The woman sat watching the ocean...
She felt it’s strength, saw its freedom of expression and ever changing beauty. She felt the power of each wave as it rose to its peak before crashing to the shore. She felt at peace. Suddenly, thoughts of her journey broke into her peace, and she knew it was time to leave, to move on. Turning she started her journey along the forest pathway, moving away from the ocean she loved.
She had delayed her journey for as long as possible. Now she needed to understand, to know. She was aware of reaching a crossroads, a place of decisions. She needed the old man’s help, his guidance - even though she knew that only she could make the choice in the end. She shivered for night was drawing close and the chill in the air urged her to move faster. She had lingered by the ocean for too long.
The pathway was difficult to climb now and many times the woman wanted to turn back. Sometimes she felt afraid. Often she felt frustrated at the obstacles hindering her progress. Some of the obstacles she had to physically push away; others were obstacles in her mind. She acknowledged these feelings as part of her journey and kept moving, determined to reach the old man’s dwelling place. Higher and higher she climbed, sometimes missing her foothold, slipping back, and having to recover ground. She could no longer see the sea, its beauty hidden by the forest.
Suddenly, without any warning, the pathway opened up to become a clearing and at last she saw him. A sense of awe flowed through her body as she felt his power, realising this frail looking man was even stronger than the ocean and the mighty waves would be still at his command. She almost ran, yet felt her feet move forward until she knew she was in front of the old man. Raising her eyes to met his she was overwhelmed at the beauty of his face. Never before had she encounter such love, tenderness and compassion, and she felt as if her heart would burst from pure joy.
He did not speak, yet she heard his words. And in hearing them the woman was aware of feeling at peace, feeling a quietude inside her that gave her joy. Suddenly she realised that the old man was holding out a gift, a white glass stone and she felt its hardness as she held it in her hand. It felt cold to her touch. Disappointment flowed through her, she had sought his help and been given a cold hard gift. As if he realised her feelings the old man smiled and she heard the words, "look inside, look and see".
Without knowing how, she realised it was time to go. Thanking the old man for her gift she turned once more to the pathway. She was amazed to see that night had passed and it was almost dawn. Had she really been there that long? The descent seemed much easier, quicker, and suddenly she could see the sea again, and the path opened on to the shore.
Once again the woman sat by the ocean. She gazed at the stone in her hand not understanding the meaning of the gift, even in looking she could not see. In frustration she threw the stone, watching it rise in the air and fall in the sand.
Dawn was breaking and she watched the first fingers of morning light move across the water, touching the sand, touching the glass stone. Suddenly a rainbow fell into her line of vision. The glass stone scintillated, colours glowed and danced before her eyes. In wonder she stooped and picked up her gift, and for the first time looked into its depths. And, in that moment her perception shifted. She saw the glass stone was clear and transparent. Its depth shone with the hidden fires that spoke of strength and steadfastness, of warmth and beauty and love. And then she knew. The old man had given her part of herself. The part that was durable, could learn and grow, could make decisions and accept responsibility and stand beside another in love and support. And she no longer felt afraid. She wanted to thank the old man although realised that he knew anyway. In joy she lifted her face to the wind, and feeling its warmth she started to run along the sand.