Islands are magical places though I'm the first to admit that some are more special than others. Key West is better than Hilton Head, St. Martin eclipses Jamaica and Tybee Island surely bests the British Isles.
Avalon was the magical island where King Arthur got his start when the Lady of the River forged his sword, Excalibur. It was where he went to recover or die from his wounds after the Battle of Camlann and its where he eventually returned the sword when he was said and done with it all.
It's also a song by Roxy Music with the lines ... and the background is fading out of focus, yes the pictures are changing every moment and your destination? you don't know it ... Avalon.
We all believe in mystical places like Avalon, Heaven, Atlantis, the bright lights of a big city or the quiet majesty of the mountains, the plains of the Parries or the serenity of the sea.
So we work towards these places. We travel, pray, believe when there's no real evidence of what we want ever coming true. We become absorbed in the crowd or relish the solitude, touching them from time to time but they never last. Those moments are holy and special. We want them back.
Last night I was tossing and turning in bed, falling in and out of sleep, hugging Sarah or staring at the numbers on the ceiling letting me know what time it was. Thoughts came in rushes, flooding my brain with different images or dreams. I was restless.
As is my custom I climbed out of bed and walked outside in the middle of the night to the beloved back deck. Brilliant stars danced in a black sky. Goddess followed me and lay beside me as I just stood there in prayerful thought.
Several years ago I went through a lot at once, like Arthur's Battle of Camlann. I was left fatally wounded, hurt and betrayed. Avalon was Tybee. Saints came to my rescue and Sarah emerged from a watery past that was suddenly out of focus. Like Arthur leaving Avalon with Excalibur after he was healed because he had more to do ...
I feel that way.
It's why I'm restless.
There is more to do.
All of the things I've done are buried and in the past. What I'm doing now is far more interesting. But the things I will do in the coming years with Sarah are far more intriguing. There were times I felt I'd died and there is no question that lots of people were wishing I'd just go away.
But I didn't.
I've been healed.
And I'm restless ... not for what's next ... but for now.
