inspiration in strange places

tool | "parabol/parabola" | lateralus | 2001

i was turned on to this video by a good friend who might be described as a tool fanatic. i am only really interested in a couple of their albums, but i love the message and imagery of this video. if you can survive the stereotypically creepy heavy metal feel, get the lyrics, and go to the end you'll see an artistic glimpse of what i am feeling these days and in what development i place my hope. a full explanation is too long for this post. it's not that i am looking to heavy metal for spirituality these days, but this is an interesting expression of a hope that resonates with me recently.

here are the lyrics:

so familiar and overwhelmingly warm
this one, this form i hold now
embracing you, this reality here
this one, this form i hold now,
so wide-eyed and hopeful
wide-eyed and hopefully wild

we barely remember what came before this precious moment
choosing to be here right now
hold on, stay inside this body holding me
reminding me that i am not alone in
this body makes me feel eternal
all this pain is an illusion

we barely remember who or what came before this precious moment
we are choosing to be here right now
hold on, stay inside
this holy reality, this holy experience
choosing to be here in this body
this body holding me
be my reminder here that i am not alone
in this body, this body holding me
feeling eternal
all this pain is an illusion

alive, i!

in this holy reality, in this holy experience
choosing to be here in this body, this body holding me
be my reminder here that i am not alone in this body
this body holding me, feeling eternal
all this pain is an illusion

twirling round with this familiar parable
spinning, weaving round each new experience
recognize this as a holy gift and celebrate this chance to be alive and breathing

this body holding me reminds me of my own mortality
embrace this moment
remember - we are eternal
all this pain is an illusion