The Timeless Conversation
a poem by Dave Cortright
— <sigh>
I sense your struggle
— I’m fine
It’s ok to struggle
We all struggle from time to time
You don’t have to go through it alone
— I can manage myself
I understand
I am here for you
When you are ready
[later]
— I’m struggling
You are courageous to admit that
Tell me more
— I have so much sorrow
Share it with me
We can work through it together
— I have no hope
Take some of mine
I have more than enough for both of us
— I am afraid
I am with you in your fear
You are not alone
— I am not worthy
I would not be here if you weren’t worthy
Even though you do not believe it
My presence proves otherwise
[pause]
— Why are you doing this?
I am you
Your suffering is my suffering
We suffer together
— I don’t understand
The only difference between you and me is time
You are me in the past
I am you in the future
— That doesn’t make sense
I understand
In time you will gain the wisdom I now possess
You will become me
— I could never become you
You believe that now
I did too when I was you
When I was talking to future me
Then I grew older
And I became him
Finally I Knew what he meant
You will too, in time
— I don’t see it
Because it is not yet time for you to see
Just be with me now
And share your struggle
There is nothing more to do
[long pause]
— I am so angry and scared and sad and full of shame
I see you
I see your pain
I accept it all
This doesn’t mean you’re broken
This doesn’t mean you’re unworthy
On the contrary
It is precisely this
That makes you human
And makes you worthy
— I don’t know how to do this
Yet here you are doing it
Uncertainty is normal
Embrace it
Be open
Be truthful
Be patient
But most importantly
Be present in the conversation
[pause]
— How can I ever repay you?
You owe me nothing
When you become your future self
You will meet your past self
Just as I am here in this moment with you
Just as my future self was there with me
And then you will Know
It is them whom you owe
Epilogue
[time passes]
— I think I’m ready… but how will I know my younger me?
If you look with care and compassion
You will see they are ALL you
At different stages
On different timelines
Once you let go of yourself in the present
You will see — not separate individuals at one moment in time
But one being at all moments of time
Some call this god, but it is beyond labels and language
