A number of elements drew me to Linda’s Mission-Possible Blog Challenge this year, but the first was the Louise Hayes desk calendar image she posted that read, “I chose to come to this planet, and I am delighted to be here.” The image included the eyes of a fox peering playfully over the top of a log. Something about that just cracked me up. It’s certainly not what we’ve been feeling of late—it’s not the most obvious emotion at play in the world, at any rate—and yet it sort of begs the question, what else would I be doing? And where would I rather be?
Linda’s blog challenge is about having a purpose to fulfill in this earthly life. A soul mission. I’m at the point where showing up seems like maybe it was the mission, and this doesn’t seem inconsistent with the image of a fox peering over the top of a log, readying itself to pounce. I think it is the playfulness of that picture that I loved when I saw it, and it is playfulness that seems important to me somehow. To play is not necessarily to have a serious mission, but it’s not wasted time either. Play gladdens the heart, communicates equality and innocence, requires vulnerability. And it transmutes all that time I spend being serious into something useful.
You may have an image of what it is to be a playful person, and I probably don’t fit it. I’m not Will Farrell. And for swaths of my day I’m quite serious about things. But there’s always this fox peering over the log of my own seriousness, waiting to catch me in my own forgetting, and when the time presents itself, he dives into the fray. I can only hold my breath in serious waters for so long. I’m definitely not built to reside there indefinitely, which is kind of interesting given what’s going on right now in the world at large. It’s a pretty serious time, with some form of fear and destruction in the ascension on every front.
There’s a sense for me that weathering the storm of this age may be the mission. Living right through the middle of it. Maybe just knowing that what’s important is our being for one another—being sideless in a way. And I think play can be like that. It doesn’t require a declaration of identity and ideology. It doesn’t require qualifications or expertise. This play to which I’m drawn isn’t what you do when you’re bored, or escaping—it’s the kind of play you do when you’re building something new. It’s a whistling-while-you-work play.
There is a challenge I have sometimes with the specificity of the mission idea, like there’s this one thing in which our lives culminate and which our “success” hinges upon. Maybe that was true of Tesla, or Churchill, or those who have made specific contributions with their genius or strength of character. Maybe it’s true of those who seek to escape the wheel of reincarnation—maybe there is a particular experience to be lived, absorbed, and forgiven that will provide the desired release. I don’t know. But my sense is that in all of these cases there is something even more expansive, more common, even more immediate that underwrites these other notions—the experience of sharing of a meal, of traveling from one place to another, of the wind whisking over the grass, the color of flowers in spring and the scent of snow in winter. There’s a way in which we’re almost always placeless, even when we’re right here.
The idea of a mission breaks down for me when it posits a goal related to being somewhere else. So for me, the mission is to be right here, and to continue being right here, now, free in the creative balance of this moment. I think this brings me back to playfulness, which is always so immediate and so enlivening. If we can discover how to be at peace with one another in these times, it seems a tremendous accomplishment, far greater than any technology or political coup one may have achieved. And so this mission isn’t mine alone. It isn’t personal, in the sense that this sort of goal is not achieved in isolation, or in spite of what else may be occurring.
If I do have a mission, I think it must be the type that unfolds day by day, little by little, under the cover darkness perhaps, whether I am conscious of it or not. The mission is the energy that moves me. It’s the wind that sets my life into motion, and nowhere it takes me will be removed from its aim. I am most content in the knowing that my mission is here and now. When I can settle into the calamity of being with greater ease, I feel the most purposeful, the most powerful, and the most fulfilled.
Embracing Forever 
Dear Michael, I think, when there is a mission in your life it must be the mission that you touch the human hearts with your words because that is, what are you doing so absolutely well. ❤
Warm regards from Vera
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thank you, Vera! I’m touched by your words here. Truly. It’s connections between one another that matter so much. And while I’m on that note, let me say how I love the glorious colored rhythms you bring to us all, Vera!
Peace
Michael
LikeLiked by 3 people
Pingback: Ready, Set , Blog! Divine Mission- Possible – litebeing chronicles
I love your perspective/ mission of a playful fox, watching with a light heart. doing our best to be right here with as much love, compassion, and presence as we can. Thanks for the playful possibilities Michael.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Brad! I can think of nothing more joyful than expressing who we are with joy, and discovering that who we are is truly meaningful to one another. Thanks for all the heart-sharing you do for us, Brad.
Peace
Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Michael.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Michael for a simply lovely and also evocative contribution. I am tickled by how the Louise Hay calendar grabbed your attention. It is interesting to learn how people are inspired.
I agree that perhaps for many of us, just being here is mission accomplished, Your perspective is so uniquely you and also so so relatable.
May I ask that you invite someone to join the challenge if you have done so already? I included this idea in the instructions so that more people could participate and that the messages will take on a life of their own.
blessings with love,
Linda
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Linda. I’m glad it resonated. This one was fun! I don’t know why that image grabbed me so, but I loved it.
Let me think about your request. I’ve only been on-line sporadically of late and don’t want to impose. But I appreciate the spirit of your inspiration. I’ll see what I can do here…
With Love
Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
« When we were children we were errant enough to wish to be birds for the day, but there’s nothing easier to lose than playfulness. » This quote comes from the novel True North by Jim Harrison. Reclaiming this playfulness is an act of defiance in this world. I’ve managed to do it, integrate it into just about everything that I do. But it wasn’t easy. Your soul mission may not be clear to you, but I’d say that sharing your writing, your magic, is very important and so very helpful. Thank you, Michael.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Julie, I love your description of playfulness as defiance. I really resonate with that notion. And you’re right it’s not easy. I think, for me, there was a time when it was much a survival mechanism as anything else–a defiance against the world as it appears to be, and the assertion that somehow we can claim our authenticity from a world of mass manufactured images and conventions. As to my writing… thank you so much. I appreciate it! I feel you are doing the same, and keep looking forward to that memoir!
With Love
Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
‘There’s a sense for me that weathering the storm of this age may be the mission. Living right through the middle of it. This play to which I’m drawn isn’t what you do when you’re bored, or escaping—it’s the kind of play you do when you’re building something new. It’s a whistling-while-you-work play.’ – Yes, absolutely *nods* – You know I am a big fan of ‘play’ Michael, it is to my mind one of the strongest ways to both survive and see a much broader spectrum across the universe. I am also reminded of one of my favourite quotes from a favourite book…
“This is a test to see if your mission in this life is complete – if you are alive, it isn’t.” – Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach.
– Esme Cloud knowing the power of play and the scope of where it takes the human mind.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Haha! Understatement of my blog to date: I (Esme Upon the Cloud) am a big fan of ‘play.’
And to your quote, I just read that book for the first time last year. That’s a great line, and it speaks to the fact that Creation is ongoing I think. Open-ended. And we each have so much to offer, whether we realize it or not in our day-to-day.
Thank you for all your creative genius, Esme. You “play” at a very high level…
Peace
Michael
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hahahahahahaha.I suppose it might be a tad an understatement.
Thank you right back for being one of my longest standing and most welcome players too Michael x
– Esme of tiddlywinks fame upon the Cloud
LikeLiked by 1 person
“If I do have a mission, I think it must be the type that unfolds day by day, little by little, under the cover darkness perhaps, whether I am conscious of it or not. The mission is the energy that moves me.”
And within that space, we grow awareness of the external, and respond to it in ways that nourish and support our inner being, as it connects us to others.
The circle is complete.
No more pressure.
💕
LikeLiked by 3 people
Well said, Val. I agree. As we become present, with heart awareness, we respond in ways no logic might have anticipated–in ways perfect for the moment. This connects us truly with others…
Thank you for the lovely comment.
Peace
Michael
LikeLike
Yes yes and yes to all of this. You make my heart sing. And isn’t that exactly the point.
I’ve long ago let go of the idea of mission or purpose, except as you say – to show up. And have fun. The more detached I get the more it seems to be about having fun – quiet joyous fun. Be here. Be now. It’s not serious. It’s not personal. It just is. What a freedom and a joy there is in that. And if my deepening into this somehow helps the world – wonderful. If it doesn’t – also wonderful. It is what it is. It was such a joy to read this Michael. Thank you.
Alison ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Alison! You make my heart sing, too. And yes, that’s the point: we make each other’s heart sing. Somehow when that desire to use a moment to make ourselves something more fades, we find there’s plenty to discover right here. Plenty to be, to create, to envision, to accept, to hold. Life is good…
Hope you are well!
With Love
Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
a wonderful post Michael, but then I often find the best thought provoking material here. Play is good and a necessity. When we forget how to play, we may as well be dead so to live is to play, even if mental games with ones self I find. I thought about doing this challenge but am unsure how to link back…ah the technical aspects still evade my mind….argh…..and that fox was adorable, Louise knew her stuff like no one else 🙂 I think she’s still around influencing and playing her best game. Peace and love, K
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kim! It’s been a whirlwind here since you wrote. A little airport stranding during the storm last week, and then we had a family Thanksgiving here this weekend. I’m catch up! I love what you say about play–it’s really the heart of life in some ways. Also, if you want to do the challenge I can tell you how to link back. It’s really easy… I can drop you a note if you’re interested… Let me know! T the snow is flying here. I’m loving this quiet day off. Hope you’re having a nice day too, and it’s always a joy to hear from you, my friend.
With Love
Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent Mission.. No better Mission than to embrace the here and Now Micheal. 🙂 While encouraging others within this PLAY.. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sue! Well said. It is all a grand dramatic affair in some sense. I agree. A presentation of who and what we are–which is tragic somehow when we’ve forgotten our essential nature, and joyful once we’ve remembered… 🙂
Peace
Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed Michael, its often hard when one is truly awake to the Play being played out, to see the roles people so easily allow themselves to be manipulated into…
So all we can do is Keep on Keeping on, And making the most of the NOW of Every Moment…. Its the only one we live.. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person