Last night I was lying in bed, thinking, reviewing the day, the energy and watching fluctuations of light energy wave across the darkened ceiling.    I always think it is funny, how air can look like a living breathing thing, which is it, but the frequency of it is beautiful.  Still if you knew what air looked like, would you want to breathe it in?  It may be a little disconcerting to see ourselves breathing in a kaleidoscope of colours.

I lie there and just listen, to the feeling of impending sleepiness and the light breathing of my hubby.   The energy shifts and I feel Tai coming in close, "Tai? Can I have a story?".   He laughs and immediately I am in the Zen Garden, seated opposite him, legs crossed and patiently waiting.  He moves a hand slightly and a window appears, and I am pulled into the story.  My heart warms with delight and the story unfolds....

The Hammer and the Nail:

One day in a workshop, when the tools were resting and the work had been completed for the day, the sound of the restful silence was broken by the Hammer and the Nail arguing.   The other tools sighed for it was a familiar argument and one that they were heartily sick of.

The Nail started in again.  "But I tell you it's NOT fair, I have the worst end of the deal, I get repeated hit in the head over and over and shoved into something.  I definitely have the worst end of the situation."  he grumbled resentfully.

The Hammer equally resentfully countered. "What about ME?  It's MY poor head that gets to hit YOU, and it's over and over again, and it's not JUST you, it's everyone else LIKE you, over and over again.  Some days I have such a migraine.  Do you think that I should be given a break, but Oh No, over and over again until I could scream.  I definitely have the worse deal for no one considers how I feel".  He glared at the Nail resentfully.

The other tools sighed and the bickering and arguing continued in the dusky light of the workshop.   No one else was willing to get involved in the argument simply because the Hammer and the Nail in full swing, just shouted over the top of any one else trying to help.

The Sun shifted down lower in the sky and a beam of sunlight, filtered into the workshop.  Brilliant in her golden hues she landed on the bench beside the Hammer and the Nail.    The Hammer and the Nail stopped startled for a moment, but not distracted they continued to pick resentfully at each other.   The beam of Sunlight, suddenly went Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! at them and they were so surprised they stopped their bickering to pay attention to her.   Both were so resentful for the interruption of their perceived hurts they ignored the beauty of the Beam of Sunlight and glared at her.

"Why on earth are you arguing at each other that way?   When you have such a purpose in life?   Each of you has such an important role, but without the other, neither of you has any value".   She stared at them both.

The Hammer and the Nail immediately started to justify WHY they had been arguing and the Beam of Sunlight frowned and sparkled brighter and Shhhhhhh'd them again.    "So you have forgotten in being so caught up in yourselves selfishly the importance of purpose, but also the value of each other.   But the other thing, also you have forgotten is the understanding that you KNOW what you are to do.   Do you not understand that to know your purpose and value is amazing but to know more than anything what your ROLE is, is more than many things here in this world know.     Take a moment to truly THINK about the value of knowing what you are, how you work in with others, and also that your KNOW you ROLE, your purpose.   Be grateful you have that wisdom and understand your need to work together".  The sun moved and the Beam of Sunlight dispersed as gracefully as she had come, before the Hammer and the Nail could even get a word out.

They stared at each other.   In their arguing and resentment they HAD forgotten value, they compared themselves to each other and there was really no comparison.   They glanced away and moved to different sides of the bench to rest and await the new day.   The rest of the tools also contemplated what the Beam of Sunlight had said and that night there was a thoughtful air in the workshop.

Moral:

Sometimes we are very preoccupied in what we believe has affected us, that we are worse off than others, have experienced more than others, been hurt more than others.  However this is only our own perception and if you continually take that stance, you will find that your heart stops seeing the goodness in experiences and people and will only hold to the bitterness.   Take a moment to see the value of you, but also the experiences that others bring to you.  They have an equally important role here on the earth plane too, you may not see it, but they do.   Stop comparing and come back to tolerance, understanding and recognising that while some people's roles or purposes are not clear, simply by being you in all of your abilities and uniqueness of you, it enables your life to contribute always to others as well and there is such a need to be grateful for that.