A little more than a week ago, I set out on a journey that took me to East Guol.  I spent a full week there in meditation, praying that part of Devion's vision would be made clear to me.  The hills brought me a sense of calm and restfulness, making it easy for me to close my eyes and fall into a trance-like state of being.  What I saw, however, was much more than I had expected...

The vision began simply as everything around me seemed to fade away, leaving me alone in a vast expanse of endless possibilities.  I kept myself focused on what Elder Devion had been able to reveal about his vision of our future.  Dim images began to surround me, nothing taking form until a single figure began to walk toward me.. the figure of my father.

"Keiko.. do you still fish?"  His voice was soft and his eyes warm.

"Keiko.  No one has called me that in years.. why are you here, Papa?"

"I'm here to talk to you about fish, Keiko."

"But.. what do fish have to do with being a monk?"

"It is the art, Kei.. it is knowing that one must wait until the time is right to strike down with the spear."

"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.. teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."  I nodded, remembering his lessons from my childhood.

"Know that there is a time for all things, Keiko.. you must wait until the time is right before you can catch the fish."

"Papa, what do you mean?" 

There was no answer.. as hard as I tried to find him, my father was gone.  I sat there for hours as I pondered his meaning.  A time for all things?  Waiting to catch the fish might have relevance to dinner, but what could it have in common with being monks?  Still uncertain, I felt myself moving yet again...

This time I came face to face with myself.. ten years ago.  I could see the healer's guild hall.. I saw my tutor, Han-Jomei.. and I watched as the younger version of myself became frustrated.  Leaning back, I could hear Master Han's voice in my mind even as the scene unfolded in front of me.

"You must not skip anything, Hoshi Keiko."

"But I want to do it now!" my younger self replied indignantly.

"Hoshi Keiko, how can you master what you cannot understand?  How can you learn if you skip and jump over the parts you do not like? How can you appreciate the story if you read the last chapter first?"

The young Keiko had no answer, but hung her head and nodded silently.

"Child, there will be things in life that make you anxious.. people, situations.. but you must realise that these things help us to grow stronger.  It is necessary that we practice patience in all things, else we may miss out on something we should have experienced."