Common Treasures: PROFICUOUS

NUANCES OF CONTINUITY

It’s reassuring to know that some things never change, not in the bottom of the soul, not in the ever-changing canvas of the horizon, not even the natural things that are faithful to their nature. So it was the sky on that quiet afternoon, so are the inhabitants of the Forest of Dreams. The days and nights come and go, the seasons follow their course, the cyclical renewal accomplishes its task, the colours paint and repaint the scenery in new ways, the sea receives the light of the sky in new reflections, the waves sing old and new songs, the sands move imperceptibly, the breeze caresses the trees with redoubled tenderness, the seagulls repeat and repeat in fluid flights their faithfulness to their eternal home. Change contains all the nuances of continuity. And so it was in that quiet afternoon.

The sun was beginning his way down over the cliffs, the distant mountains kept beholding attentively the dialogue between the sky and the sea, an endless dialogue that only the natural things can fully understand.

Hovering above the beach, the Persistent Cloud was contemplating her sisters in the distant horizon. Some were huge and dense like mountains; others were small, light and translucent. All were becoming rosy and orange and moving slowly towards West. “Sliding mountains”, she thought to herself, “just like those the Tiny Ant uses to move on her shoulders!” That thought made her look below, searching for the Tiny Ant and the Little Blue Bird. There they were by a creek.

She got closer to see and hear. What? Were they quarreling?! They never quarreled before, they disagree lots of times, sometimes they got a little sad with each other, but they never quarreled. Perhaps they weren’t quarreling, only their voices were a little louder and their expressions were a little weary. What seemed clear was that they weren’t agreeing about something.

The Tiny Ant was very concentrated in an unusual task. She was making a kind of thread of droplets. It seemed like a necklace of crystals but it was much longer and she was extending it across the creek linking the rocks visible at the surface.

The Persistent Cloud tried to understand the process of such curious task. The Tiny Ant was joining thousands of shiny droplets, a few at a time, forming some kind of liquid bridge. Rock after rock, she was linking the rocks towards the other side. Each time she built a little more and walked over that liquid rope until the next rock. She was already beyond half way to the other bank and she seemed very determined. And so it was the Little Bird in the opposite way.

— Antie, once for all, can you tell me the purpose of what you’re doing! — The Little Bird asked.

— Isn’t it obvious, Birdie? I’m making a bridge to cross to the other side. — The Tiny Ant replied a little bit annoyed.

— Really!? And you are making a bridge with droplets? What an incredible paradox! You are using water to cross the water! Why should you do such a thing? That is even dangerous. Usually you are quite practical. You would use small branches and leaves… or you would simply call me and ask me to take you to the other side on my back, as it happened so many times. — The Little Bird reminded.

— You aren’t getting the point, Birdie! You with your wonderful wings may go almost everywhere very easily… but not me. I’m learning how to do it by myself and I need to train a lot in many varied ways. This is just one of the ways. My next trip will be to the top of that mountain. Then I’ll climb to the clouds and probably one day I’ll get to the Moon. — The Tiny Ant uttered with deep conviction.

— Now I’m sure! You aren’t alright, you are getting crazy. You, the one who were always giving me advice about this and that, telling me that I should put my feet on the ground from now and then, you who always solved all our practical problems with your practical points of view… — The Little Bird said very worried.

— Birdie, you know me better than that! You know I’m not really practical. I only use imagination in different ways. And right now that’s what I’m doing. I’m using my imagination and I need to do it by myself, without any help, even yours. Once I’m able of doing what I intend to do, when I don’t need your help anymore, then I’ll ask your help, not to do what I want to do but to enjoy and share it with me. Then, I’ll feel really happy. Now give me space, stay there, but don’t interfere in my task. — The Tiny Ant demanded.

— Not even if you fall into the water or your tiny paws get stuck in the droplets?! — The Little Bird asked.

— I believe I won’t fall… and these droplets are different from the usual ones. Didn’t you see what I’ve done? I turned each drop into crystal, they seem liquid because they are transparent and shiny but they are crystals… How do I do that? Well, Birdie, this is a proof that I really have my own imagination and I know how to use it. I don’t choose any droplet. I always take two at a time. I look for two droplets that are able to link perfectly and when they link they become crystals and remain linked forever. You’ll see. I bet this bridge over the creek will remain here forever. Not even the hardest storm will destroy it. — The Tiny Ant said in a very reassuring way.

— I’m amazed, Antie! How could I live without you? You are able of giving meaning to everything and you do it in such a wonderful way! — The Little Bird said with warm tenderness.

— Well, Birdie, one thing I know for sure and about that we’ll never disagree. We were meant to be together since the beginning and that’s how it will be. We are one, Birdie! Now, go and enjoy this beautiful afternoon. Don’t worry, I won’t fall… except upon your wings. When the work is done, I’ll call you to see… — The Tiny Ant said in a reassuring tone.

— I understand, Antie… but I’ll be near just the same. I need to be near… and I know you understand that… But there’s just one more thing that I wanted to understand… If only two drops can be linked at a time, how do you link those two to the next ones? — The Little Bird asked.

— Well, that’s a wonderful mystery. All the droplets belong to the same tribe, the same universe… it’s like the link between generations, though they are all the same age, they are ageless… each two share the same soul and all share the same universe… — The Tiny Ant concluded.

The Little Bird flew away to the top of a tree not very distant from there. She stood there very quietly observing the Tiny Ant’s magical work.

The Persistent Cloud was feeling the same way. She stood there just contemplating the magic. When the crystal bridge was almost concluded, the Persistent Cloud heard a soft voice whispering in her ears. It was the Restless Rider. He had been busy since the morning. Now that he had gathered the clouds on the right spot of the horizon and refreshed all the plants, he was returning to his small paradise.

— Good afternoon, principessa! How was your day? — The Restless Rider asked.

— Absolutely magical! Look below and feel the magic too! — She invited.

Below they could see a shiny bridge over the creek, now becoming rainbow like with the colours of sunset. The Tiny Ant and the Little Bird were smiling together. The Tiny Ant jumped to the Little Bird’s back and there they went flying with the seagulls. The Luminous Woman was radiant, beholding everything as if she was the only viewer of the immense beauty around.

— Good night, principessa!

— Good night, Restless Rider!