MAZE OF CONFUSION

Distraction and his company run far a head of Awareness and his companions on the path. At every junction, they remove road signs and camouflage the alternative road with bushes so only the way to their snare is distinguishable.

At every crossroad Distraction averts their attention towards the direction he desires them to go. He lures them with sounds that heighten their curiosity. He attracts them with smells that enhance their pleasure. He inspires them with visions that enrich their desires. All the while enticing them into the place he knows few ever find their way out of...The Maze of Confusion.

Once inside the Maze, Deception further beguiles Awareness and his companions with sounds of merriment. Enlightenment warns Awareness that there may be danger in entering the Maze but Awareness is hypnotized by Inquisitive and he ignores the warning. And so the others follow Awareness into the Maze. The sounds of festivity are so intoxicating that Awareness can think of nothing else. He so desires to see what celebration the people might be having. Awareness begins to run. His companions try to keep up but Awareness runs too fast. He runs around several corners, this way and that way chasing the sounds that grow louder and louder as he rounds each corner. By the time the others catch up with him, Awareness is sitting despondently in front of a large speaker on a cart that Distraction was using to lure the three deep into the maze.

“I was so sure I would find some joy in Castle Glade”. Awareness says sadly. “As I turned each corner my hopes increased.”

“There is still hope Awareness”. Enlightenment says with a smile. “There is ALWAYS hope. Remember what Wisdom told you. ‘Origin will guide you by your experiences. Whatever you experience will be necessary for you to fulfill your purpose. There is nothing that can or will happen to you that is unnecessary for you to fulfill your purpose’, she said ‘Each experience will build upon another and will lead to your objective’. It is not to find joy nor to give hope but to only to find the Wounded Child”.

“The more we experience in Castle Glade”. Illumination marvels. “The more I am beginning to understand. It is not within your heart, Awareness that you find this doubtfulness but it is in the nature of this place. And it is not in your body that you have acquired this wariness but it is from the instability of this land. Castle Glade has its foundation in the Land of Uncertainty. The soil is unsettled, shaky and slippery. We have been kicking up this dust since we came into this maze. We have it in our hair, on our clothes, in our mouths and up our nose. Awareness you must cling to your purpose. It is the only sure thing in this castle. For Wisdom has told you that you are to bring light and wholeness to this dark and broken place.

“Then let us get back to our mission,” Awareness says picking himself up and dusting of his distractions. “Does anyone know the way out of here?” Awareness asks after he realizes that he didn’t pay attention to the turns he had made or how many of them.

“No.” Illumination says, “We were trying to keep up with you.”

Awareness decided to go forward because he knew that going back would only take him further away from his purpose and forward seemed to be a more logical direction.

It came about as Awareness and his companions walked down the road discussing their new revelation that they came upon a strange spectacle. Walking, or a reasonable fact similar there of, just ahead of them was a peculiar sight. It appeared to be a set of Siamese twins that were attached at the butt. They were both equally strong, equally stubborn and both bent on going their own way, and so consequently they went nowhere.

It occurred to Awareness as he came closer to this strange character that he might be able to give them some directions out of the maze.

“Good morn… Awareness hesitated. Good eve….” Well he just didn’t know what time of day it was to give the proper greeting and so he asked. “Sir, can you please tell me the direction in which we might be able to find our way out of this maze?”

The nice twin walks over toward Awareness dragging the mean twin behind and says, “The way out is straight down that road 22 blocks and turn right then forward 15 blocks and make a left. Keep going straight until you come to a white gate and that’s the way...”

“No it ain’t.” The mean twin interrupts. “It’s straight down the road that way…” He says pointing down the road perpendicular to the direction the nice twin was indicating. “25 blocks turn left then 5 blocks and make a right. At the end of that road you’ll find a Redwood gate and that’s the way out”.

“No it’s not”. The nice twin says emphatically.

“Yes it is.” The mean twin snarls.

“Whoa!” Awareness referees. “It’s not that important. We’ll figure it out. May I ask your name?”

“I am Ambiguity,” the nice Twin says.

“No! I am Ambiguity!” the mean twin interrupts.

The nice twin ignores the outburst, turns, and gestures toward the group of characters behind him. “And this is my family. My wife, Indecisive…” motioning to a formless, shapeless, undefined woman. “And these are my children, Doubtful, Confused, Double-minded and Vague. Now may I ask your names?”

“I am Awareness”. He says politely. “And these are my most loyal servants Enlightenment and Illumination”. The two Beings of Light bow majestically. “May I ask your purpose?” Awareness inquires.

“My purpose is to wander around”. The nice twin says proudly. “I keep the Maze of Confusion in a state of agitation. I stir up the dust in this place”.

“And how do you do that?” Awareness asks.

“Well, I’m not sure,” The nice twin, says thoughtfully. “Most of the time, I walk around in a fog, then out of the blue I’ll do something stupid…”

“Who you calling stupid!” The mean twin interrupts.

“Now don’t get started!” The nice twin scolds. “You know what happens when you get like this.”

“Get like what!” The mean twin snaps. He then reaches over and smacks the nice twin hard on the back of the head.

“Why you!” The nice twin turns around in anger, leans back and smacks the mean twin across the back of his head. The mean twin hurls around and grabs the nice twin as he takes hold of the mean twin and they begin spiraling in a circle, twirling in a whirlwind and whipping up a dust storm as they wrestle each other down the road.

“Well, that was interesting.” Awareness says. “We had better be on our way.”

Awareness, who is now standing at an intersection, looks down the street one way and then the other. He then looks down the street that Ambiguity whipped all the dust on.

“Let’s go that way.” Awareness points in the direction that Ambiguity went down. “I think the nice twin was right.”

There are many houses on many streets in this Maze. It is much like a city street in any city of the world. Awareness looks at the names of the streets as he comes to them. The first street sign he comes to is Disorder. The next corner street sign reads Chaos. They walk down the street until they come to Turmoil. On the corner is a Three Ring Circus. As they walk farther and farther they notice that the dust that Ambiguity has stirred up is obstructing their view making it harder for them to find their way through the Maze. Down the streets sounds of commotion can be heard. As they come to the corner of Turmoil and Uproar they notice a riot is beginning. There are characters brawling with one another. Then they come to Bedlam. On one corner there is a Madhouse and on another a Free For All.

“I have noticed that as we get farther into the maze things seem to be getting more and more confusing and violent and it looks as though there is a storm beginning”. Enlightenment says, “Maybe we are going the wrong way.”

“That storm is Ambiguity,” Awareness says. “I think he is trying to lead the way.”

“How can you trust that character.” Illumination says. “I didn’t understand a thing he said.”

“Well,” Awareness says, “Wisdom said ‘One experience would build upon another.’ I’m just following my experiences.”

And so they move farther into the Maze until they reach Disorientation. Staggering down the street further they come to Embarrassment. Still moving forward they reach Humiliation. They all walk with their heads bowed low as they drag their feet down this street. In the center of the block there is a bakery where all they sell is Humble Pie. This leads to Demoralization. This street seems to go on forever. Their spirits are crushed. They begin to loose courage for going on and their moral is at an all time low, then they come to Shame. There are signs of Bankruptcy at the storefront windows of every business on this street. Disgrace lives here with his wife Deflated. Their children are Slander, Slur, Smear and Libel. Each one takes turns being drug through the mud. Then they come to Mortification. Along this entire right side of the street is a cemetery.

On the left side is a row of skyscrapers, from which many have leaped to their death. The streets are now deserted.

“How do we get out of this place?” Illumination asks.

“Good question”. Awareness replies. “Maybe we should climb up on top of one of these tall buildings and see if there is any way we can see the edge of the Maze.”

“Looks like a tall one up ahead.” Enlightenment says.

They all walk up to the tallest skyscraper whose name is Overwhelming. They climbed the stairs to the roof and look across at a sea of buildings and streets trying to see the end of the Maze. They notice that all through the streets below the sand storm is growing increasingly worse.

“Have you ever seen such a place as this?” Enlightenment asks with great perplexity.

Awareness simply stares in awe.

Enlightenment and Illumination turned up their light as bright as they can so the night is transformed into day. Just this side of the horizon they catch a glimpse of greenery. However a great wall whose name is Self Denial borders it.

“How will we ever get over that wall?” Illumination asks in bewilderment.

“We’ll find a way when we come to it.” Awareness says confidently. “One step at a time. At least we know that there is an end to this Confusion.”

They start down the stairs to the street below. Halfway down they run into Discomfort and his wife Repressed climbing up the stairs with their children Beat Down, Overburdened and Crushed dragging far behind.

“You all don’t look like you’re from around here,” Discomfort says between his huffs and puffs.

“We’re not,” Awareness says “We are from another land called the Land of New Beginning sent on mission by our king, Origin to Castle Glade to find the Wounded Child.”

“I have heard of such a child.” Discomfort says breathing a bit lighter. “He is being held in the Tower of Perspective by King My Way’s men.”

“And how do we find this Tower of Perspective?” Awareness asks

“That I don’t know.” Discomfort says sadly. “But I do know of someone who can lead you to it. His name is Patience.” Discomfort says, “ He knows the way out of Confusion. He was raised in this Maze and it was here that he found his nature.

“Wait here,” Discomfort says to Awareness. “I will beg my leave from my wife and children and lead you to Patience.”