Wet Wrinkled & Soggy Toes

Rummaging some old emails, I stumbled across this one I sent to a dear friend. And since my blog has taken over by a theme of 'Aunty & Granny' stories, I thought why not add another?

"Ah Boy was on his journey to find the purpose of life. As he was trodding along the Golden City he came across a plumber. His Ah Ma told him a long time once that Mr. Plumber was a rich and powerful man who built his empire wholly on pipe works. Ah Boy figured a man as successful as Mr. Plumber would surely know the answers to his questions. So he asked the plumber, "Mr. P, what is the richness to life? How does a person become successful?"

This man was not only well-equiped in the material sense. He was also a heartily fulfilled person. He was a man who understood what it takes to be happy with much and also a little. So the plumber said to the boy, "Come into my office, young man and I will tell you".

The man's office was not of the ordinary. It was an extraordinary monument of architecture made from the best marbles, pipes and displays. In the sunlight, the little mirrors winked and twinkled in chirpy friendliness. The man that stood in this wonderful fountain with yellow gumboots looked every bit magical with water flowing in and out of what he called 'his office'.

The boy was apprehensive. He was afraid of getting wet. Being wet can be very uncomfortable. The water can be too cold. Gets your socks annoyingly soggy. Makes your toes wrinkle and sometimes, gives you cramps. He said, 'But I don't want to get my feet wet. Do I really have to talk to you in the fountain?¨

The plumber looked at the boy with a puzzled face. He said very matter-of-factly, "If you don't get your feet wet, how are you supposed to learn?"

The moral of the story is: the first step is ALWAYS the hardest.
But if we never get our feet wet to take chances, we may never have the brilliancy in getting what we want. The first pain to gain is to let go of our comfort zone.
We don't have to leap into it. No want will force you to jump into either. Just take baby steps. One way or the other, you will get to where you want to go. After awhile your brain will clink into the right places and give instructions on how we can move on to the next level.

Be brave and courageous. Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage. If the pants get wet, it will dry eventually. If you get cramps, move around a bit to get the blood circulating. Who says we have to stay in the water forever?"

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This I hope I will remember when the time comes closer for me to fly. I'm every bit afraid of moving. Change is not particularly a favourite activity of mine. I've fallen here and there to wince at every thought of the experience. Thinking back [about unplugging myself from my roots] releases a gush of memories - how loneliness can nag; how big and unfriendly the world can be; why I like my food spicy.

We know no fear when we know no pain. But we live in fear when the memory of pain hangs on like a crab to a toe.