The mountain looked down at the pebbles peering over the edge of the cliff.
The pebbles skittered, appearing to be deeply troubled about something.

"What bothers you, little pebbles?" asked the mountain.

"We're afraid", replied one pebble, "of falling."
"And we're afraid", said another, "of not falling." 

The mountain laughed, gently so as not to disloge them accidentally. 
"Silly little pebbles", said the mountain, while smiling at them.

"If you stay, here on the cliff top, you will be in the glow of the sun, 
feel the laughter of the wind, in a place that you know well, 
and you will be with your friends who are even now supporting you."

"If you fall, remember that you are made of stone -- you won't be hurt. 
And by going over the edge, you will see new things, rejoing those who have
gone before you, and open up new possibilities unavailable on the cliff edge."

The pebbles looked at the mountain, unsure of what to say. With tender wisdom, 
the mountain continued. "You act like the quicklife, that doesn't know what
comes next, and thus sometimes fears it. But you are eternal, not quicklife.

"Don't be afraid of falling or not falling. Look, and listen, and then decide
if you want to jump, or fly, or wait, in whatever order. For I was once like
you, a tiny pebble; and you were once like me, a grand mountain. 

"And when you realize that you are just a small piece of all that we are, 
you will understand that you have nothing to fear. Wherever your path may take you."

 

February, 2006


[See also a quote by JMS: "The avalanche has begun. It is too late for the pebbles to vote."]