29 January 2007

the turning of the tide

been thinking about 'managing change' these days...tricky old business it seems. i can hear gandalf in the two towers- gandalf the shiny white not the old grey- coming back and saying 'i come to you at the turning of the tide'. to which aragorn, gimli and legolas say, 'yeah well, we actually liked things the way they were. we prefer grey; this new cloak is altogether too bright'.i got to thinking that the turning of the tide is an interesting picture of the way things often do progress to change. the shift itself may be barely perceptible through the continuing ebb and flow of the waves. a change might be happening but half the time the water seems to be going in the same way as it always has; at least for some moments. but this is the way the tide chooses to change. this is the effect of gravity; this is what it is to be earthed.it's funny how the sound of the waves is one of the most comforting sounds i know- at least when the sea is relatively calm. back and forth and changing direction at the same time. a tricky old business...