When I First Saw...

 

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When I first saw your topic 

of “Working Together in Harmony” 

I thought of how we can be with others 

while sharing a common purpose, 

and what goes into making that work 

with synergy and balance. 

I know that in a pure sense 

a shared aim and purpose is the beginning, 

but then I went on to wonder 

what makes it harmonious, 

what makes the octave sing 

and become self-propelling. 

Somehow there must be 

a natural ebb-and-flow within the process, 

between us.

For me, it is recognizing each voice 

and what melody or counter-melody or harmony 

it has to add to the organic whole — 

accepting this without needing to control anything. 

Letting the song or the symphony unfold on its own, 

trusting in the divine plan. 

This comes 

with a certain relinquishing of my own plan, 

my need to project and control the outcome.

And yet, I can have a fully conceptualized plan, 

and somehow let the details emerge surprisingly, 

let them unfold 

in the community of that shared process. 

I need to recognize those magical moments 

where holding back and observing 

allows others to shine their light—

a light which moves us all—

and allows us to fully realize 

the mysterious potential 

that we can only have when we are together, 

each fully ourselves, 

yet fully engaged with each other.

~J

 AcademyofEuropeanArts.com