Wander project what do you see in the driftwood...

The master often early in the morning would rise and walk along the beach. The tide was pulling out and revealing the sand and the restores brought by the ocean that day. Each day was a different story. The master would walk along the edge of the water and find the freshest things the sea had brought. Never great treasures. But treasures none the less.

One day a student came with the master. He walked carefully in the footsteps of the master.

But the master moved a little towards the sea, and the exact spot he had stepped was washed back out to sea.

The master paused and looked at the student, “why do you follow in my exact footsteps,” the master asked.

“I wish to become you someday.” The student replied.

“ah,” the master smiled. He reached down and picked up a single piece of driftwood. He turned it over in his hands and handed it to the student. “what do you think this wood wished to become?” The master asked.

The student stared at the wood for a long time. The master resumed walking; the student no longer precisely in the master’s steps was examining the piece of wood. They continued walking, eventually turning around. The master did not pick up any of the treasures on the beach he seldom did. The treasures were moments in time, memories, and he would let them stay where they were.

As they returned, the student continued to examine the wood. Finally, he looked to the master.” I see a horse in the wood.” The student said.

“is that what you see, or what the wood wishes to be?” the master asked.

“I do not know,” the student replied.

“Then you must study the wood some more.” The master moved out of the room, and the student continued to study the wood.

This work is Copyright DocAndersen. Any resemblance to people real or fictional in this piece is accidental (unless explicitly mentioned by name.)