Friends.

I did my last spell working for the Freuchie in flower group yesterday and will not see the other members of this group until my return from France. I have made some nice friends in this group in a short time and they will be in my thoughts as I sit relaxing hopefully in the sun.

Being my last stint with them I did my very best to get as much done as possible. I wish them well for the judging and ongoing planting. It certainly helps to make and meld friendships working together for a common aim.

There is a lovely tale of just such a friendship. A wealthy statesman was on a diplomatic mission when he stopped by a river to quench his thirst. As he listened to the sound of the river he also heard the haunting sound of a lute.

Being a keen musician himself he went to his saddlebag and removed his own lute and began to play along with the distant sound. He followed the sound as he played and eventually came across a goatherd sitting on the ruined walls of an old building. 

Now in those days a wealthy man like he would never talk to such a goatherd but the two men struck up a friendship through the music they played together. The music they played mimicked the sound of the flowing water of the stream. The notes were strong and smooth and natural blending together to make a beautiful sound.

Having spent this quality time together, the wealthy man, in spite of tradition to otherwise, decided that they would renew this new friendship.

 They would play music sometimes with other, but their resolve was to meet and play together once a year on this day.

Once a year this happened they would meet and the friendship was renewed. Together they played such beautiful harmonies, one a counterpart to the other. It was as if they practised 

 together all the time.

Every time they met the wealthy man offered to help the goatherd out of his poverty. Every time the goatherd refused the help offered. he said he did not wish to pollute their friendship with the transaction of money.

This went on for many years until one year the old goatherd did not appear for the reunion. The wealthy man nevertheless played his lute but was aware that it was a forlorn and sad tune he played lacking the harmony of his friend. At last a passing traveller told him that his friend had died of starvation during the previous years of famine.

The ambassador was distraught knowing that he could so easily have saved him such an end. He turned to the old ruin and smashed his lute on the rocks breaking it into pieces.

With the loss of his dear friend, he felt that the world was such a sad place and the harmony of playing together was at an end and he had nobody to make harmony with.

True friendship is a rare and precious thing.

As the sage says in the Tao te Ching. Those who are truly linked do not need to correspond. When they meet again even after many years. Their friendship will be as it was, as true as ever.

Cherish the friendships you have and reach out in friendship to others.

Have a marvellous day.