Who are you? How (and why) did you come into my life at this particular time? Are you the devil? Or are you a guardian angel.... sent for resurrection? Did you come as an answer? Or did you come to pose questions? Are you the door that will open to so many uncharted adventures? Are you the fork on the path I have been traveling? Or are you the stranger that was met on that path? The stranger that will join me now, as I go forward?

Shall I tell you of that path? (I conclude that you wish to know. For to know this is to know me)

A lifetime ago, my feet were set forth upon my path. Heading forward... rarely looking back. As I journeyed, eyes fixed, I was met with many obstacles. The delays that the obstacles posed, only deepened the determination and drive to press on. Eventually, there appeared on the path, a very dark, large looming shape. I came to know this darkness as the shadow of death. Beyond this darkness, though, I could see a bright light... a glowing, effervescent light. A light that called to me.... called to follow. To continue forward. By-passing this darkness that wish to possess, I succumbed to this brightness. I allowed the glow to overtake my being. As my eyes adjusted to this brightness, (a brightness that now surrounded me) the outline of another being began to take form within the circle that I stood. It was a man. A man made of mist. The transparency, however, had the substance of solidity. He joined me on my path. And walked along side, keeping me engulfed in brightness. As we traveled Our path (it was no longer his path... or my path... but Our Path) I accepted this brightness as my Life Force. Without it... I would surely die.

As time went on and the journey forged, I became aware that, at times, he would not be along side of me. But a few steps back. Not so far back that he was out of sight. Just enough that he was not at his place along side. I would stop and wait for him to catch up. And we continued forward.

There was, at one point, a time when I turned to wait, that he was no longer in my sight. He had fallen so far back that he was not in view. I realized, at this time, that not only had he fallen back, but the brightness had begun to diminish. But I waited. I watched. I peered back into the mist for his form to return into the brightness. I knew he was near, as I was still engulfed within his light.

After what appeared to be an eternity, I saw his form. Coming fast... coming surely. Re-joining me upon Our Path. We both stopped for a time. Considered and contemplated upon what had occurred. We each inhaled an extraordinarily deep breath of Life and chose to move forward. But the glow did not regain it's original brightness. The circle had been breached. And, unlike many breaches, this one did not appear to be repairable. But the journey continued, even within this slight flaw.

The oneness continued for quite some distance. And then.... once again... I began to turn and wait for him to catch up. So many distractions continued to pull him from my side. And with each stopping, the brightness escaped through the breach. It was at this last stopping that I forced myself to not look back and watch, but to gaze into the forward distance. Was the path ahead dark? Was the light that glimmered only the residue of a lost reflection? I chose to move forward. I will not look back......................

The stillness of walking silently alone became deafening. The weight of the dark demon bore down. I would not allow myself to be taken this way. Fight... struggle... strive... survive. Depend on no one but myself. Find peace and acceptance in those encumbrances that can not be changed. Never again to be so surrounded by the brightness that blindness occurs. Learn the lessons that were taught. Bare the pains that were left behind when my Soul was torn.

....and from the rubble of despair and dissolution there flew a Dove. Born on the wings of conviction and perseverance.....

Who are you? How (and why) did you come into my life at this particular time?