The woodcutter
Works in all seasons.
Splitting wood is both
Action and inaction.
Even when it is snowy, the woodcutter must split wood. Unless he does, he and his family will not stay warm, and those who depend upon him will not survive. But the woodcutter does not work simply on a piecemeal basis. He labors in concert with the seasons. He worked hard to store wood prior to the first cold so that he would have the luxury of merely splitting kindling for now. His work seems slight in one season, because he was industrious in the previous one.
When he splits wood, he must place the log on the block and raise his axe. But he must strike the wood with the grain, and he must let the axe fall with its own weight. If he tries to chop across the grain, his effort would be wasted. If he tries to add strength to the swing of the axe, there would be no gain.
Like the woodcutter, we can all benefit from working according to seasonal circumstances. Whether it is the time or the method, true labor is half initiative and half knowing how to let things proceed on their own.
I guess I’m sort of in a winter mood these days – lots of kindling splitting, but not any real wood gathering or cutting across the grain lately. I haven’t worked full-time in quite a while. Thanks to what my mom left us, I haven’t needed to, and it is nice to have money and not have to worry about it. I suppose eventually my funds will wind down and I will want to be working again.
The other half of that is not really knowing what to do right now. I enjoy working in software quality, but really want to focus more on people rather than process. I’ve debated going back to school in Organizational Psychology or something, but haven’t pushed myself to get back to school. Mebbee with time and money available, I will consider that a bit further. The other thought was to open a store, but haven’t progressed with that idea either. I enjoy blogging and reading blogs so much it soaks up most of my day right now, not sure why. Perhaps it’s just my enjoyment of this new phenomena, perhaps it is the way I feel most connected to what is going on in the world. In everyday life, most people don’t want to discuss the political climate or the changes that are happening in the world, or that need to happen. The blogs and sites I read reflect most of the changes I see needing to happen.
I guess my Tao postings are a part of that. For me, I need a way of looking at the world that fits in with how I view nature, people, and politics, and Tao seems to do that for me. I find comfort in it often, but more than that, real wisdom — how to deal with situations, how to take a long-tem view of the world, how to relax and enjoy life, yet not be afraid of making changes when needed. Tao teaches balance, and keeping things in perspective, and not to take most things too seriously – but when you do, to know the principles behind the positions you take and hold.
“The work will come again, but childhood won’t”. Those were the words that convinced me to stay at home when my kids were small. Perhaps now, it’s “The work will come again, when it is needed.” ANd that is where I seem to be – waiting to be needed again….
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