The Stone Cutter

-Ah yes, it is Monday – the first day after the long 4th of July holiday weekend.  I’ll bet your saying to yourself – “yuck” – I hate the thought of going back to work.  Well, I can’t say as I blame you for those thoughts – I used to have the same thoughts back when I worked.

It’s normal, you’ll get over it – and before you know it … Friday will be upon us! 

-Out in our back yard this morning, we have clear conditions and 58 degrees.  Today’s north land weather forecast is calling for: Mostly sunny. Highs 68 to 73. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Not really a “hot” day, but indeed a nice day in the north land.

Color weather radar indicates a small area of moisture this morning in extreme west central Minnesota, moving toward the south and east.

-I could not help but share this little chinese fable, that I came across ~

There was once a stone cutter, who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life.

One day, he passed a wealthy merchant’s house, and through the open gateway, saw many fine possessions and important visitors. “How powerful that merchant must be!” thought the stone cutter. He became very envious, and wished that he could be like the merchant. Then he would no longer have to live the life of a mere stone cutter.

To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever dreamed of, envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself. But soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants, and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. “How powerful that official is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a high official!”

Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around, who had to bow down before him as he passed. It was a hot summer day, and the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence. “How powerful the sun is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be the sun!”

Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and laborers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. “How powerful that storm cloud is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a cloud!”

Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realized that it was the wind. “How powerful it is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be the wind!”

Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, hated and feared by all below him. But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it — a huge, towering stone. “How powerful that stone is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a stone!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a stone!”

Then he became the stone, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the solid rock, and felt himself being changed. “What could be more powerful than I, the stone?” he thought. He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stone cutter.

The moral of this story is simply this: It is to be happy with what you have.. after all the stone cutter is more powerful than the stone.

I often wonder if – perhaps – even more important than the ability to see the fruit your desires is the insight to realize that they are no better than what you already have.  Perhaps not better, not worse – but simply just different.

-We are on the downward side of the year 2009 and have been since June 30th … Here’s to a great new last half of the year filled with great opportunities and wonderful fun and laughter!

Talking about opportunities … hey, I’ve lost 17 pounds in the past three weeks.  If I can do this, you can do it to.  Or perhaps accomplish something else that you’ve been wanting to do.  Paint the bathroom, clean out the garage, work in the basement, save some money … whatever it is, you can accomplish it!

So get up, move your butt and make it happen.

I guess I’m going to find some breakfast … after all, it’s about that time of the morning.

-See you tomorrow.