a drowning kitten

If you want to shrink something,
you must first allow it to expand.
If you want to get rid of something,
you must first allow it to flourish.
If you want to take something,
you must first allow it to be given.
This is called the subtle perception
of the way things are.
The soft overcomes the hard.
The slow overcomes the fast.
Let your workings remain a mystery.
Just show people the results.
-- Stephen Mitchell, Chapter 36, Tao Te Ching

I sat struggling at the computer.

Lao Tzu and Jesus watched.

"He is trying to write this without us," said Jesus.

"He is full of himself," said Lao Tzu.

"He is head strong and heart weak," said Jesus.

"His balloon will eventually burst," said Lao Tzu.

"He is hard and fast on his way," said Jesus.

"Let's go even slower," said Lao Tzu. "Maybe he will eventually catch up."

"No chance," said Jesus. "He is in an entirely different dimension."

"Dementia," said Lao Tzu.

I sighed, kicked back from the computer, and gave up.

"Welcome to the world," said Jesus.

"Where have you two been?" I asked.

They looked at each other.

"Trying to rescue a drowning kitten," said Lao Tzu.

"Is the kitten okay?" I asked.

"He is one strange cat," said Jesus.

"What episode shall we write for today?" I asked.

They whooped with laughter.