Page 21 - SPRING 2024 News and Views

build, they would dig. Along lanes and in fields, by the banks of the river, in any patch of open ground,
they planted seeds.

The members of the established communities observed their behaviour, but did not see what they were
doing. They were called ‘the muddies’ and were clearly mad.

Autumn naturally gave way to winter, a season offering opportunities for peaceful reflection and
expectant waiting. In spring, the sleeping seeds germinated and burst into life. The valley was
transformed into a glowing carpet of shimmering floral stars, spires, bells and cups. Iridescent turquoise,
translucent gold and velvety crimson mingled with delicate pink, majestic purple, warm amber and
angelic white, all set off by subtly varied lacy green foliage. Above the perfumed flowers, butterflies
hovered on bejewelled wings.

It was too much. The Eminent Gold, together with the Eminent Azure and the Eminent Scarlet struggled
out through a thunderstorm to pay a visit to the couple. They complained bitterly about the way in which
the different colours had been scattered across the valley without their authority. They expressed
themselves at considerable length, feeling that the seriousness of the issue – and their own status –
justified much repetition.

When their words had run out, the couple held up their hands, ‘Yes’ said the man, ‘ we and our friends
planted the seeds. But we didn’t create them or send the rain to bring about their generation or the sun
to feed their growth.’

For a moment, the Eminent ones were silenced. Then the Eminent Gold delved into his belief system and
replied, ‘You dare to speak to us in that way. Each of us has a divine symbolism for his colour of faith,
while you have nothing!’

‘True, very true,’ the others nodded. ‘Nothing at all.’

There was another silence. Slowly the room brightened.

‘Look,’ said the woman, ‘it’s stopped raining now. Let us go outside’.

They walked together into the garden. Tiny drops still clung to every leaf and petal, sparkling in the
sunshine, while arching above them every colour in the spectrum, visible and invisible, shone peacefully
in the accepting sky.

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