From The Ashes

The man plopped down on his chair, defeated.

His father's maxims bit his ears and nagged him like tired Christmas jingles.

"No pain, no gain. No guts, no glory. No risk no reward. Gotta' pay to play. You never know until you try."

On and on.

He sat, dazed, in a semi-trance, half-comatose, half numb, with tinges of remorse and disappointment punctuated by an occasional anxiety spike.

He couldn't believe Dad had been gone almost five years.

It seemed like yesterday that they would gather on the back porch to celebrate the victories, cry over the defeats and laugh about both.

Dad always delivered the perfect line, the stern encouragement, the voice of wisdom that transcended the man's annoyance over the unflappable demeanor that smiled regardless, win or lose, rain or shine, day or night.

"I'll have to face this one alone," he thought, smitten with a mix of terror and sadness.

As if he knew how.

A familiar paralysis crept over him like a slow-moving shadow, unobserved, adding darkness in tiny, imperceptible stages until it blocked all light, held him bound to his history, prisoner of his doubt.

His eyes drooped, his hands fell limp, his neck crooned forward, listless and heavy.

"YOU'RE JUST AFRAID," the voice bellowed in his head. "IT'S NOT REAL," it continued, "never is, never was. You know better."

Startled awake, the man let his suppressed smile come through.

"Yeah, Dad," he reflected, "I remember. Nothing to fear but the fear itself. Easy to say, not so easy to do-especially after having your butt handed to you on a platter-again."

Still, the grin lingered, chased out some of the cobwebs.

"Funny how fear works," the man mused, drawing on memories. "Freezes us into inaction, negates powerful lessons, shuts down our creative juice."

All these and more, he had bantered at length on the porch over ?unsweetened ice tea and fat, salted Heinz pretzels in a big brown box.

He wished he had one now.

"Failures come and go-part of life," Dad preached. "Same as triumphs. Not the failure that sets you back, son, only the fear of failure."

The man struggled to apply the notion to today, beaten once more, beaten and tired, a space where the desire to quit and pack it in held court in full regalia, so many jesters and wannabes heckling their own loserisms, taunts and jeers.

"Told you so-should have listened-bail while you still can-get a real job-nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah?"

"Only the FEAR of failure?"

Dad's mandate.

"That's all it is." The man wrestled in his mind. "I have failed many times and so what. I might succeed on the next one. Failure's not so bad, unless it traps me into never starting over."

The man looked around the room, as if to conjure the image of his father, an involuntary shudder rippling down his spine.

"I know, I know," he spoke out loud. "Sometimes it just takes me a minute."

He pushed himself erect, picked up his chin and settled his gaze on the picture on the mantelpiece.

"I know," he repeated. "I know."

That's A View From The Ridge...

About The Author

Author Ridgely Goldsborough invites you to subscribe to The Daily Column, a heart-felt collection of stories that inspire hope and courage. Please do so at www.aviewfromtheridge.com.

ridge@aviewfromtheridge.com

---

Fear No Evil - How To Avoid Worry And Fear

"Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow... Read More

Your Support Network

Quick. Who's in your support network? Huh? What's a support... Read More

Caring in My Sisters Way: A Lesson On Judgement

Last summer, I had an acute case of bronchitis. I... Read More

Exceptions To The Rule

Yesterday I turned 48, and she just turned 21. Uh-oh,... Read More

Why You Are Special and Why Does It Matter

Why 'you are special'?Why and how does it matter?Things you... Read More

The Beauty of Life

"An unexamined life is not worth living."-- SocratesI have just... Read More

Forgiveness

"If unresolved anger is a toxin to the spirit, forgiveness... Read More

Circles On The Water ? The Impact You Make On People?s Lives

When you were a child, or maybe even when you... Read More

Aftermath of a Child?s Near Death Experience

An 18 month-old girl lay dying of diphtheria in January... Read More

Just One Person We All Need

I understand that all the self made people of this... Read More

Keep Hope Alive

"Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the... Read More

Tighten Your Connection

It was my first and last experience with a pneumatic... Read More

Showing Your Appreciation - How To Make Others Feel Special

"There are fine things which you mean to do someday,... Read More

Full Disclosure

Direct Answers - Column for the week of April 21,... Read More

The Bouncer (Turning Defeat into Victory)

I'm a pretty competitive guy, though I try to keep... Read More

Message From An Angel - Is It Yours ?

This is a message from an Angel. Can you relate?... Read More

In Search For Wealth

My eldest son phoned me the other night to let... Read More

The Essence Of Freedom

Life is too hard and too risky in the eyes... Read More

Make A Difference - Just Go Make A Difference!

Three Words That Can Help Us Live Exceptional LivesCertain words... Read More

Wisdom of the Worlds Proverbs

You don't have to excavate diamond mines or oil fields... Read More

An Extraordinary Person

I am not going to tell you the story of... Read More

Secrets Exposed

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 13,... Read More

Self Help When Youre In Debt

It's no fun being in debt.Money shortages are always stressful... Read More

You Are So Unreal

Mankind's ability to give life to lifeless objects, gives rise... Read More

Do You Pay For Services Out of Obligation or Appreciation?

Have you ever paid for services rendered with a strong... Read More

When Self-Growth becomes Self-Sabotage

Many of us invest quality time and energy into our... Read More

Anam Cara - Going Beyond The Good

In Corrogue I receive a gift of love.I awake to... Read More

Remember The Titans --Let Them Never Forget...

In the popular movie, "Remember the Titans" most of us... Read More

Create Your Way Out of It

When life has you feeling less than happy, and you... Read More

A Teller Of Tales

Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 10,... Read More

Even the Smallest Sound

You are probably in front of your computer screen at... Read More

Why My Wife Is My Hero

My name is Chas Brothers. Many of you know me... Read More

Martial Arts CHARACTER And the Universal Law of Interdependence - The Keys to Life Mastery, Key #2

In the philosophical teachings which form the foundation for the... Read More