When Richard Dreyfus’s character had a Close Encounter, his life as he knew it was over. He was driven to find meaning in what seemed incomprehensible. He spent his waking hours searching for the truth, building something that could satisfy some strange longing, a need to connect to something unidentified.
He trashed his job, yard, home, kitchen, and family all to make sense of his need. In that moment (captured by this photo) he recognizes the monstrosity he manifested in the middle of his kitchen existed. That his psychic impressions and fantasies were real. His madness had meaning. His insanity was sane and he could finally lean into the arms of his own truth.
He left what he knew and climbed a mountain to walk hand in hand with those who supported his vision. He found home with the gentle strangers of an Unidentified Flying Object.
This last weekend at the IV Dreamland festival sponsored by Unknowncountry.com,
I realized that I too had been living my whole life for that connection, searching, yearning and finally present to the love that only being with those on a same journey can provide.
All of us there, the attendees and presenters knew on some deep level that this was the place we had to be. These were the people we had to know and this, is what we had to do. Yes there are challenges to be a part of something that on some level has elements of controversy and skepticism, but our attention to shed light on the truth seems more important. This could no more be stopped than banning stars from beaming light. However in our quest there is pain. It is in facing that pain for our truth that we may find bliss.
May we all find the courage to do whatever we must for the bliss of the connection.