TMO Provincial Master’s Message Summer 2013

A few years back, while on my daily lunch walk, I found myself becoming increasingly upset about the new construction that had diverted a beautiful little stream from its pristine foothill creek bed into a bulldozed, muddy new track. How can people so mar the beauty of nature, I thought. God's world is so delicate and it will take years for balance and life giving energies to return to this innocent little stream. I saw it as a violation of the creek, of nature, and of me since daily I would draw energy from this particular aspect of God's wonderful world. I missed the lapping of the waters over the smooth rocks, the waving of the grass at the water's edge, and the crystal clearness of the water itself. Yes, I thought, this was truly a sin against nature.

Then I noticed the sounds coming from the diverted creek. It was still bubbling and gurgling! It was still emitting the joyful sounds of a mountain stream! It was not devastated. It was not depressed. It was still singing of the joy of nature and God. It had taken all the new obstacles and the muddiness and the lack of a familiar path all in stride. The stream DIDN'T CARE! It kept its focus on the beautiful, on the holy, on God, and didn't let mundane obstacles and transitory events deter it from its purpose. It trusted that God would give it power to overcome any obstacle and to see it through.

What a revelation that event was to me! What a gift from God in the form of a natural symbol! If we all could just have the same trust in God as that little creek we could travel through life with confidence and not worry about what's around the next corner. That corner may bring huge obstacles to overcome, may cause us a lot of extra effort, but we need not concern ourselves about the final outcome. God has given us the resources and the power to continue our life journey and we must have trust. We can and should have the joy of the little stream while working on the challenge.

When I am faced with troubles, with challenges, with obstacles, I am always going to remember - THE WATER DOESN'T CARE.

May you ever dwell in the Eternal Light of Divine Wisdom!

David Schloegel, F.R.C.

Provincial Master, TMO