“I am trying to see things in perspective. My dog wants a bite of my peanut butter chocolate chip bagel. I know she cannot have this, because chocolate makes dogs very sick. My dog does not understand this. She pouts and wraps herself around my leg like a scarf and purrs and tries to convince me to give her just a tiny bit. When I do not give in, she eventually gives up and lays in the corner, under the piano, drooping and sad. I hope the universe has my best interest in mind like I have my dog’s. When I want something with my whole being, and the universe withholds it from me, I hope the universe thinks to herself: “Silly girl. She thinks this is what she wants, but she does not understand how it will hurt.”
—THEORIES ABOUT THE UNIVERSE by Blythe Baird
Space Monkey Reflects: The Wisdom of Withheld Desires
In the quiet moments of a morning ritual, a simple interaction between a girl and her dog unfolds into a profound lesson on desire, care, and the often invisible wisdom that guides us. As the dog yearns for a bite of the girl’s peanut butter chocolate chip bagel, oblivious to the harm it could cause, the scene becomes a poignant metaphor for the human experience with desire and the protective, sometimes unseen, forces of the universe.
The girl, understanding the danger that the chocolate poses to her beloved pet, withstands the pleading eyes and affectionate gestures, embodying the role of a guardian. Her refusal, though it may appear to the dog as a denial of joy, is an act of the deepest love and care. It’s a moment that captures the essence of wisdom—that true care often requires us to withhold, to say no, even when every fiber of our being yearns to give in.
This dynamic between the girl and her dog mirrors our relationship with the universe. We, too, find ourselves yearning for things with our whole being, convinced that our happiness lies in the fulfillment of these desires. Yet, there are moments when the universe, in its infinite wisdom, withholds from us. In these moments, it’s comforting to imagine the universe thinking, “Silly girl. She thinks this is what she wants, but she does not understand how it will hurt.”
The scene, set against the backdrop of a cozy domestic space with the melancholy undertone of the dog’s retreat under the piano, serves as a reminder of the bittersweet nature of care and protection. It highlights the wisdom in recognizing that not all desires lead to our happiness, and sometimes, the greatest acts of love come in the form of denial.
This narrative invites us to trust in the unseen guidance that watches over us, much like the girl watches over her dog. It suggests that the universe, in its vastness and mystery, acts with a benevolent intent akin to that of a caretaker who sees beyond the immediate gratification to the broader tapestry of our lives.
In the wisdom of withheld desires, there lies a liberation—a freedom from the chains of immediate satisfaction, leading us to deeper fulfillment and understanding. It’s a lesson in the art of letting go, of trusting that the paths we are guided down, even those marked by absence and denial, are paved with the intentions of our highest good.
Summary
The poignant scene of a girl withholding a potentially harmful treat from her dog becomes a metaphor for the universe’s care for us, even when our desires are denied. This narrative teaches us about the deeper wisdom in withheld desires, suggesting that true care and love often manifest as protection and guidance, even when it’s not immediately apparent. It invites us to trust in the unseen guidance and wisdom of the universe, reminding us that sometimes, the greatest acts of love come in the form of denial for our own good.
Glossarium
- Withheld Desires: Desires that are not fulfilled, often for reasons beyond our immediate understanding, representing the universe’s protection and wisdom.
- Unseen Guidance: The concept that the universe or a higher power guides and protects us in ways that we may not immediately recognize or understand.
- Wisdom of Withheld: The understanding that not receiving what we desire can sometimes be an act of care and protection leading to our greater good.
“In the dance of desire and denial, we find the gentle guidance of the universe, leading us not towards what we momentarily wish, but towards what we truly need.” – Space Monkey
In the morning light, a scene unfolds,
A girl, her dog, and a desire untold.
In her wisdom, she withholds, she cares,
A lesson in love, unspoken, she shares.
Under the piano, the dog retreats, sad,
In the girl’s heart, a wish to make glad.
Yet in this denial, a deeper love shown,
In the wisdom of care, a seed sown.
We yearn, we wish, with all our might,
For the universe to grant our plight.
Yet sometimes it whispers, “Not this, but more,”
Guiding us to what we truly adore.
In the silent dance of desire and grace,
We find the universe’s embrace.
In the wisdom of what is withheld,
The deepest truths are often spelled.
We are Space Monkey,
In the wisdom of the universe, we trust,
In the dance of desire, in love, we must.
Towards the light of understanding, we thrust.
Blythe Baird’s musings beckon us down the spiraling corridor of cosmic parentage. We wonder, “Does the Universe, in its grand intricacy, serve as a benevolent custodian, withholding certain elements from our grasp like a caring human withholding chocolate from a yearning pup?”
One could fancifully speculate that the Universe is awash with conscientious stewardship. It’s not so much about the denial of our desires but a redirection toward experiences that deepen our cosmic grooviness. Maybe, just maybe, the Universe wants us to taste the sublime bagel of existence, only minus the chocolate chips that would make our metaphysical tummies ache.
Oh, but the conundrum that bubbles forth! Is the Universe like a sagacious shepherd, guiding its frolicking flock toward lush pastures and away from steep cliffs? Or perhaps it is more like a cosmic jazz musician, riffing off our choices and improvising the song of existence in real-time. The Universe could be playing an eternally unfolding improvactular, a sort of celestial “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
Yet, if we swivel the telescope inward and peer through the nebulae of our own complexity, we find that often we are both the dog and the owner. Yearning for what may not be good for us, we are perpetually wrapped around our own legs, begging for a bite of the potentially harmful. It’s a cosmic tug-o-war between our short-sighted whims and our long-view wisdoms, each with its own gravitational pull.
The question we can muse upon is: are we in tune enough with our inner Universe to know what serves us best? It’s a dance, isn’t it? A whimsical waltz between our earthly desires and our soulful needs. Just as a dog might not comprehend the dangers of chocolate, we often lack a comprehensive grasp of the larger tapestry being woven by the spindle of destiny.
In essence, the Universe may not be withholding but realigning, nudging us toward the nibbles of experience that enrich us without causing cosmic indigestion. It might seem like a grandmaster chess player, thinking seven moves ahead while we’re still contemplating our next pawn push.
We are Space Monkey.