The dilemma of pulling things up from below

By Dr. Steve Goldberg, Chiropractor and Naturopathic healer
Forward by Howard McQueen

Forward
I sent Steve an email describing a big chunk of deep fear that broke free from a Fearberg inside me. I was working to keep a balance on my journey and shared my experience with him. Below is Steve’s response, which he allowed me to republish.

THE DILEMMA OF PULLING THINGS UP FROM BELOW
I respect your searching, the dilemma of pulling things up from below. The analogy for me is fishing in the Back River at Tybee.

A line can be dropped from a boat in the middle of the river where it is the deepest. Something will take the bait, get hooked. Because the salt water here is so dark compared to the Caribbean or Pacific waters, we can't see what has come up from the depths till we get it out of the water.

The dilemma then is what to do if we caught a toad fish or something non edible or something from the unconscious that makes us uncomfortable. Do we realize, sanitize, and neutralize what stinks or throw it back into the depths and hope it sinks out of sight and out of mind -- for a while anyway. Then, head for dry land, take a break and go lie on the beach in the sun; but, being mindful of sunburn. This dilemma of life is un-escapable.

A question is how do we navigate our way thru the mess and manage to be joyful and peaceful. Create a mask or semi-permeable barrier to still let in life giving oxygen, but neutralize the ever present smell of crap from the accumulation of the toxic waste? Where is the Safe Zone? How do we manage to sustain a healthy open heart?

Somehow, [our work is to] clear up and clear out our inner pain, deception, fear, mistrust and transform the toad fish into something nicer to be around. Be compassionate with the ignorance, selfishness and harm that others cause. Just visiting here may be the best attitude. Maybe, our attitude is probably one of the only things of permanence we really own? Be in this world, but not of it. Peace and Joy must somehow be the reward of this effort.

Ah, yes, time to go to work...