Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change – this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.
~Bruce Barton, 1886 – 1967, American Author, Advertising Executive and Politician
Hmmm, if I could catch the cadence of those cloud ships adrift in the evening sky, would I be more at peace?
Occasionally, I feel the world slow down for a day or two. Or at least, it seems that way. The earth is, of course, still spinning on its axis. Humanity is still racing along chasingmits’ tail. It’s just that my life has slipped a gear and shifted into neutral without my permission.
It used to bother me when this happened. So many things to do. Looming deadlines to meet. So little time to do all the stuff I’m convinced I need to do. If I’m not making progress, than surely I’m losing ground and at risk of falling behind.
But lately I’ve begun to recognize, as Bruce Barton so eloquently points out, that ebb and flow is part of the rhythm of life. If I’m forever on fast forward, I’m going to be out of sync with that rhythm.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that the measure of success in our life is in how many finish lines we cross. Or how many mountains we climb. Or how many awards we win. From that perspective, it seems essential to put as many miles under our belt as possible.
I am coming to realize that there is ebb and flow to life every day. If we’re obsessed with always being on the move, we’re missing out on half of life – and it may just be the best half. So why do we err on that side so often?
The reality is this: It is a whole lot easier to stay in the flow than it is to pause and catch the cadence of stillness. Stillness is not the absence of motion any more than silence is the absence of sound. And yet, we seem to fear it.
Cloud ships adrift in the evening sky – a random act of metaphor to help me comprehend that the best of life often happens in the ebb tide. Such a shame to miss out on those delights.
~ Michael Robert Dyet is the author of “Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel” – double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog.
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Tags: clouds · ebb tide · metaphor · Michael Robert Dyet · peace · rhythmNo Comments