Metaphorically Speaking

Class was in full swing. Students were scattered around practicing their scenes to small audiences of peers. Each member of the group in turn made comments on how the performance could be more convincing.

Carrying a handbag and rolling a suitcase was not easy. The cobblestone seemed to make the handbag heavier and the suitcase slower. They weighted me down, even pained me at times, but I trudged along in spite of them.

I was enrolled in the class. However, today I was more of an onlooker than an active participant. I simultaneously watched and moved along the large, dark room toward the stairs. I watched them practicing. I watched myself looking at them, all the while I lurked in the background, simply doing what needed to be done. The sting of unfulfilled desire and the heaviness of inability slowed the pace of my footsteps. I wanted to leave that place but the scene seemed to last for hours.

I really was doing my best to move on - the need to put my baggage...in it's place...away...down...was strong - but was thwarted. The stairwell had been blocked. I looked down for any possible way to move toward my destination - even though it was not really a place. The floor was covered, tools and materials were everywhere, a hand written sign hung with tape smack in the middle of the walkway. "Do NOT enter unless you really, really need to" it said.

I felt that I needed to but more strongly that I couldn't. My journey is on hold, I thought. Someone else is busy doing his work and projects. These are too important to simply move beyond. Mine must lie in wait.

NO! I'm carrying the bags! I really, really do need to enter. I'll find a way around the heaviness of - to work with - the projects, tools, materials and signs.

But maybe you could help? I need a little guidance to safely find my way!