In The Presence Of Truth Part 3: 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 three, dear ones.
Music is generously provided by Nature's Eye.
Thank you for listening, my loves, and take care.

Transcript

Hello dear ones and welcome to today's reading in the presence of truth part three as always my dears just taking a few moments to arrive here in the space letting go of the day the to-do list and just arriving fully here now there's nowhere you need to be and there's nothing that you need to do just rest and when you are ready dear ones we shall begin it was one of those crisp clear days in early winter when the sky seemed impossibly blue and the air was full of that sharp invigorating cold emily stepped inside margaret's house the familiar warmth greeting her immediately like an embrace margaret was sitting by the fire again her usual calm presence filling the room but today there was something more something unspoken in the air come sit margaret sang her voice inviting though there was a certain stillness in her eyes as though she were contemplating something deeper emily hesitated for a moment sensing the shift in the atmosphere as she settled into the chair margaret didn't immediately speak instead watching the flames dance her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her teacup finally after what felt like a long moment of shared silence margaret spoke do you know emily that all of us are born with a deep longing margaret's voice was soft yet her words seemed to hang in the air like an echo a longing for something greater something we can't even name sometimes a longing for connection for meaning for truth but most people spend their lives searching for it outside of themselves chasing after things thinking that they need more more possessions more achievements more validation when all they truly need is to look within emily leaned forward slightly intrigued but uncertain but isn't that what we're all doing trying to find something i mean we can't just ignore the world around us can we isn't it important to have things to to accomplish something margaret chuckled her eyes crinkling at the edges of course it's important to live in the world but you see emily the things we chase often mask the truth we already possess the world outside as beautiful and vibrant as it is is only a reflection of what's within us and when we forget that we get lost in the chase we think that we need to have this or that in order to feel fulfilled to feel complete but the truth is you are already complete you always have been emily frowned slightly the concept challenging her but if we're already complete why do we feel empty sometimes why do we search for meaning margaret's gaze softened and she took a slow sip of tea ah the feeling of emptiness she said it's not really emptiness at all it's simply the space where we've forgotten who we truly are the longing you feel the search for meaning it's not a sign of something missing in you it's the soul calling you to remember to return to yourself but most people instead of listening to that call try to fill it with things that can never truly satisfy the world outside can never fill the emptiness because it was never the world's job to do so that job belongs to you emily looked down at her hands trying to make sense of margaret's words they stirred something within her a flicker of recognition but also a deep discomfort so how do we return to ourselves how do we listen to that call when everything in the world is so distracting margaret's smile was gentle but there was a firmness in her voice when she replied it begins with stillness you must create space in your life for silence for quiet it is in that silence that you can hear the whispers of your own soul the whispers that have always been there but were drowned out by the noise it's the noise of the mind of society of your own fears but when you sit quietly when you allow yourself to simply be you begin to reconnect with what is real emily's heart quickened her mind racing to catch up and if we do that what happens what do we find margaret leaned forward slightly her eyes piercing but warm what you find emily is peace true peace not the fleeting kind that comes from external circumstances but the deep peace that comes from within the kind of peace that is unshaken by the events of the world and once you find that peace everything else becomes clear you realize that you don't need to chase after things anymore you don't need to prove yourself you are enough as you are emily sat back in her chair her mind spinning the idea was both daunting and liberating to find peace to stop chasing to simply be could it really be that simple could she really stop striving and allow herself to simply exist but how do we know when we found it emily asked her voice betraying a hint of doubt how do we know when we've truly stopped searching margaret paused her gaze distant as she considered the question you'll know emily she said you'll know because the search will cease the longing won't disappear but it will change it will no longer be a hunger that drives you but a quiet contentment you will find that you are at peace with the imperfection of it all and that will bring you joy true joy not the kind that comes from things or achievements but the kind that rises from within from the knowing that you are exactly where you need to be emily felt a deep stillness settle over her a profound sense of understanding beginning to form it wasn't a full realization not yet but something in her head had shifted maybe it wasn't about chasing at all maybe it was about remembering about letting go of the noise and allowing the truth to surface i think i'm starting to understand emily said her voice barely above a whisper margaret smiled her eyes soft with approval it's not a race emily the journey inward is one of patience of gentle unfolding you don't need to rush it just keep coming back to yourself over and over again and with each return you'll find more peace more joy more of the truth that has always been there for a long time neither spoke they simply sat together the fire crackling softly in the background and the quiet sense of something deep and unspoken hanging between them the next time emily arrived at margaret's house the sky outside was a heavy gray and the air smelled of rain she had expected the usual warmth but this time as she entered margaret was standing by the window looking out her back to the door emily hesitated unsure if she should disturb the moment but then margaret turned a small but knowing smile crossing her face come in emily she said softly her voice as steady as ever sit we have much to talk about today emily walked over taking her usual seat by the fire margaret had set out two cups of tea and the scent of something sweet was lingering in the air cinnamon perhaps the room had a different energy today almost as if the storm outside was reflected in the quiet undercurrent of their conversation after a long pause margaret spoke you asked me last time how to know when we've stopped searching when we found peace but there's another layer to it isn't there her voice was calm but there was an edge to it as if she were about to take them into new territory emily nodded curious what do you mean margaret's gaze thrifted again to the window the rain beginning to tap lightly on the glass it's not just about finding peace within though that's an essential part no emily the deeper question is how we live with that peace once we have found it once we found our own stillness how do we live in the world that seems to be full of chaos of noise of confusion emily sat up feeling the weight of the question settle over her she had been so focused on finding peace within on the internal journey that she hadn't fully considered what it meant for her life outside but doesn't that mean we have to give up the world outside if we want peace we have to retreat from all the distractions she asked slowly her brow furrowing with concern margaret shook her head gently her smile a little sad no no that is the misunderstanding that so many people have they think peace can only exist in isolation in retreat but that is not true peace that is avoidance emily true peace comes not when we hide from the world but when we learn to live within it without being consumed by it emily absorbed her words trying to understand so you are saying that peace is something we carry into the world not something we escape to exactly margaret said you don't need to run away from the chaos what you need to do is stop allowing it to define you the world will always have its storms its noise its distractions but you have the choice to stand in the midst of it all and still remain grounded still remain yourself but how emily asked feeling a wave of frustration rising within her how do i stay grounded when everything feels so overwhelming when there are so many voices so many demands so much to do margaret's expression softened and she reached across the table gently placing her hand over emily's oh my dear it's not about doing more it's about doing less with more presence every moment you spend chasing after things validation success approval you are creating more distance between you and your peace when you slow down when you listen deeply to the moment you are in you find the ground beneath your feet no matter how much the world shakes emily felt a shift inside her the frustration beginning to melt away so it's not about fighting the noise it's about changing how we react to it yes margaret said her voice quiet and firm it's not about trying to control the external world it's about controlling how you respond to it your peace is within you the noise of the world cannot take it from you unless you give it permission to and if you can learn to live from that place of stillness everything else will fall into place but that sounds so hard emily murmured her voice tinged with doubt how do i know when i've really learned to respond from that place of stillness and not from my fear or my anxiety margaret's smile deepened and she leaned back in her chair her eyes thoughtful you will know emily because you will no longer need to control everything you will stop seeing every moment as something to fix something to perfect you will simply be present accepting the flow of life as it is without judgment emily thought about this a sense of quiet awe filling her the idea that she didn't have to fight the world that she didn't have to be at war with everything around her it was a powerful thought but also a deeply freeing one so the secret emily said slowly as if piecing things together is acceptance accepting what is and learning to find peace within it yes margaret said her voice full of warmth acceptance does not mean resignation it means seeing the world as it is without the need to change or fix it you accept the present moment as it is with all its imperfections and in that acceptance you find your peace emily sat in silence for a moment the weight of margaret's words sinking in there was something profound about it something she hadn't considered before to stop trying to fix everything to simply accept the world as it was without the constant pressure of needing to change it to control it margaret's voice brought her back from her thoughts you see emily peace is not the absence of chaos it is the presence of something deeper within you something that remains untouched no matter what's happening around you and when you learn to live from that place everything changes a quiet understanding began to form inside emily she had been running chasing chasing trying to keep up with the world around her but maybe just maybe the key wasn't in running faster the key was in standing still in accepting the world as it was and letting go of the need to control it i think i understand emily said softly a small smile playing at the corners of her lips margaret smiled back her eyes twinkling with that quiet knowing good emily it's not an easy lesson but it's the one that will set you free