Obstacles

The dragon is always guarding the gate.

His disguises are without number,

and in his most fearful aspect without form.

The fallen tree blocking our path.

A degree yet to be earned.

Words spoken out of anger.

Words not spoken out of fear.

Fear of what others might think.

Fear of too much joy that will pass in time.

Fear of too little joy that will leave us stagnant.

The gate is always guarded

because it is a passageway to another place.

And the dragon knows that we cannot be in this place

until we are ready.

And so he blocks our way with that which

by overcoming

prepares us for what we will find in this other place.

And when we chose to avoid the dragon,

we wonder down paths without obstacles

that take us to places we have already been

and show us what we have already seen

and leave us longing for substance.

And the way it feels when the gate is open

and the real journey lies before us.