Rain fell and puddles formed. The puddles overflowed and flopped into streams. Two unique streams merge and flow down as one stream.
A
wedding ceremony to show their work mates, their close friends, relatives and
the wide world their new lives as one couple.
That
house looks good. Close to work. They settle down. They flow along nice and
comfortably. Nothing dramatic. Drift along enjoying where they are.
Another
stream merges and joins them and makes their stream bigger. They welcome her
arrival. A bit like him. A bit like her and a big bit like herself. More streams
merge and make the main stream bigger and prouder. Look at us. A happy family
of two adults and three children.
Their
marriage drifts into trouble. A dam blocks their way. They unhappily float
around fantasizing about a way downstream. Eventually they find a tiny, small
gate and trickle through. The dam has given them wisdom. Taught them that every
obstacle can be overcome. By carefully looking at themselves and their
surroundings. They will find a way forward. And flow on bigger and better than
ever.
Below
the dam they drift effortlessly downstream. Calm, relaxed and healthy. The
family enjoys themselves and avoids anything that looks like trouble.
They
pass a stagnant marshy swamp. They look at it. Don’t like the look of that. Not
for us now. Let’s continue drifting.
The
stream enters a beautiful pool. Idyllic. An overhanging tree. Full of aquatic life.
Fish and insects. They drift and float. Isn’t life beautiful. They enjoy the
moment. They are oblivious to all upstream and downstream areas.
The
children become teenagers. As teens they rush rapidly trying every possible way
of going forwards. The cascade and rapids of teen years finally end and the
children marry. Dad copies and pastes a wedding speech. Don’t know half these
people. Ah well. Not my choice but she has to live with him. It’s her life.
They
flow on. The reeds on the bank need our stream. The stream needs the reeds. Let’s
celebrate a living loving community.
The
family floats around a bend and some grandchildren arrive. The indispensable
grandkids merge with the main stream. The grandparents spoil them rotten. Spoil
them with love and affection. Give them back when they are naughty. Further
downstream they meet fellow grandparents.
The
stream becomes a river. A deep wide slow river. Full of life. The deep wide
river feeds the plants and animals around it. The river needs the trees,
shrubs, insects, birds and animals that wander by. The family waters their
neighbours’ plants when they go on holiday. The grandkids play cricket with the
next door neighbours. On the banks are people fishing. In the river rowing
boats pull themselves along. A living breathing community.
Bigger,
slower, stronger and timeless river. Continually changing, moving, flowing and
always remaining the same. Always a river flowing between two banks. Above the
river bed. Full of life. Surrounded by native trees, shrubs, reeds, aquatic
plants, fish, and insects.
The
life of one of the grandparents ends. Leaving behind one unlucky person. The
family flows on one grandparent, three children and countless grandchildren.
The family flows on and on. Always changing. Always the same family. Always
full of life.
Above
the mountain the clouds, full of water, are coalescing.
