56 Comments
User's avatar
Diane BF78's avatar

“The stone will wait.” What an image for the burdens people are carrying this holiday season. It’s time to step away and enjoy the rest stop.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Good advice for the season—for every season, really. Thank you, Diane. 😊🙏

Rolando Andrade's avatar

Even when you write prose, your prose smells like poetry, because that's probably your soul. But you've already mastered the rocks you encounter on the road to writing

Mary Pierce's avatar

"Smells like poetry" -great book title😂

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

That does sound like a good title, Mary!

Rolando Andrade's avatar

do you know that smell is our most powerful sense?

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Yes, it is capable of evoking even the deepest, long forgotten memories.

Geraldine A. V. Hughes's avatar

Our sense of hearing too

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Hearing, too, can evoke memories

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thank you, Rolando—it’s hard to get away from.

Patris's avatar

Yes, this

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Grateful to @Shannon Winestone for the restack, thank you!

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks for restacking this, @Kevin M

Kevin Maher's avatar

I need to stick around for at least another 10 to 15 years, God willing. Dependents. They bring joy to my life that is difficult to describe, but that is only as a result of being present and providing for them. So you are stuck with me for a while yet, my friend!

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

You’ll have Christmas with family? Wonderful!

Kevin Maher's avatar

It is inevitable, my friend. I’m in no rush to get there, as I have some loose ends to take care of

Kevin Maher's avatar

It was my pleasure, Paul. The least I could do. Letting the boulder rest, before it becomes my headstone!

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

No one wants that, Kevin!

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks for restacking this, @Lique

Paul McCutchen's avatar

It is good advice but, in my lifetime, following good advice is sometimes hard to do

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

That’s true, Paul, but I think there’s merit in enjoying the ride while getting to the destination.

Daniel Henderson's avatar

Sometimes you write a bit of prose but every time it's a moment's read that I didn't know I was looking forward to.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

What a wonderful comment to read while the snow is falling and the coffee is hot and I don’t have to shovel much…yet! Thank you, Daniel! 😊🙏

Patris's avatar

Truer than any sermon I’ve listened to, I receive this permission gratefully, Paul. Indeed that stone will wait. 🙏

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

I don't think there's a time limit on getting back to the stone, Patris. The trip down the hill allows us the opportunity to enjoy simply being in the moment, rather than the trip onward and upward of one who constantly moves toward dissolution and nothingness.

Mary Pierce's avatar

Just be. Yes.

David W. Zoll's avatar

Beautiful piece. Thanks.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

Thanks for reading and commenting, David.

Jane Newell's avatar

So beautifully poignant, Paul. The morning air - both everything and nothing - fill my lungs, and I am grateful. Blessings, Jane

Marjorie Pezzoli's avatar

“The stone will wait” - adding that after “dust keeps”, part of my mental list to enjoy the moments of doing nothing. Soaking in birdsongs, looking at clouds, or whatever catches my eye. Lovely prose to remind me of this. Thank you Paul

Monica P.'s avatar

Such good advice for us. Just be. Breathe in and out thank you, Paul.

Riccardo Valle's avatar

Nature is indifferent to our efforts and sacrifices. We push the boulder uphill, surrounded by its sounds, colors, and scents. Yet, we feel nothing beneath the waves of effort.

When we pause, we feel it all, a powerful resonance, the liquid sounds. But they’re the same as when we felt nothing before.

Thanks so much for the post. Paul.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

We are so engrossed in Becoming, that we forget what it feels like to simply Be. Thank you for reading and commenting, Riccardo.

Kathleen Hobbs's avatar

Live in this moment. Take your time. Be.

The stone will wait.

@Paul Wittenberger I really Love that. We're all so busy always trying to get to the top of the hill that we lose sight of everything and everyone around us. Definitely best to live in the moment.

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

And if you get to the top, Kathleen, then what? Where do you go? What do you do? The top becomes your rock to push, if you can figure out some place to push it.

Grimalkin's avatar

You have beautifully described and made irrelevant all those self-help books, podcasts, and gurus out there in the nothingness. 🦋

Paul Wittenberger's avatar

I'm sure they'll find a way to make themselves relevant again, Grimalkin, but thank you--that's a great thought!