I'm cautiously thrilled to be returning to in-person events again. Yea, I know, the words "cautiously" and "thrilled" are not usually found in the same sentence. But these are weird times, and so I'm doing my best to surf the waves of change and weirdness. Anyway...
I've recently led some family-friendly events: drums and rattles and good vibes involved. After the gatherings, I'm often approached by individuals with feedback and questions, but this particular powerful interaction is emblazoned in my mind...
A sweet boy, about 9 years old, patiently waits his turn to talk to me.
"Elke, I have 2 questions for you." I'm short, so it didn't take much to kneel to eye level.
"OK. I'm ready, what are they?"
He steadily gazes into my eyes. "Well, I was going to ask what my aura looks like, but I need to ask an important question first." Brief pause. Still gazing:
"Do I have have a future?"
Stunned, it took me a few ticks to collect myself. Neither of us broke our steady gaze. I inhaled and answered from my heart to his: "You are the future, sweetheart. Now let me tell you about your aura..."
Which I proceeded to do, and talked about his purpose for coming to this planet. He asked a few questions, and this seemed to satisfy him...for the moment. Yet, just as I was about to ask for a hug goodbye he said,
"I don't play video games anymore. Do you want to know why?"
Duh, of course I did! "I'd love to know why."
"Because life is a video game, so I'm playing that game."
And then he holds forth:
"But I have to take a break and put the controls down sometimes."
I'm fascinated: "How do you do that?"
He looks at me, and says, as if this is so friggen' obvious: "I play in nature. I talk to trees or birds. They talk back to me. Nature is real. The video game is not"
Ok. Now.
This conversation is with a 9 y.o boy, OK? I was impressed with his insights, so I asked him, "Do you know what a 'simulation' is?"
"Of course I do. It's the video game of life."
Whooboy.
I finally asked him if I had answered his important question. He nodded yes, and said it was good enough for now.
Good enough for now. That seems to be the best I can do when wisdom and curiosity comes to call. Yet, I wonder if my initial answer to his question might be good for all of us:
"You are the future."
I guess we'll have to see.