The River and The Stone

A Tiny Crack Appeared

In the small village of Jemez Springs, nestled high in the mountains of New Mexico,

Soda Dam Hot Springs (Jemez Springs) by Matthew Dillon from Hollywood, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

there lived a humble old woman named Yolanda. She was known for her wisdom and kindness, and the villagers often sought her guidance. However, for those who wished to speak to her, she was only available when the visitor was immersed in an extremely hot pool of water, fed by an underground volcanic spring.

One day, as Yolanda was sitting by the water, a curious young adventurer named Ávila approached her. "Grandmother Yolanda," Ávila began, "I have heard tales of your wisdom. Please, share with me a story that carries the essence of life.”

San Antonio Hot Springs, Joel Saland from Albuquerque, USA, PDM-owner, via Wikimedia Commons

Yolanda smiled warmly at Ávila and nodded. "Ah, my child, I shall tell you a tale of the river and the stone—a story that speaks of the nature of life, ever-changing and fluid."

Long ago, in this valley, the Jemez river flowed gracefully through the landscape. Along its banks stood an ancient stone, weathered by time and elements. This stone, despite its solidity, longed for something more.

One day, one of the local monks walking through the valley noticed the stone's silent yearning. He approached the stone and said, "Dear stone, why do you seem so restless?"

The stone replied, "I have witnessed the river's constant flow, and I envy its freedom. It weaves through the valleys and dances with the wind. I am stuck here, unchanging and unmoving."

The wise monk chuckled softly. "Dear stone, you may appear unyielding, but there is a fluidity within you that you have not yet discovered."

Perplexed, the stone asked, "What do you mean?"

The monk explained, "Life is like the river, ever-changing and flowing. Your essence is not in resisting change but in embracing the transformations that come your way."

With these words, the monk gently tapped the stone with his staff. To the stone's surprise, a tiny crack appeared. Slowly but steadily, the crack extended, and the stone began to change its form, melting and flowing like the water of a stream.

As the seasons passed, the stone transformed into a beautiful sculpture, shaped by the forces of nature. It embraced the rain, the wind, and the warmth of the sun. The once-rigid stone had become a symbol of fluidity, a testament to the beauty found in change.

Yolanda concluded the tale, "My dear Ávila, life is like the river, and we are like the stones along its banks. Embrace the fluidity within, and you shall find the true essence of living."

Ávila left Grandmother Yolanda's dwelling with a heart full of wisdom, ready to navigate the river of life with a newfound understanding of its ever-changing currents.