Have you ever heard the wonderful silence just before the dawn? Or the quiet and calm just as a storm ends? Or perhaps you know the silence when you haven’t the answer to a question you’ve been asked, or the hush of a country road at night, or the expectant pause of a room full of people when someone is just about to speak, or, most beautiful of all, the moment after the door closes and you’re alone in the whole house? Each one is different, you know, and all very beautiful if you listen carefully.
Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth
This morning I’m scheduled to take part in a webinar for a class I’m taking and I’m wrestling with whether to attend or just listen to the replay later. I’ve been looking forward to it, but the need for solitude and silence is strong. I’m behind where I wanted to be by now too; I suppose that’s part of it. I had strong intention when I started . . . but life.
We must be willing to reshape our intention sometimes, it must have a measure of flexibility or else we will break. “Mann tracht, un Gott lacht” is an old Yiddish saying that, translated, means “man plans, and God laughs”. Basically . . . life.
So, do I bail on the webinar and listen to the recording later when I feel stronger and better able to get back on track? Or do I attend anyway, knowing it will spur me on and help me get back on track to the best of my current ability? I’m not sure yet.
I’m in this dame position a lot. Oh, the choices. Usually I go for the slowest way. I’m too easily taken up with the rush rush rush around me.
Yes, choices can overwhelm sometimes, can’t they? In this case I chose to participate in the webcast and it was just what I needed to get me moving again.