wednesday, november 9, 2011

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‹› the action of waiting ‹›

a heavy yet lovely shower had just come and gone. the Wayfaring Wizard who was waiting under a wayward pine for the rain to stop, stepped out into the resulting sunlight to enjoy the aftermath of the brief storm. as he walked along the path feeling the wet grass caress his bare feet, he spied a very young boy stomping around in what appeared to be full fledged frustration.

"What's the matter, young sir" the Wizard called to the lad. "what has happened to make you dance so angrily on such a fine day as this?"

the boy looked at him, stamped his feet a couple more times, then answered. "i am trying to catch a dragonfly, but every time i get close, it flits and flies away before i can grab it!"

"ahhh, i see" said the Wizard, stroking his beard. "Dragonfly can teach us much... but why would you wish to imprison such a delightful creature?"

"i do not wish to imprison it" returned the boy a bit petulantly. "it is pretty. i just want to look at it more closely, but it flies away!"

"the Dragonfly is a very sensitive being" the Wizard spoke quietly and calmly. "perhaps she senses your intention and does not desire to be captured, regardless of your purpose. let us sit here for a minute and wait. maybe she will come back...."

"wait?" cried the boy. "i don't want to wait. i want to do something!" as he stomped around again.

"yes. but waiting is doing something, my child" chuckled the Wayfaring Wizard. "even making a decision to not make a decision is making a decision." he smiled warmly as the boy, perplexed, decided to sit down. "and... sometimes waiting is the best action for the situation, even if it seems like no action at all. quiet your mind for a moment young sir, and forget about the Dragonfly for now. while we wait, observe the droplets of fresh rain on these leaves before us. see how the sun visits them without being caught? and makes shapes and forms on the leaves? why, there is even a small heart formed from one drop of water...."

as they were engaged in this active waiting, the Dragonfly flew by and hovered for a second. immediately the boy thought to chase it, but the Wizard lifted a cautionary finger, and the youngster stopped before the thought came to action.

"invite her over with your thoughts" whispered the wizard, "and assure her you mean no harm."

the young boy concentrated quietly,  and within a moment, to his profound surprise, the Dragonfly flew toward them and landed on one of the leaves they had been observing. "she really is beautiful" he mouthed to the wizard with a deep smile of appreciation, and at that precise moment, the Dragonfly sped over to the boy and settled upon his hand. delighted and astounded, he watched her happily for quite a while, and she obliged by watching him back.

finally, the Dragonfly decided to go about some other business and flew lazily away.  the Wizard silently rose and went to walk again on the path. a few feet on the way, however,  he turned and spoke one last thing to the boy:

"that which you chase aggressively may at times fly away, but if you wait patiently, with purpose and love in your heart, it may well choose to come to you...."

at times, waiting is the best action

blessings

saxz

∞