TMI Squared

Whimsy leaned toward Wonder and whispered, "Bees knees please the breeze." He looked expectantly at Wonder, as though he had shared some state secret, eyebrows popping in a suggested and silent conspiratorial brotherhood. Wonder was at a loss as to what to say. He turned to Virtue with a quiet desperation born of bewilderment. When Virtue simply smiled and cocked her head, Wonder was left to sputter, "Ah, umm, yes...er, ahhh...I'm sure that's true." Wonder was uncertain if he felt more captivated--or exasperated--by Whimsys declaration.

When nothing more came from Wonder, Whimsy seemed a bit crestfallen. Exhaling, he looked all around and in a singsong cadence declared, "Wonder blunder under the Thunder;" then, with a touch of Virtue's shoulder announced, "you're it," before careening madly down the path and melting into the woods.  

Wonder looked at Virtue with more than a little confusion, asking "what did he mean Vi? What blunder did I make?" Virtue slung an arm over Wonder's shoulder suggesting, "lets keep walking," and resumed their journey. It was some time before she said, "Whimsy was making the point that you fail to see the continuity. That all things are really one thing. That life is nothing more than God revealing Himself in a million different ways."

This helped Wonder not at all. He felt as though a secret was purposely being kept from him. He dejectedly asked Virtue, "is that what he said, Vi? I didn't hear him mention God at all."

"Well", Virtue started, "thunder is often used as a metaphor for God. The ancient text's are filled with descriptions of it being His voice, or a manifestation of His power. Whimsy was saying you don't hear His voice--His message--in the flight of the bee. That bees knees, nearly always seen laden with pollen, not only ensure the regeneration of flowers, but food for bee offspring as well. It is a classic win-win situation. Naturally, this would 'please the breeze,' since the continuation of life is Life's purpose, and the breeze is most certainly a part of Life. It doesn't exist outside of it."

"So the breeze is a part of Life, Vi?"

"Everything is a part of Life Wonder."

"Even death?"

"Especially death. How can transformation take place without death? All that Life feeds on is--Life! That constitutes death in your mind. But it is simply an alteration of the physical, not the spiritual. Just as there couldn't be death without life, there can't be life without death. If there is no up Wonder, you can't possibly go down. And how would you go forward, if backward didn't exist?"

But Vi, why can't we just live forever?!"

"You do Wonder, you do."

"How do you know Vi? How can you be sure?"

Virtue chuckled softly, turned and looked deeply into Wonder's eyes. "It's simple," she said, "every little breeze seems to whisper, 'eternities.' " *

* (apologies to Maurice Chevalier)

TMI

Harmony had formed an impromptu conga line of several squirrels, a hedgehog, an entire family of voles, and one extremely nimble brown bear. They disappeared down an incline straddling the Dipatoe river, 1-2-3-KICK'ing with utter glee. Wonder sighed and turned to Virtue, "She never seems to stay around for very long. She comes and goes so quickly."

Virtue smiled and said, "Harmony is an 'intent', Wonder, not a person."

"How can that be Vi," Wonder questioned. "We were just with her."

"Being around the Lady creates a sort of resonance Wonder. You were engrossed and deeply affected by Her presence. Harmony was the result."

Wonder chewed on this answer for awhile before asking, "Is the Lady, God, Vi?"

"Partially," Virtue answered. "She is half a potentiality. The Lord is the other half. They each have a realm where they rule. We exist where the two realms overlap. Formally it is known as the Vesica Piscis, Wonder, but most simply call it life. Everything that you know of springs from this source."

Wonder's head was spinning and he walked a long way contemplating what Virtue had said. He had heard so much that he didn't understand. First from the Lady and now from Vi. He felt lost. "Oh Vi," Wonder finally confessed, "I feel so muddled."

"Don't over think it Wonder," Vi suggested. She could see her little friends furrowed forehead and knew he was apt to get lost in the answers. "The dung beetle doesn't even know the word 'astronomy' exists. And the idea of 'celestial polarization' has never occurred to any dung beetle at any time since creation began--yet they do what they do. It is something to marvel at, not muddle over."

"But how do they do it Vi, how?"

"How now brown cow?"

Wonder and Virtue turned to see who had spoken. It wasn't a total surprise to see Whimsy flashing his irresistible smile. He went on: "Hey diddle diddle--Her Lady loves a fiddle--And the cow jumped over the moon--The little crab scoffed--And said to be off--So the Archbishop ran away with a loon."

Hmmm

Yesterday, after glancing at the librarians' name tag, I noted her name was similar to an author of one of the books I was checking out. (Terry Pratchett) Overhearing us, the other librarian announced that he had just died. Arriving home, I Googled the information to see that Mr. Pratchett had died 3-12-15.

I had just "met" Pratchett a month or so ago. I had stumbled upon a number of his quotes from various books he had written and was quite taken by his unusual view of things. (See; Tipping The Scales 2-17-15) So much so I wrote a "tribute" to him with Fiddler on the Roof. I followed with two additional (and consecutive) posts; Back to the Garden and Sky Light, carrying the "tribute" forward. I haven't posted anything since. (12 days) I wonder what to make of that...

Sky Light

"So it all has to do with celestial polarization?" Wonder asked.

The Queen of Heaven smiled and stated, "That's it in a nutshell."

Wonder looked around to see where this amazing nutshell was. He was understandably confused. The explanation of a dung beetles' ability to navigate by star and sky defied logic. Unable to locate the nutshell, Wonder looked up at the Queen of Heaven and said, "do they really dance?"

The Lady responded, "It might be more accurate to say they orientate themselves. But that's akin to saying humans only dance to find themselves. While true, it certainly misses the essence of what dance is. The impulse to dance is in your DNA, Wonder."

This in no way cleared up the many questions that assailed poor Wonder's mind. He was spared further confusion when Harmony appeared and clasped first his, and then Virtue's, hand. "Let's skip to the loo and then back home," she suggested. "Our Lady has a Fiddle Festival to attend."

"Indeed," the Queen of Heaven said. "The new batch of fiddle sticks are going to be tested!" As she gathered her gown before moving off, she smiled at Vi and said, "be sure to tell Wonder about the 'riddle of the fiddle.' "

The last thing Wonder wanted was another riddle. He was riddled to death. Never-the-less, he turned his head to Vi with a sigh.

Virtue snorted and laughed. "Wonder, relax!" she said. "You aren't expected to know all the answers. Just take it in and see what happens, okay? Harmony's here and she'll help"

"Okay, Vi."

"Okay!" Vi responded. "The riddle of the fiddle is as follows; When you rosin a bow--It's important to know--A result of that friction--Can induce benediction."

Harmony and Virtue were reduced to tears of laughter when, Wonder in tow, they exited the garden to Harmony's innocent query, "what light through yonder Wonder breaks?"

Back To The Garden

Virtue came across Wonder on a path to the Garden

"Hey Wonder."

Looking up with wide eyes, Wonder responded; "Hi Vi," and subtly reddened when Virtue hugged him. Despite his slight embarrassment, he was pleased his friend always embraced him. Virtue meant the world to Wonder.

"Whatcha doing?" asked Virtue.

"Watching a dung beetle," replied Wonder. "They always push their poo in a straight line."

Virtue laughed. "Yes, they're accomplished astronomers," said Virtue. "They navigate using the Milky Way."

Wonder gasped in amazement, never doubting Virtue. "Who would have ever dreamed of that?" marveled Wonder.

"Lets go ask Her," Virtue responded.

And so it was Wonder and Virtue made their way to the eastern entry of the Garden. A flaming sword was rotating impressively at the entrance, watched over carefully by Charles the Cherubim. Virtue passed by the sword and angel both, but Wonder hesitated. "Am I allowed?" Wonder questioned. Immediately the sword swelled to ten times its original size, blocking any possible access. "Vi, help me!" Wonder shouted.

Virtue turned, retraced her steps, and took Wonder's hand. She led him back down the path until they reached a small, overgrown trail. Virtue and Wonder were a good long while on this trail until they reached the little known western gate into the Garden. The passage way was unobstructed.

"Why is there a sword at the eastern gate," asked Wonder.

"To keep the tourists out," said Virtue.

"Am I a tourist, then, Vi?" Wonder remarked.

"No Wonder," responded Virtue. "You just doubted a good intention is all."

"Oh," Wonder mused. He recalled that Hell was paved with those.

"How come there are so many Fiddler Crabs in the Garden, Vi?" Wonder posed, carefully stepping over and around the vast horde of crustaceans that seemed to be scurrying everywhere.

"Shortage of fiddle sticks, Wonder," Virtue answered. "A real shortage of fiddle sticks."

Fiddler on the Roof*

"What is heaven like," asked Wonder.

"Quite orderly, actually," replied the Archbishop pompously. "There is, of course, ritual in all its splendor. The proper way of praying, chanting, sacrificing, and the like. Do you know there is only one way of kneeling before the Lord, or pronouncing His Unspeakable Name?"

"How does one speak an unspeakable name," wondered Wonder aloud.

"Exactly!" thundered the Archbishop. "The riff-raff have no idea! Without 'Rabbi's Rule of Order' I'm sure all Hell would break loose. Inappropriate genuflecting, alms giving,--and hugging!--there is entirely too much hugging going on, if you ask me. I am of a mind it's the celestial music that goes on to all hours of the night."

"Country music?," queried Wonder, hoping he could look forward to hearing Patsy Cline in Heaven.

"Celestial music you nincompoop," shouted the Archbishop, "CELESTIAL!"

"Fiddlesticks," muttered Wonder.

"I've got it on good authority they cleaned them out completely in the last handbasket," the Archbishop replied smugly. "Violin bows are mandatory now."



(My small tribute to Terry Pratchett and his humorous way of seeing things)

Tipping The Scales

Balance. It was all about balance. That had been one of the first things that she had learned: the centre of the seesaw had neither up nor down, but upness and downness that flow through it while it remains unmoved. You had to be the centre of the seesaw so the pain flowed through you, not into you. It was very hard. But she could do it!

~Terry Pratchett I Shall Wear Midnight