Quest

"Quest, oh, this is my quest," the Child sang softly.

"You haven't sung that song for a long time, Child," The Prophet said.

"I know. Tonight it struck me that I've been on the way for quite a while, and this song rose in my spirit."

"Sing a little bit louder. It is balm for my soul."

 The Child raised her voice and sang with fervor,

"This is my quest,

To follow that star,

No matter how hopeless,

No matter how far."*

The Prophet joined in with his baritone, and the sounds of harmony from the two voices calmed the ocean, and the whale closed his eyes as it listened.

"To fight for the right,

Without question or pause,"

To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause."*

The Prophet began humming as the Child sang on to the end.

Silence hovered over the ocean, The Prophet, sitting wordlessly on the lily pad, the whale asleep, as the Child whispered, "Do you think I'll make it, Prophet?"

"I have no doubts you will, Child. Why do you ask?"

"Sometimes it seems so hard."

"And yet with each difficulty you display an indomitable spirit to keep going."

"That's cause I have you, Prophet," the Child said, and she yawned.

"Let's say we have each other, Child."

"But you don't need me, Prophet." The Child mumbled.

"Oh yes I do, Child. I need your ability to laugh at yourself, your tenacity, your trust, and your faith to live a fulfilled life with purpose."

"Zzzz," The Child replied. "Zzzz."

 The Prophet chuckled. She had fallen asleep.

"Sleep my Child," The Prophet said tenderly. "Tomorrow is another day."

Shalom,

Pat Garcia

*The Impossible Dream. Songwriters, Joe Darien and Mitch Leigh; Published by 
Lyrics © HELENA MUSIC COMPANY

Kindness

"Kindness becomes you, Mr. Whale," The Child mumbled while asleep.

Dawn had slowly lightened up the sky, but the Child, exhausted from the last struggle with the mean-spirited wave, was still sleeping on the whale holding on to its dorsal fin.

"Where are you, Prophet? Where, oh where, where are you?" The Child sang softly as it slept.

"I am here, Child."

"Where?"

"Ahead of you?"

The Child awoke thinking it was a dream.

"I don't see you."

"Look again. I'm ahead of you."

The Child looked out onto the vast ocean. From a distance, a fire was burning.

"What are you doing, Prophet?"

"I'm preparing breakfast. How does fresh fish sound?"

"With hot oatmeal?"

The Prophet let out a barrel of laughter.

"No oatmeal Child, but a nice hot bowl of tasty seaweed mixed with a tangy sauce."

"Oh Prophet, you can't imagine what I went through," The Child said as the whale neared the lily pad. Sliding off its back, the Child walked on the water to the lily pad talking excitedly. "I flew through the air with the whale, and we mastered two giant waves."

"Three gigantic waves, Child, and before the third wave you cried."

"Who told you?"

"Child, wherever you are, I am. You are never alone."

"How far do I have to go, Prophet?"

"Come eat and then you'll sleep comfortably on your lily pad."  

"For how long, Prophet?"

"Did you enjoy conquering the waves, Child?"

Shalom,

Pat Garcia

Every

"Every person cannot be different," the Child said to The Prophet.

"Why not, Child?"

"Because?"

"Because what, Child? Tell me what you're thinking. I don't understand because."

"Are you trying to tell me that every person is special?" The Child replied.

The Prophet shook with laughter.

"Why is that so impossible for you to believe, Child?"

"But I thought you said no one is an island."

"No, I didn't tell you that. You have come to that conclusion on the journey," The Prophet said.

"Oh yeah. I forgot about that."

"Child, are the days of the year the same?"

"No, Prophet. The name of the days repeats itself, but each day is different."

"And the months?"

"Each month is different," answered the Child.

"And the years?"

"You already know the answer, Prophet. Each year is different too," the Child said with some degree of frustration and began to twirl and twirl  on the lily pad. Suddenly, a smile lit upon her face.

"I see it, Prophet, I see it! The Child exclaimed excitedly as she twirled.

"What do you see Child?"

"Every person is different. We are unique and wonderfully made.  That's what makes us so valuable. Wow!"

Grunts of laughter like sounds coming from a volcano erupted out of the Prophet.

"I like that, Child," said The Prophet between spurts of laughter. "You're learning."

Have a nice weekend everyone.

Shalom,

Pat Garcia