A lesson Learned.

While on Iona I learned many things, but probably the most important thing of all that I learned was that I had much more to learn. The other thing was that if I wanted life to have any meaning and value that it would not be imposed upon me I would have to do it myself. 

I remember one day at the end of the winter walking alone on the beach at the north of Iona. Beautiful white sands and blue seas. It was not a warm day but warm enough to sit down on the sand and compose a poem.

Iona Beach.

I stood upon that empty beach

alone among its beauty.

Cerulean the sea stretched out 

to kiss the waiting sky

Caressing the dutchman Cap

Crashing on the cave of Staffa.

A timpani of sound I could not hear. 

But in my mind it sang.

Bare feet on golden sands

Whispering grass atop the white faced dunes.

No words could ere express the inner beat

In majesty so rare.

In that lingering moment time stood still,

So small I felt.

Stooping ,I took within my palm a million grains of sand.

letting it trickle through outstretched fingers.

Reminding me of ever moving time

Like the sands of time that pass

through the hourglass of life.

Each grain had its place and part 

in the forming of a beach

Each a part in the wonder of life.

I my part must also find,

to make the greater part. 

It is not about changing things it is about finding our place in it all.

There was a very wealthy man who was bothered with severe eye pain. He had consulted many specialists all to know avail. He had consumed many medicines  and undergone many treatments. Still the ache persisted. 

As a final effort he went to consult  a monk supposedly an expert on such problems. The monk listened to his tale of woe and told him if he was to solve this problem then he was only to look at the colour green.

He was prepared to spend all he had. He had his whole house and garden painted green. Everything that his eye might fall upon he had painted green just as the monk had directed.

No expense was spared. 

It did seem to be working because his eye was giving him little pain. When the monk heard his tale of expense at making everything green the monk burst into laughter. 

"Would it not have been cheaper to purchase a pair of green tinted spectacles?"

You cannot paint the world green. Instead let us change our vision of it. It is foolish to try and shape the world first let us shape ourselves. 

I hope this is not too over sentimental. Have a wonderful day.