The Magic Helmet – Stuart Segall

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The wind breathes –

Lonely

Longing to be seen

Sometimes the soul

Has days like these.

  • Angie Weiland Crosby.

Here is a poetic expression of human emotions and the universal experience of feeling alone at times.

We are not mad. We are human.  We want to love, and someone must forgive us for the paths we take to love, for the paths are many and dark, and we are ardent and cruel in our journey – Leonard Cohen

The soul, our inner being, like the wind, can feel isolated and longing for connection. Sometimes our feelings convey a sense of melancholy and longing. Just as the wind carries an unfulfilled desire to be noticed, so our inner being also has moments of yearning and solitude.

Recently, I was just talking to a young homeless man who lives in a tent. He told me how he became anxious to leave his tent. In his insecurity and anxiety, after living in his tent for about 10 days he became afraid to leave it. The tent gave him security and a feeling of safety even though it was just a piece of fabric surrounding him.  

He found a helmet just outside the entrance to his tent. He put it on his head and left it on for a few minutes.  It was a full Bell-style helmet which became his portable tent. He felt safe in the helmet like he did in the tent. He had no motorcycle. He wanted the safety of the covering so he could venture out as he so longed for contact and connection even as he also needed a sense of safety.

When I was listening to his struggles, hopes, and dreams I was reminded how fortunate we are that we have a covering over our heads that provides real love, hope, peace of mind, and a future.

Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever.  While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked. These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don’t do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. God is the one who makes all this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain he will do it. – 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. – Psalms 18:2

I am glad the homeless young man found his helmet and his tent to be a short fix for his peace of mind, but I hope one day soon he will understand there is something much better, more reliable, and eternal that will solve his problems through love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of our Lord.

Stuart Segall lives about an hour north of Seattle.  He has spent most of his adult life counseling, encouraging, inspiring and uplifting others.