Chinese philosophers have an image of moving water they use well. When flowing water comes across an obstacle, it goes over it or around it or under it. It sometimes nudges it aside. The obstacle creates the way. And yet, when there is literally no way, the water pauses and becomes a pool or a pond or a lake and waits until the time is right again to move on.
Then these wise thinkers ask: What is stronger, water or stone? And many wonder at the question, saying that stone is heavy, dense, massive, and hard while water is only liquid and soft. But dripping water can go through stone. The drops together, repeated and relentless, have unseen power. So can be our actions in the world. Be like water.
