Fear and Letting Go

The title-track from the same-named 1969 John Denver album "Rhymes and Reasons"; with its simple yet elegant message is as poignant and relevant today as it is when it was written all of those years ago.

These lines from the first stanza seem to eloquently summarize the very state of being for many in the World today… “Fear that is within you now; It seems to never end; And the dreams that have escaped you; And the hope that you’ve forgotten.”

Fear is the antithesis of Love; for it is the nemesis of the soul’s freedom and that which binds the holder of that fear, turning them into both prison and prison guard of their own self-created prison to which they are bound. The holder of Fear holds the key to their own freedom; and that key is to just let go.

Let go of the egoic mind, of judgments, of perceived realities and personal vestments in such things. Live in the present moment of now. When you realize that you can live in such presence in the present moment of now; that is inserting the key in the lock. When you turn that key and actually live in the present moment of now, you release yourself from the egoic mind and personal vestments, accepting what is by letting go and living in true freedom.

Just as the song and its message are simple, do not confuse this with to mean that either is simplistic. This message, albeit very old, is so simple that it all-too-often appears to be very complex when in fact when the very nature of it is the exact opposite. We can see evidence of this all around you where people have all sorts of systems (usually in the form of some religion) where they try and find a path to freedom, to enlightenment, to connection and communion with the Source of All That Is. People often times look to these complex external systems with their Exoteric design versus Esoteric. While Exoteric is external, Esoteric is internal. (For further details on the two different positions, see the link at the bottom of this article)

Rhymes and Reasons (3:17)

So you speak to me of sadness
And the coming of the winter
Fear that is within you now
It seems to never end
And the dreams that have escaped you
And the hope that you’ve forgotten
You tell me that you need me now
You want to be my friend

And you wonder where we’re going
Where’s the rhyme and where’s the reason
And it’s you who cannot accept
It is here we must begin
To seek the wisdom of the children
And the graceful way of flowers in the wind

For the children and the flowers
Are my sisters and my brothers
Their laughter and their loveliness
Could clear a cloudy day

Like the music of the mountains
And the colours of the rainbow
They’re a promise of the future
And a blessing for today
Though the cities start to crumble
And the towers fall around us
The sun is slowly fading
And it’s colder than the sea

It is written from the desert
To the mountains they shall lead us
By the hand and by the heart
They will comfort you and me
In their innocence and trusting
They will teach us to be free

For the children and the flowers
Are my sisters and my brothers
Their laughter and their loveliness
Could clear a cloudy day

And the song that I am singing
Is a prayer to non believers
Come and stand beside us
We can find a better way

Words and music by John Denver
“Rhymes and Reasons” are © Cherry Lane Music Pubg Co Inc

For further information on the meanings of Exoteric versus Esoteric, please visit: http://www.kheper.net/topics/esotericism/esoteric_and_exoteric.htm

Copyright © 2010 Ron Schreiner All Rights Reserved