Welcome to this meditation on finding help.
You'll probably find it easiest if you close your eyes and just listen to my voice.
Start by bringing your attention to your breath,
Which can settle and ground you.
Just observe the rise and fall of each breath.
How shallow or deep your breaths are.
How evenly paced.
Don't change or force anything.
Just observe.
It's a helpful way of focusing and calming yourself.
Life can be difficult and challenging at times.
Sometimes the difficulties arrive uninvited and sometimes we bite off more than we can chew.
In times of challenge,
We just sometimes need help from beyond ourselves.
I want you to imagine that you are on such a mountain,
A mountain of challenge that has beauty and yet obstacles.
And as you find yourself standing on this mountain,
You see the slope rise quite steeply before you.
And you wonder exactly where the summit is and if you might ever reach it.
You've been walking a while and you're tired.
And as you're wondering how to proceed,
Where the path might be,
You hear footsteps below you.
Footsteps of someone climbing.
And you see them approach.
You immediately feel reassured that you aren't alone on this mountain.
There's another person here.
Another person facing the same ascent as you.
You notice they're more sure-footed than you.
And they seem to know how to climb and also seem to know the best path to pick.
Picking up your rucksack,
You follow them.
Follow their path as they trace the best route around rocks,
Around bushes.
And they seem to have slowed their pace,
Perhaps deliberately as if waiting for you so you can follow their footsteps.
And you're grateful and reassured.
Reassured that this climber who seems to know what they're doing is showing you how to navigate this mountain.
And so you follow behind them.
As your rucksack becomes heavier and heavier,
You notice their hand reaching back towards you to your shoulder.
And this person takes the strap off and lifts the rucksack from you and helps it themselves.
You're so relieved to have this help.
And you feel lighter having shed this burden.
You keep going.
The climber reassures you that it's not far.
They assure you it exists and that it's not far now.
They seem to believe that you can do this.
And so you follow them,
Tired as you are,
Reassured by their presence,
Encouraged by their words,
Relieved by offloading your rucksack onto them.
And you keep going,
Gaining confidence.
And as you approach what seems to be the final stretch,
You find it to be the greatest challenge that you've faced yet.
Because the solid rock beneath you now has become scree,
Moving pebbles and stones beneath your feet that you can't seem to find a place to gain a foothold.
And as you're scrabbling and struggling and tired,
The climber realizes and they reach down,
Offering you their hand.
And you take hold of it.
They seem to have found a steady ledge.
They seem to be able to hold on and have a grasp of this mountain.
And you take their hand and you allow them to gently pull you up to higher ground.
They keep you upright.
Their presence strengthens and reassures you.
And just when you'd almost wondered if you'd ever reach it,
You find yourself on the summit.
You raise your head realizing that you've arrived.
And you stand up on this small flat rock at the top with your fellow climber.
And you look out at the incredible vista before you.
You have a perspective that you never had before.
Things seem very different up here.
The air is cooler,
Refreshing.
The sunlight is bright,
Almost piercing.
And you feel jubilant that you've made it.
You look down on that mountain slope that you've ascended.
It seems smaller than when you were on it.
Less significant because you've arrived at where you long to arrive.
You have reached the summit.
But you haven't done it on your own.
You've found help from this fellow climber,
More experienced,
Compassionate.
Strong,
Present,
Available to you.
Perhaps this climber represents someone significant for you.
Perhaps they represent the ideal helper that you long for.
Perhaps they could even symbolize God who helps.
You can choose how you see this person.
But allow this helper,
This person,
This being,
This presence.
Let's call it the presence of help.
Allow their presence to inspire,
Strengthen and encourage you on your challenging journeys.
And reach out for help beyond yourself.
When you seek you will find.
And take a few more breaths.
And you can allow the images to fade and gently open your eyes and end this meditation.
