walking by the lake

The Master gives himself up
to whatever the moment brings.
He knows that he is going to die,
and he has nothing left to hold on to:
no illusions in his mind,
no resistances in his body.
He doesn't think about his actions;
they flow from the core of his being.
He holds nothing back from life;
therefore he is ready for death,
as a man is ready for sleep
after a good day's work.
-- Stephen Mitchell, Chapter 50, Tao Te Ching

We were walking by the lake.

"I love you guys," I said.

"We love you too," said Jesus.

"You are not always plotting and planning and scheming," I said.

"There is no place but here," said Lao Tzu.

"Here is no place for there," said Jesus.

Lao Tzu bumped Jesus with his shoulder.

Jesus grinned.

"Forgive me," said Lao Tzu.

"Can't do it," said Jesus. "I hold nothing against you."

Lao Tzu picked up a small rock and held it against Jesus' arm.

We kept walking.

"Tired yet?" Jesus asked Lao Tzu.

"Dang right!" said Lao Tzu and dropped the rock.

"Now you are forgiven," said Jesus.

We walked on holding nothing against anyone.