Reading one of the stories in the Gateway.
It's a book of fables available on amazon.
Com,
Kindle.
It's by me,
Premise suited Janet Hobbs,
And this one's called Dreams and Mirages and Truth.
This story happened once upon a time ago,
Or else maybe I dreamt it.
But once upon a time there was a white house with green shutters and a white picket fence.
There was something make-believe and happy about the place,
As if it came out of a child's tale where life is always magical and good.
For once I'm in the story.
In fact,
I can't help walking in the front door because the house seems so happy and idyllic.
But am I surprised at what's inside?
Anyone who comes in is invited into the dining room.
The trouble is that instead of being served dinner,
They're being shot.
A crazy fellow is methodically shooting everybody who enters.
But what is even more insane,
And I really want to shout this,
Is that a whole lot of people are lining up waiting to go into the dining room just because they have been told to,
Even though they know they're going to be shot.
Oh boy.
Then I notice the front door is still open and no one's there guiding it,
Guarding it or anything.
So I figure maybe I can turn around and walk out.
The choice is clear.
If I file into the dining room with everyone else,
I'm definitely going to be shot.
But if I just turn around and walk out,
Chances are no one will notice and I won't get shot at all.
So without much fear,
Simply making a choice,
I turn around and walk out the front door.
No one notices.
I'm free.
I run into a nearby police station to tell the officers what is happening.
So the story almost has a happy ending.
You know,
Thinking about it,
The house was a kind pictured in government pamphlets where the words suggest everything is well taken care of,
Even if the text announces increased taxation or tells us we're losing our freedoms in words scripted to hide the truth.
Oh boy.
That story actually was a dream and I think it's pretty clear what it means.
That lots of times in our society things are sold to us and the picture is illusion and the truth of what is actually going on is far less pleasant.
One of the things that has really helped me over the course of my life is paying attention to what my body,
What was going on in my body.
In fact,
I remember someone telling me that they were going to a party and they just got this funny feeling right at the door and they decided not to go in and it turned out that,
You know,
Later in the evening there were incidences of serious violence.
So it was a good thing this person didn't go.
So I think we get the signals.
So pay attention to our bodies if we need help decoding things.
Thanks for listening.