THE HIGH BAR OF EXPECTATION

© 2009 Howard McQueen

I’ve seen it rise up in myself
and in many others, countless times,
this raising of the high bar of expectation,
so high
even a great Olympian pole-vaulter
could not begin to elevate and ascend.

Overcome with feelings of deep neediness,
sizzling inside, like a bead of water
dropped on a white hot frying pan,
our expectations rise.

We prepare all our tricks and manipulations,
ready to hook the Prize,
engage our co-dependent patterns established
and imprinted earlier in our lives.

Were we to stop and consider
the energetic reaction levitating the high bar,
we would become privy to real eyes-ing the
keys to our covered over Kingdom of Joy.

Our malformed, now obsessed over and crippling
childhood definitions and templates of unconditional love.
We are cramping, deeply constricting around these.
It’s not so much that the bar is set so high,
as we have in the moment of recalling past memories,
become so shrunken,
so hunkered down.

So, be gentle, and be persistent.
These conditions,
this plight,
when illuminated by the light you will bring within,
will be your guide and teacher,
that you will learn from,
to transform,
and manifest
the eternal wellspring of joy.