Until One Is Committed
08.31.2011 | 0 comments

Last year on this very day, I discovered a brilliant poem by Goethe (reprinted below). I was moved then, and am again now. This past year of my life has been propelled by these very concepts, as I danced fully with truly committing – to all flavors and colors of things – letting the universe know that I was willing and ready to receive the fruits of such a seemingly dangerous and daring act. Asking the great wheels of Serendipity and Cosmic Convergence to get moving with me, lighting the unknown pathway ahead.

And the sheer fact is: This principle that Goethe asserts has not failed me. I may have failed it, periodically misplacing Faith, brushing off major moves of Providence as minor, and entertaining busy-mind thoughts that often spiraled into the cavernous wondering What’s it all for? All of these things asking me to re-commit, again and again.

In the end, I have been met. In every way imaginable and beyond. No, my commitments didn’t come solely in the form of carefully-phrased words spoken every day from the comfort of my favorite chair (though there was plenty of that). There was blood, sweat and tears. Periods of anger, frustration and fear. Moments of ease, grace and magic. All reminding me what it feels like to truly commit. To feel the pulse of sure and certain commitment coursing through my veins. To know the aliveness of trusting courageously.

And where I am, 365 days later, is nothing I could have designed on my own. The map that has emerged and emblazoned itself on my life’s canvas is pure genius, better than any topographic scribbles I might have attempted.

Standing here with Goethe by my side, as I commit yet again, I challenge you to commit. Really commit. Especially to those things that make you hesitate that one extra second. Step over the threshold. Fully. Feel the power of all that you can conjure with one, clear commitment. Allow yourself to be dazzled and amazed… pierced straight through the heart by Providence.

 

Until one is committed,
there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative and creation
there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
that the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then Providence moves too.
All sort of things occur
to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor
all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance,
which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do,
or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it.

~ Goethe