November 2008
It’s funny when you consider what sparks the memory off! Sometimes, when observing Little Dragons at play, a flashback of an instant in life lights up an image in the memory bank, at times from so long ago that you wouldn’t really consider being able to think so far back in your own history. Seeing several prams being pushed in one recent rainy morning I got a sudden flash of me sitting in my pram (a green one) being pushed by my Dad. I must have been less than 2 years old at the time because my Dad went into the RAF to serve in World War II just about the time I became 2 and he didn’t return home permanently until I was 6 years old.
I wonder whether some of our Little Dragons will ever give thought and image to any of us who work diligently each week to encourage their development in several areas – playing, sharing, painting, sticking, listening & singing.
This morning’s art activity involved marble rolling – a large marble is immersed in thick paint before being transferred to a metal tin tray holding a sheet of coloured paper. Tipping the tin this way and that results in a wonderfully bright pattern of zigzags, curves and twirls; being repeated using a different colour and so on until a colourful image reminiscent of a Jackson Pollack painting results. For some reason this always proves to be a really satisfying activity.
Oh that all our efforts could result in such satisfaction!
For much of our lives we are involved in activities which at times seem to bear little fruit. Unlike the lilies of the field who toil not nor spin, we seem to strive endlessly and can’t always experience a pleasing and harmonious result despite our effort. However, as with the marble rolling, occasionally the day throws up a moment when we can feel joy in achievement, a feeling of a job well done, an interesting encounter, a day in which we can take a satisfying step back and we may be able to think, even if only for a moment – that was good! That good feeling helps us to achieve harmony both within ourselves and with others.
Look in the mirror and what you see in yourself, try to see in others. If you see perfection in your life, then see perfection in others.
If you see imperfection in yourself and forgive yourself for your imperfection, then try also to forgive others who have the same imperfection.
The experience of oneness in darkness or light brings about harmony
(Sri Chinmoy)
Val Butterworth