Set

"Set the sail, Child, set the sail," The Prophet commanded, looking at her face.

"Prophet, a lily pad don't have a sail," The Child replied.

"You have a sail, Child; you must set the course."

"Then, where is it?" The Child asked defiantly.

"Here, Child," The Prophet said as he tapped on the top of her head. "It is in here."

"So, how do I set sail in my head?"

"Child don't you see you need to plot your course. You have to have some idea of where you're going."

"So, returning to my vision is not enough, Prophet?"

"Correct, Child.  You need to set your sail so you can go the distance."

"So, how do I set sail in my head?" The Child asked.

The Prophet moved his hand from her head and covered her eyes with both of his hands.

 "What do you see, Child?"

In her heart the dreams that started her on her journey arose, riding on the ocean ahead of her, beckoning her to come.

"I see them, Prophet. I see them!" The Child said excitedly. "But they're moving away from me."

"That's true, because you haven't set your sail."

"So my saying yes to leaving the cove provided me with a sail?"

"Yes, Child."

"What must I do now?"

"Move your lily pad out on the ocean."

The Child shoved her lily pad away from the cove and closed her eyes; the wind gathered up its speed; the lily pad began to move with the wind current, and the whale swam happily farther out.

"Is my sail set, Prophet?"

"Yes, Child.  Keep dreaming. We're on our way," The Prophet replied with a smile.

Shalom,

Pat Garcia

Nearer

"Nearer, nearer, nearer,

I'm coming,

Nearer, nearer, nearer."

The Child sang. The moon had disappeared, and the sun was slowly rising from its hiding place.

"What a beautiful melody, Child? Where did you learn it?"

"I didn't, Prophet. It just came up from my heart as I was waking up. I heard

Nearer, nearer, nearer,

I'm coming,

Nearer, nearer, nearer,

And I started singing."

"Well, you massaged my heartstrings; your voice sounds as if it is a tuba horn."

The Child laughed, pleased to make The Prophet happy, and she looked out over the ocean.

"A sailboat is approaching from afar, Prophet."

"How far, Child?"

"It's almost near us, and what a beauty."

The Prophet saw the expectation on the Child's face.

"If we get on the sailboat, we'd get to our destination faster."

"Do you think so, Child?"

Bewitched by the sailboat approaching them, the Child didn't answer.

"Can we change our mode of transportation, Prophet? It is so much faster than the lily pad."

"You can, Child."

"Won't you come with me?"

No, Child, I'll stay here with the lily pad and your friend Mr. Whale."

"But the sailboat is moving faster than the lily pad, Prophet."

"What is wrong with that?"

"Don't you want to arrive sooner?"

"No, Child.  I want to arrive at the appointed time."

"Which means?"

"What was that song you were singing when you awoke?" The Prophet asked.

Disappointment laced the Child's voice when she sang

"Nearer, nearer, nearer,

I'm coming nearer,

Oh, oh nearer."

As the sailboat came nearer, it began to fade in the sunlight until it was no more.

"It's gone!" said the Child, startled.

"I know, Child. Keep singing."

Shalom,

Pat Garcia