Today I just picked up this book and randomly selected one of the translations, #8.
The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao.
In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
In ruling, be just.
In business, be competent.
In action, watch the timing.
No fight: no blame.
The metaphor for the Tao is water since it comes in many forms—mist and rain, underground wells, rivulets, waterfalls, eddies in whitewater, rivers, lakes, and the oceans. The Tao is also called “the Way”, and is infinitely compassionate, supporting and nurturing. It cautions us not to blame ourselves or others for our wounds. For the Taoist, nature and spirit are inseparable. The “Way” is the forever harmony of heaven, the human and the earth that is always renewed yet inexhaustible.
This felt like a relevant and serendipitous thought for today.
Perhaps it’s also telling us to remember the gentle admonition to ‘go with the flow’---not try so hard, not force things, be open to possibilities rather than deciding what must be and insisting on a certain outcome. Sometimes when you’re looking for the exact right turn, you miss the best road just ahead.