In The Presence Of Truth Part 1: A Bedtime Story

Hello, beloveds. This is a longer story I wrote about a woman who feels a little lost in life and then meets a wise woman. The story examines their growing kinship while addressing some of the bigger spiritual questions. There will be eight parts to this story. This is part one.

Music is generously provided by Nature's Eye.

Thank you for listening, dear ones.

Transcript

Hello dear ones,

Welcome to today's story in the presence of truth as always just taking a few moments to arrive here in the space this time is for you there's nowhere that you have to be right now and there's nothing that you have to do this time is for you to rest to relax and when you're ready dear ones we shall begin the air was crisp the kind that made the world feel a little sharper on this particular afternoon the sun hung low in the sky casting long shadows over the quiet lanes of the village Emily was walking her usual route the one that led her out of her small quiet house and through the winding streets down toward the park and back she liked the routine it gave her a sense of control in a world that felt most days too chaotic and vast for her to understand she didn't notice the woman at first just the figure ahead of her walking with a kind of purposeful grace as she got closer Emily's eyes caught the woman's silhouette against the fading light she was older the lines of her face carved deep with age but her posture was erect her stride purposeful she didn't seem frail in fact she radiated strength in a way that made Emily feel small almost invisible in comparison good afternoon the elderly woman called out as they passed one another her voice firm but not unkind Emily startled offered a small smile afternoon the woman paused for a moment turning towards her with a look of curiosity do you walk this way often Emily hesitated and then nodded yes every day the woman studied her for a moment I thought I'd seen you around I'm Margaret she extended her hand her grip firm despite her age Emily she replied shaking it awkwardly Margaret studied Emily with a kind of knowing gaze as though she could see past her surface and into something deeper well Emily I take these walks too you know it's rare to see someone so intent on walking with their head down most people rush through life like they're trying to outrun it but you you're not like them Emily shifted uncomfortably but didn't pull away I suppose I just like the quiet Margaret smiled and it wasn't the kind of smile that suggested sympathy or pity but something deeper like a secret was shared between them quiet is where we find the answers don't you think Margaret said her voice almost playful anyway you must come visit me sometime twice a week usually I make tea I'd love to have you I'm just up the lane she pointed vaguely in the direction of her house a small but charming cottage on the outskirts of the village Emily hesitated wondering if it was strange to invite a stranger into her life like that but something in Margaret's eyes there was an energy there a kind of wisdom made her stay okay I'll come by Margaret nodded good I think we both have a lot to learn from one another the following Tuesday Emily found herself standing at the doorstep of Margaret's house she had almost talked herself out of it after all she didn't know the woman didn't know why she had agreed to this strange invitation but something inside her tugged at her a curiosity she couldn't explain she rang the doorbell and waited the door opened with an almost theatrical creak revealing Margaret standing in the entryway as though she had been expecting her ah Emily come in come in she said stepping aside to let her enter the house was warm the air filled with the scent of herbs and something faintly floral Margaret led her to a cozy sitting room a space filled with bookshelves worn armchairs and the soft light of afternoon filtering through the windows it was a room that spoke of years spent in quiet contemplation of a life lived deliberately please sit Margaret gestured to a chair by the fire where a small kettle of tea was gently steaming I wasn't sure what you liked so I've made chamomile it's always a good choice for when the mind feels a little too heavy Emily sat unsure of what to say Margaret moved around the room with the ease of someone who had lived there for decades pulling out a small plate of biscuits before settling down across from her I don't mean to make you feel like you're under any pressure Margaret said her voice softening as she poured the tea but I think sometimes life finds its way of showing us the paths we need to walk perhaps this is one of those times for you and for me she handed Emily a cup the steam rising in slow spirals paths Emily echoed she hadn't expected such philosophical talk it had been years since anyone had asked her to consider life in those terms Margaret smiled knowingly ah yes the paths we walk they're never as straight as we think they should be and often we are blind to the wisdom we can learn along the way she took a sip of her tea watching Emily over the rim of her cup her eyes as piercing as they were kind I'm not one to make small talk so let me ask you something what do you seek Emily what is it that you are missing the thing you feel you need but can't find the question feeling like it had reached into her soul I don't know she whispered I guess I guess I feel lost like I'm waiting for something to change but I don't know what it is Margaret nodded slowly as if she had been expecting the answer that's the trouble you see we often feel lost because we are waiting we think the world will give us something to make us whole but the truth is the world doesn't give it shows us the way to find it within ourselves the joy you seek it's already there waiting for you to notice it Emily looked at her confused but how do you find it I don't know where to look Margaret's eyes softened and she leaned in slightly her voice growing quieter yet more intense the search itself is the answer Emily when you stop waiting for something to fix you you will see it the life the joy it's already in you it's not a thing to find it's a way of being a choice to live fully in each moment regardless of what comes Emily sat back in her chair trying to absorb the weight of what Margaret was saying it sounded simple but the truth of it felt so much bigger than she was ready for but it's hard I've tried to feel better to enjoy life and it just doesn't happen Margaret smiled not dismissing her struggles but understanding them deeply of course it's hard we are all conditioned to search for happiness outside ourselves but what if the very act of letting go of that search is the key happiness is not a destination Emily it is a way of being when you learn to embrace the present moment without expectation it unfolds before you like a flower but you have to stop running away from it Emily felt a stirring in her chest a flicker of something she hadn't felt in years the possibility that there was a different way to live a way that didn't feel so painful so confusing you don't have to be fixed Emily Margaret continued you're not broken you're simply on a path one that I promise you is leading somewhere beautiful if you choose to let it the weeks that followed were a blur of conversations and slow discoveries Emily found herself returning to Margaret's house twice a week each time feeling a little more alive a little more open to the world around her the conversations though simple seemed to touch something deep inside her awakening a part of herself that she had forgotten existed existed one afternoon as autumn leaves swirled outside the window Emily sat in the same chair by the fire the soft glow of the flames flickering in the quiet room Margaret sat across from her a cup of tea in her hands her expression thoughtful you've been coming here for a while now Margaret said her voice gentle but with an edge of something sharper behind it and I've noticed a change in you Emily you are beginning to look at the world differently Emily shifted uncomfortably unsure how to respond she felt different yes but it was hard to put into words I think so but I don't know how to describe it it's like there's a lightness but it's fragile I'm not sure if I can trust it Margaret's gaze softened and she leaned forward slightly her eyes full of understanding trusting is the first step she said quietly that lightness is the true self emerging the part of you that has always been there but was buried under the weight of your doubts and fears you are learning to trust it even when it seems fragile but trust it you must what if I'm not strong enough to trust it she asked what if I mess up again Margaret smiled a wry knowing smile you will mess up we all do the key is not to see those moments as failures but as part of the learning you see life is not a series of perfect moments it's the messy beautiful dance between joy and pain between moments of clarity and moments of confusion there's no right or wrong way to live Emily there's only your way and that is enough Emily let the words sink in though they felt like both a comfort and a challenge so I'm allowed to make mistakes I don't have to have it all figured out Margaret laughed softly the sound light and unburdened of course you're allowed in fact making mistakes is one of the best ways to grow perfection is an illusion Emily a trap that keeps you from not living fully you're a human being not a machine you are allowed to be messy imperfect and still you are enough Emily felt a warmth spread through her a flicker of something powerful within her chest it was as if the weight she had been carrying all of her life was slowly slowly lifting she didn't have to be perfect she didn't have to have it all figured out she just had to be and Margaret added with a knowing gleam in her eyes sometimes the greatest wisdom comes from the most unexpected places don't forget to laugh along the way Emily life isn't meant to be taken so seriously Emily smiled a genuine light-hearted smile I suppose I do forget to laugh sometimes Margaret leaned back in her chair her face growing contemplated laughter Emily is the soul's way of reminding you that all of this the struggles the pain the questions is not all there is laughter comes when you remember that life is fleeting and in that fleetingness there is freedom it is the freedom to let go to allow yourself to experience joy without needing it to last forever Emily let out a soft laugh a sound more out of relief than anything else I never thought about laughter that way Margaret smiled warmly most people don't but it's the simple things that carry the deepest truths and you Emily are starting to see them the more you see the more you will realize that you are already whole you've always been whole you simply needed to wake up to it for the first time in a long while Emily felt like she was waking up waking up to the world to herself the heaviness that had once defined her life was starting to dissolve like mist in the morning sun and with it she could feel a quiet joy blooming inside her but there was something else too something deeper you mentioned freedom Emily said her voice thoughtful what do you mean by that Margaret's eyes grew distant for a moment as if she were seeing something far beyond the walls of the room freedom she said is not about escaping the world it's about learning to be at peace with it learning to be at peace with yourself freedom comes when you stop resisting life and begin to embrace it fully and completely it's the understanding that nothing not even the pain is permanent everything is fleeting and that is its beauty when you realize that you no longer fear loss you embrace each moment as it comes and in that you find true freedom Emily absorbed the words feeling them settle deep within her Margaret's wisdom was quiet yet so profound that it felt like a shift had occurred within her some things she couldn't quite explain but knew to be true that's beautiful Emily whispered Margaret gave her a small smile as though she were proud of her for finally beginning to understand it's simple really but most people spend their lives chasing after things that will never give them freedom the secret is to stop chasing and start being at peace the peace you seek is already here inside you you simply need to learn how to sit with it Emily sat back letting the stillness of the room settle around her for the first time in what felt like years she allowed herself to just be and in that being there was a quiet peace that washed over her a peace that whispered gently that she was enough just as she was