New Shoots

Many years ago, I came across an old record of the music of "Brother Sun and Sister Moon" in Italian. Having seen the film many times before, and having taped the music to an old cassette, hearing it in Italian - in Francis' native language (when I was among Italian people) seemed to make it even more beautiful.

A couple of weeks ago, I planted some seeds in a window box but, since the window box wasn't 'right' and the seeds might not be suited to indoors and this very variable climate, wasn't sure if they'd grow. Each day I followed the instructions - kept them moist, tried to keep the box where there was sunlight etc. etc. and there was nothing but wet, muddy soil. Then, a couple of days ago, a small shoot appeared. I loved that shoot! It was smaller than a blade of grass but something had happened! And a day or so later many more began to appear...now, the little box is filled with tiny green shoots that (according to the instructions) will grow into beautiful blue and purple flowers. For so long it looked like nothing but a muddy mess and then there was life! The joy of seeing it is immense.

It's all so similar to what goes on everyday. For what seems like a thousand years, poring over the muddy mess of trying to succeed as a writer and then there is is small shoot, something smaller than a blade of grass and one day - like today! - you wake up and see a whole garden come to life! The books take off; people like what you write and all the seemingly wasted hours of poring over mud seem worthwhile!

The beautiful song by Donovan, from "Brother Sun and Sister Moon" says it all:

If you want your dream to be,
Build it slow and surely;
Small beginnings greater ends
Heartfelt work grows purely.

If you want to live life free,
Take your time go slowly.
Do few things but do them well
Simple joys are holy.

Day by day, stone by stone,
Build your secret slowly.
Day by day you'll grow too
You'll know heaven's glory.

If you want your dream to be
Build it slow and surely
Small beginnings greater ends
Heartfelt work grows purely