My favorite John Travolta movie is Michael. (Who doesn't have a favorite John Travolta movie?)
The film is about the Archangel Michael, who shows up in Iowa with a mission of igniting a romance between a tabloid reporter and an “angel expert.” When they show up at the Iowa hotel where he's staying, he makes a deal with them. He’ll take a road trip to their headquarters in Chicago if they agree to follow his schedule and route.
Because this is Michael’s last trip to Earth, and he LOVES Earth.
So, the trip includes numerous detours. To see the world’s biggest frying pan. And the world’s biggest ball of string. And to Texas, for a night of drinking and dancing at the Gruene Dance Hall. His travel companions protest at first, but eventually accept the price of getting the scoop of the century.
The scene I love most, though, is when Michael battles a bull.
On one of their stops, his friends lose him momentarily, then find him in the middle of a pasture, squaring off with the immense bovine. They lock eyes, and both paw the ground, snort, and charge. After an epic head-on collision, Michael is flat on his back and the bull, sitting dazed some distance away.
After his friends pick him up and brush him off, he looks toward the sky, smiles, and says longingly, “I’m going to miss everything so much!"
Imagine. A renowned angel with a lofty title and high status and a permanent address in Paradise.
He’s going to miss EARTH. He’ll miss the dancing and pie and bull-wrestling and the world's largest things. Not to mention match-making and budding romance.
Be here now ~ Ram Dass, spiritual teacher
Sometimes we forget where we are.
Loss pulls a dark veil over the beauty around us. Caregiving and estate settlement can bury us in responsibility.
Heck, just the mundaneness of the day-to-day can make life feel flat. You’d just as soon stay in bed behind drawn curtains.
So let me take the opportunity to remind you.
You’re HERE. On this intoxicating planet full of pleasure and life.
So go have yourself a Michael-moment.
Go outside, hug yourself, and look up.
What would you miss if you weren’t here?
Personally, I’d miss cats.
And the homely, amiable Muscovy ducks that live down the road.
I’d miss ice cream cones. And the smell of coffee. And yarn stores.
I’d miss barred owls calling at night. And cicadas.
I’d miss a certain cliff in Acadia National Park. And the beaches of the Outer Banks.
How about you? What's on your list?
And how soon can you take a detour to experience these things?
Because, like Michael, this is your last sojourn on Earth. At least in this incarnation.
Take a moment and relish all it has to offer.
Want to see Michael battle the bull? Here's a link to a clip on YouTube.
If you're facing the loss of a loved one, you may wonder if you'll ever be able to have another "Michael-moment?"
As a grief and life coach, I can help you integrate your loss using methods proven to help people heal from big life losses and reconnect with life.
If you have questions, please consider scheduling a discovery call. There's no charge and no obligation to work with me, now or ever. We'll meet, you can share your story, and, if you want, I'll describe how you and I can work together to help you move forward.
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Not up for a call? Drop me an email at cindy@shadowlandscoaching.com
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