© 2019 - Bill Mauldin
Life’s Stream
There
was
once
a
beautiful
mountain
stream
whose
water
glistened
in
the
light.
It
lay
comfortably
between
two
stone
walls
that
flowed
from
the
bottom
of
two
high
rocky
hills.
The
stone
walls
had
beautiful
green
ferns
growing
from
the craggy openings between the rocks.
In
the
stream
below,
there
was
a
maze
of
pretty
rocks.
Many
different
colors,
all
washed
very
smooth
by
the
rushing water as though they were polished by a jeweler.
While
looking
closely
in
the
water,
and
feeling
the
peacefulness,
I
noticed
a
glistening
of
something
in
the
bottom
of
the
stream.
I
took
a
glass
and
plunged
it
into
the
water,
pulling
it
back
quickly.
I
held
it
up
to
the
sun
and,
as
I
stared
through
the
glass
I
saw
something
moving,
it
appeared
transparent.
I
thought,
what
is
this?
Then
I
heard
this
faint
noise,
almost
a
whisper.
I
carried
the
glass
away
from
the
rustling
water,
and
the
voice,
though
faint,
was
now
perceptible.
I
said
“what
are
you?”
I
hardly
expected
a
reply,
so
you
can
imagine
my
surprise
when
I
heard
the
tiny
voice
that
said
“I'm
a
Clingin
”
I
said
“Where
did
you
come
from?”
He
replied
“I
have
been
here
as
far
back
as
I
can
remember”
I
said
“You've
never
moved
from
here?”
He
replied
“Of
course
not,
If
I
were
to
let
go,
I
would
surely
be
smashed
on
the
rocks”
I
said
“Are
you
telling
me
that
you
will
stay
right
where
you
are
until
the
end?”
He
replied
“Of
course”
I
said
“Are
you
happy
here?”
He
said
“I
don't
really
know
about
happiness,
I
like
laying
here
in
the
Sun
and
have
what
I
need
to
exist.
I
have
wondered
if
there
was
more,
but
the
fear
inside
me
would
never
let
me
leave”
I
said
“What
if
I
told
you
that
there
is
really
nothing
to
fear”
He
said
“Are
you
crazy?
I
would
surely die, ask any
Clingin, we never turn loose.”
I
replied,
“I
can
understand
your
fear,
we
humans
often
hold
on
to
what
we
dislike,
for
fear
of
change,
and
although
we
fear
it,
and
dislike
it,
we
hold
onto
it.
Why?
Because
it’s
predictable,
but
I
can
promise
you
this,
if
you
let
go
you
will
not
die”
The
Clingin
replied
“How
can
you
say
that?”
I
said
“The
stream
delights
to
lift
you
up,
to
carry
you
to
the
top,
to
cover
you
with
the
full
warmth
of
the
Sun,
to
carry
you
to
new
and
majestic
places
where
you can learn of happiness,
You only have to believe and it will be so” He replied
“I
must
think
about
it
more,
maybe
I
will
lose
some
of
my
fear
if
I
think
about
it
tonight.”
I
returned
the
Clingin
to
his
rock.
That
night,
as
the
Moon
cast
its
glow
upon
the
water,
and
it
slowed
to
a
peaceful
flow,
the
Clingin
thought,
I'm
really
tired
of
just
existing.
Maybe
it
is
OK
to
let
go.
Everything
is
peaceful now.
For
a
minute
the
Clingin
relaxed
his
grip,
in
an
instant
he
was
swept
into
the
running
water,
suddenly
an
incredible
fear
engulfed
his
mind.
He
closed
his
eyes,
knowing
he
could
do
nothing.
Minutes
later
he
realized
he
had
not
been
smashed.
He
was
free,
free
to
find
his
place
where
ever it might be, no longer fearing the unknown.
As
the
Clingin
came
to
rest
at
the
side
of
the
stream,
for
the
first
time,
he
felt
happiness.
He
thought,
for
so
long
I
dreamed
of
a
life
that
in
my
mind
was
magical,
and
yet
I
found
an
equal
fear
that
if
it
came
about,
I
would
fear
it’s
loss.
Now
that
so
much
has
come
true,
I
have
no
fear
now
because I realize my happiness is simply, My Choice.
You may feel trapped like the Clingin.
If so, simply let go.
The Stream is from the beginning of this world, It is the
energy of light, the energy of love, God’s energy, and
although you may not realize it, you are a part of it, and it
is part of you.
Fear is a Liar,
so quit listening to the lies,
because life without fear is
LIMITLESS
Page 2
The following story is a parable, written to call to mind
the excitement that a simple change of direction can
yield in someones life
Next
Healing ?
Page 3