Beyond the River by Hans Brockhuis

Rainbow_over_the_Flooded_River_Adur_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1600175Image copyright ©2009 by Simon Carey

You are walking through a forest. Sometimes it is hot; sometimes it’s cold. Your feet are bare and the ground is occasionally uneven. Stones lie on your path and now and again the trail seems to vanish. Yet there are also moments along the path that everything seems fine and well; then the trail is mossy with flowers here and there, and you can hear the birds singing their wonderful songs.

You carry a backpack. In it are three things. The first item is food, because you may not be able to find anything to eat. The second item is a pair of boots in case the road becomes too slippery or overgrown with thorns and bushes. Then you will be able to protect your feet.

The third item, the heaviest burden you carry, is your past. Some of the things in your pack from the past you reflect upon with happiness. Yet there are other things that fill you with shame or concern, or even dismay, and you do not very much like remembering them. There are even items you seem to have forgotten. Maybe they marked too much of an imprint on your soul, and therefore they appear to be hidden in the mists of forgetfulness.

The heaviest burdens, though, are those that have become one with your soul. Memories that come and go and hamper you when you least expect it. Memories which you try to get rid of as soon as possible. When these memories come up, your road seems to twist and turn, journeying up and down murky slopes, and you feel as though you are lost and without any support. You feel so very alone and can hardly breathe. At this point along the trail it always feels as though your destination is forever blocked off from you.

But that is not the case. You are never alone. You are never alone! There are always those around you who will help, give guidance, and show a way to what is possible.

Then unexpectedly across your path you come upon this swiftly flowing river that seems to block your way. You can see a mossy bank on the other side, and many colored trees loaded with fruit. There are animals trotting about beneath a mild sun, with trees giving shadow to all the beings that are gathered there.

There is only one question that comes up in your mind: how to get there? The river is swollen, and too deep and fast to wade across. You look around and find a long broad branch of a nearby tree that has fallen upon the ground. A little further lie a few wooden planks someone has left behind and some rope, but no other tools are available. You didn’t bring any.

You sit down on a small knoll near the shore, thinking. With the planks and rope you could make a raft, but it would be too small to hold you. You could place the branch over the river, but with the weight of you and your backpack, the branch would not be strong enough to support you.

It becomes clear that there are choices to be made. The big question you already have answered. You need to go to the other side. You feel that is of the greatest importance. How to get there is another thing.

You consider lightening the load in your pack. The first choice to be made is: “do I need the food that I have with me, anymore?” And your answer is no. The abundance of food on the other side makes the three crumbs of bread that are left useless. So you decide to throw one scrap into the waters. You do so and see a salmon catching it. You know that the hungry fish is happy and thankful for this food. Then you throw the second tidbit into the air, where it is caught by a seagull. You place the last bit of bread on the ground, where many happy ants take it away. You know that all this food has reached its goal and for that you are glowing with pleasure.

Now there is a second choice to be made. What to do with the boots? The other side is covered with a soft mossy soil, so you do not need them anymore. You decide to leave the boots behind for anyone who may be in need of them. Certainly a good choice and a swap for the planks someone else left behind.

At last there is this final decision to be made. You realize you can only reach the other shore if you let go of the burden of everything hidden in your bag: all the memories of the past that are still hampering you. Furthermore you understand that you would not be in need of your past on the other side. That notion gives you a warm feeling inside. It is a feeling of love – light and liberation – full of peace and harmony.

Another thought enters your mind. “With the planks I could make a little raft upon which I could place the knapsack.” So you make this little raft, and when it is ready, you put your bag upon it. You bless it, thanking all the actions of the past for what they have meant for you and you tell them that you are no longer in need of anything. You send your past out on the waves and watch as it travels further and further away, until finally it vanishes in the void.

You feel very light, peaceful. You feel beautiful now, because you know that all the burdens of the past won’t hinder you anymore. You thank the creator that you have been so lucky to experience this wonderful past. Indeed you are able to remember, and yet it no longer obstructs you in any way. You cry out with glee and happiness to be so free.

Now it is time to actually cross the river. You place the branch to the other side. At that very moment the waters seem not so swollen any more. The waves diminish and the surface becomes smooth. You smile as you realize that if you’d but try, you would be able to walk upon the waters to the other side of the river. But then you understand there still is a bit of the old you left in your system and you decide to walk your self-made bridge.

At the moment you reach the other shore you can see a familiar face, who hastens to greet you. This person you know really well embraces you and says: “Welcome, welcome to these shores.” You look around and see many people there who have come to say hello. Many of them you recognize in a glance, others seem familiar but you are unable to remember their names. All of them are emanating love though and you feel quite joyful and thankful.

Nevertheless, you are confused. “What lands are these?” you ask. “Am I passed over? Is this heaven?” Because it feels so different here from anything else you have experienced during your life, this surely cannot be earth, where everything is so much heavier and less colourful.

Oh no,” the person smiles. “This is merely another plane of existence, but because of the fact that you made your big decision just moments ago, you are now able to see everything literally in a different light, another perspective. You are more able now to see the good within other people. You used to look at the so called negative side of the medal, but now you are more open-minded and able to live your life in a more relaxed way than before.”

All of us here congratulate you that you have made it possible for yourself to make this move. You can be proud for making this great decision. Of course there have been a few tools that helped you and were needed to get you across, but these tools, and all the other equipment that has been handed to you during your life, have been just that, tools. Tools, which are useless without a hand capable to use them.”

And now, my dear one, I ask you to enter your new life. Greet all these people gathered here, and tell them that from now on you are going to encounter them in your new way. The way of the place beyond the river…”

Copyright © 2014 Hans Brockhuis

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About Hans Brockhuis

Hans Brockhuis is a Dutch lightworker, writer and translator. His bilingual website: Running Fox Pages features spiritual work of himself and others. Working as a translator and editor, he has been and is active in processing various publications, either in English, Dutch or German. See his portfolio here. If you are interested to follow what Running Fox is offering, you may subscribe to his newsflashes. Simply send an E-mail to this address mentioning: ‘subscribe Running Fox’ in the subject line.

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Please share your thoughts and comments with us below.

16 Responses

  1. Pat K

    Absolutely wonderful! We are reaching a point, individually and collectively, where we have to let go of the old paradigm, and move on to a different perspective. It feels like once the commitment has been made (or not), the option to go back and change the choice is going to fade out of reach. Either path you take, the outcome accelerates.

    • Hans Brockhuis

      Absolutely wonderful! We are reaching a point, individually and collectively, where we have to let go of the old paradigm, and move on to a different perspective. It feels like once the commitment has been made (or not), the option to go back and change the choice is going to fade out of reach. Either path you take, the outcome accelerates.

      Thanks, Pat.
      You are right, of course. The world, and all its inhabintants surely have reached this point where the different perspective is within reach. The thing is to make the choice. Every’body’has to make his or her own choice.
      Wish you well!

  2. Jenelle

    Thank you for lightening my load and feeding my soul in such a beautiful way, Hans! Arriving at the next level of perception and awareness can be an arduous task filled with many obstacles and blessings along the way.

    Thank you for reminding us that we all have the tools within us to “cross the river” and get to where we want to go as we experience this magical journey called life.

    Thank you also for reminding us that we are never alone, as we are Divinely surrounded, encouraged, celebrated, respected, and loved by our fellow travelers, guides, and lightworkers. What a beautiful gathering of support we are blessed to have with each step we take!

    Your words paint a vivid and inspiring landscape of wisdom, and I am traveling with a lighter sense of being as a result of immersing myself in them.

    Thank you for bringing me to the other side of the river today…you are such a gift to all of us, Hans!

    And,as always,thank you John for sharing Hans and all that you bring to us on a daily basis.

    Love & Light to both of you,
    Jenelle

    • John Cali

      Thank you very much, Jenelle, for your kind words. Many blessings to you!

      Love,
      John

    • Hans Brockhuis

      I am very glad with your response upon my posting on John Cali’s site, Jenelle. It seems, one way or the other, I have been able to – as you call it – lighten your load and feed your soul.

      In my writings I always try to – apart from the story that is told – give it a level which is not always detectable at first glance, but cetrainly is incorporated. You have been able to detect this one and it gives me joy I was able to accompany you to the other side of the river.

      Wish you well, Jenelle, and by means of your subscribing to the Running Fox newsletters, we will be able to reconnect from time to time.

      Love, Light and Peace,

      Hans

  3. Susan

    Thank you, Hans, for your beautiful and expressive writing of the movement and flow of life itself — such a joy to read! Light, ever present, is always there if we choose to see it…

    Thank you, John, for offering this to all of us.

    Love and blessings,
    Susan

    • Hans Brockhuis

      Thanks very much for your comment, Susan. I always hope to be able to touch people with my writings. According to your words I, at least in your case, succeeded. Wish you well, Susan!

    • Hans Brockhuis

      Thank you Sarah. I’ve written the story with much joy. Ans a comment like this gives joy as well. Have a great day!

      • Sarah

        They are healing words and it I actually had a really wonderful day after reading them. Today has been very light, free and easy also. Thanks again!

        • Hans Brockhuis

          Good to hear, Sarah. I wish you to have many of these light, free and easy days. Sending Love to you!

  4. Martha

    WOW. . .

    HOW did you know, Hans, this was exactly what I needed to hear today?
    My backpack is as big as a mountain and I have been sinking under the ever accumulating weight of it.

    This story. . . I was there in the forest…I could FEEL it, the earth beneath my feet, the coolness of it, the peace, the rocks, the swollen river, the animals, fruit trees, boots
    everything.
    This story soothed me. I need to lay down my burden and let go of everything that b
    weighs me down…the painful past I am carrying.
    But how?
    Show me the way to the forest and I will gladly go.

    Thank you for this beautiful amd potent story.
    touched me right where I live.

    Love,
    Martha

    • Hans Brockhuis

      Thanks very much, Martha, for your nice words. In my stories I always try to include three layers. One of them being just what you needed to hear yesterday. I am glad to have been of help Martha and wish you very well!

  5. Linda

    Thanks for the beautiful vision and message. Just what I needed.
    Blessings in your day.

    • Hans Brockhuis

      You are most welcome, Linda. You know, when you feel you are trotting through the bushes, the only thing you need to do is to step aside, instead of getting wounded by the thorns. Wish you well, Linda, and blessings to you too.Hans

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