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Being on the Edge

by Fran Ward, Ph.D.

This sermon is about being on the edge. Have you ever found yourself standing on the edge of a cliff? The automatic response when you are standing with your toes overhanging is to look down and to correct your balance with your arms extended behind you.

Do you feel exhilaration? Do you feel fear? Do you feel that you have reached a high level somehow and don’t want to drop?

Is there an inexplicable feeling washing over you? Are you automatically saying, “Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Oh, my God!”?

When you are on the edge, know that there are emotions to sort out.

Well, you need to sort them out after you have first determined whether you will remain standing on the cliff.

If you do not stay on the cliff, one way or another, your sorting out will take a different direction.

Not everywhere you stand is at the edge of a cliff. When you find yourself on the brink, however, you will not know how you got there.

You will only know that the next step is an important one. Well, surprise, every step is an important one. It is a series of steps that brought you to the edge. One step at a time led you here, there or nowhere.

Well, surprise, every step is an important one.

Some steps are more dramatic than others. Standing overlooking space, depth and the bottom far, far away is a lesson in visual perception.

You could stand looking at artwork for a long time and still not get it. When you are standing on the precipice overlooking eternity and a horrifying new future other than what you expected, you can size up the situation in an instant. You get it, and you have already formulated your decision.

When you are on the edge, even if there is someone or even a crowd with you, you know that you are acting and thinking independently of anyone else. They do not matter. Your decision is yours.

You will live with the consequences for the rest of your life. The rest of your life, in terms of length of time remaining, could depend heavily on your decision. It is wise to marshal your forces, call on your guides, do the clearest thinking you have ever done and proceed sure-footedly.

Whether you jump and crash or step back and walk away, the decision is yours. You can also decide to jump and fly. Trust. Believe. And don't just try this at home. Try it everywhere.

From: On the Edge: 20 Pieces of Peace of Mind