Outer and Inner Landscapes

​Some years ago while engaged in cruise chaplaincy work, one trip brought us around Iceland, stopping off at many ports along the way. It’s a country with a remarkable landscape that gives a sense of never standing on solid ground. All around the mostly barren countryside are fissures in the ground from which steam continually arises. Across the country lies a major fault line that is similar and even related to the famous San Andreas Fault in California. Then there are mountains with strange names, viewed with mistrust, because they are potential volcanoes that could erupt at any time, and these are carefully monitored for seismic activity. I thought of the fault line as representing the fundamental inner division that can exist within, between I and myself that is so important to get right. The fissures mirrored the sensitive areas of life where we continually react and give off steam. Finally, the mountains were the big and potentially dangerous areas; that given enough time and under sufficient pressure, could erupt with devastating consequences. When such emotional eruptions occur in our lives, the question is how do I handle it so that both myself and others are not blown away by the fall out?