for the safety and comfort which can only arise from the nurture of intimacy.

Thus I've discovered it to be, late in life. There is no greater healing, no more exquisite joy, than forming a deep, devoted and true love with another soul. Certainly such a melding of lives creates complications, challenges and stresses . . . yet honest appraisal reveals that these are simply of a different flavor than the discomforts which arise from other challenges confronted alone.

"Safety in numbers." A bromide with fortitude and efficacy. I've found that I am far greater than the sum of my Self's facets when I've been engaged and intimately joined to my soulmate. There is a joy and strength which is spiritual in nature, and is unifying in a manner which expands my capacities, interests, and depths of insight, compassion and forgiveness which cannot exist in the absence of such connection. A depth and breadth comes into existence which can't be described nor explained, yet which is unassailably beautiful.

Certainly it can be extremely difficult at times; one might doubt having the strength to cling to the slippery surfaces of the sharp-edged, rocky problems that often arise in human interaction. Yet, as my grandparents demonstrated over many years, there is no nobler path than the faith and persistence in love and partnership, and no other method to develop and grow at depth in love, faith and honor.

The whale may swim powerfully, swiftly and magnificently. but the connection, deliberation and unification of the turtles — a humbler path — creates the wisdom, strength and ultimate reward of truly basking in the sunlight, and with the soothing balm of protection uniquely provided from the power of spiritual and emotional intimacy, devotion and commitment.

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