Whether you drive a car with a manual or automatic transmission, (yes, some of my readers remember when automatic was an expensive option), a transmission itself is a fascinating bit of machinery. Move the gear shift from park to drive and a car will move forward. A slight movement of the shift and the car will go backwards. In a lot of cars the movement is a matter of an inch or less from going in one direction or the other.
Each and every one of us has a similar transmission and ability to change gears and direction. If you hang onto your troubles it is a matter of choice. Our troubles do not cling to us except as we attract them and hold onto them. When we merely make a slight adjustment our troubles drop off and we are at peace. It is our own hand on the gearshift – always. The force that drives us backward will drive us forward with equal power, if we merely change its application.
Dear Webb,
Beautifully written, my friend. Interestingly, I wrote one of my poems a few years ago that was quite similar. We had just returned from a vacation with a couple friends, during which I shared the driving responsibilities in their SUV. It happened that the transmission failed when I was driving, leading me to draw comparisons with my being stuck in a personal place, not able to move forward or backward. The personal growth work we have done since was in part inspired by that insight.
This morning after reading your post, Casey suggested that your next book should be a compilation of your Pew writings! Worth considering, Webb!
Your friend
Tom