Perception of Waste

"An ocean of blessings may rain down from the heavens,

but if we're only holding up a thimble, that's all we receive."

Ramakrishna

Two women traveling on life's journey greeted each other as they rested upon a rock.  They sipped water and shared experiences, and although they did not know each other,  they had been walking the same path.  It was surprising to them that one woman had started weeks prior to the other woman.

"What on earth has taken you so long?" gasped the faster woman. "Did you fall or take a wrong turn?"  This woman was determined to figure out what had caused the other to waste so much time and not maintain a steady pace.

The other woman's face lit up with delight. "I lingered at the water fall listening to the rush of the falling water.  Then at sunset I paused to watch the blinding orange energy sink into the far  horizons.  As if this wasn't enough to fill my yearning soul, darkness crept across the sky exposing a moon so bright with magical  twinkling stars."  By moving more slowly, this woman was embracing the depth of her journey while the faster woman skimmed only the top layer.  Perception of waste is in the eye of the beholder.