And its all such a delicate balance That the sport of infinity gives, Expectations we have can lead down the path Where that devil discouragement lives.

It's all such a delicate balance, that the sport of infinity gives. What is 'the sport of infinity'? Is this the wisdom sought by the sages? I believe so. Expectations that are not met when we look around us and observe those who proclaim to be wise can disappoint us. Yes, it can discourage us.

All those who proclaim ''Mine is the only right way!'' are chief to disappoint, if you were hoping to find only wisdom in the results of their trail blazing.

What is this delicate balance?

I begin now a ramble. My heart is deeply saddened. I perceive the chaos and dissonance around me and look within my self to find the reason and intuition to light the way. I am not perfect, as I light Illuminaria's light high to light my path. But I am the only truth seeker I've got, and a damn fine one I'll venture to say at that. (Illuminaria is the name of that aspect within myself I call Divinity.)

So division and strife and discord are around me at every turn, like baying dogs defending their masters howling out their loud song. I would say a word, any word, to set them free, find a new master that won't beat them so badly. I lift my Illuminaria wand, and say ''Be gone!'' three times. They stop their mad howling, look at me for one moment, and then set off in diverse directions.

I had but to only say the word. This power is mine. I claim this open road tonight, and the dogs have fled behind hidden bushes. If I look carefully, I can see their glowing eyes behind each leaf and twig.

I observe once, and then turn my focus elsewhere. To gain a clarity of mind, I call forth the power within myself to become Ma'at, the truth weigher. She will find the 'delicate balance'. We cannot expect those around us to be sages if we give them no room to grow, if we do not acknowledge their potential for Divinity.

So they fall short of it? And eyes quick to find fault readily find it. And if those eyes belong also to a being with quick typing fingers and a file transfer protocol system, up goes the results of every nit picking, fact finding, finger pointing observation. Bully for them! Maybe they reveal truth. Though I keep my skepticism close about me, and weigh their observations 'with a grain of sand'.

Or was it 'salt'? Anyway, it is some small, fine particle, all so much dust. We have proven how well we can tear things down. Now can we prove how well we can build things up? One professed seeker after truth has a page, linking to dozens of articles exposing what he thinks are the faults of dozens of other professed truth seekers.

No link here to it, you may well imagine you have already seen this man's work. And maybe you have. But I have dismissed those howling dogs, and so he shall not bark tonight.

But what I have seen is sorrow and dissension and delusion. And this is NOT where I wish to place my focus. We see what we look for. In that process of working towards my own Divinity, I wish not to take one iota from anyone else's process of self-Divinity. I say, let us declare potential, and thereby keep the possibility open for its fulfillment.

It's all such a delicate balance:

Deep within there is a feeling That love and understanding's the door, And honesty is the key that was given to you and me To open it and so many more.

Okay, maybe 'love' is a bit much to ask. Some of these individuals haven't done much to evoke THAT emotion. But understanding? This leads to the insight that there may be deep reasons for the digressions many are lured into. I use 'digression' as in the archaic meaning, a turning aside from the path. It's those actions which take us away from the destination we originally seek, and send us towards some other destination altogether different.

Those who eat angry nuts and bolts for breakfast, lunch and dinner may hardly find such fare nutritious. And yet, any whisper to them of the insufficiency of their feed may well evoke more anger from them than we'd care to experience.

So we nod a nod of recognition, and leave them in their strange repast. What has caused them to do the things they do? We may not understand, but reacting with animosity ourselves will not help. Sometimes the only thing we can do to quiet a howling dog is to toss it a bone.

So we find one, albeit maybe not the one with the most meat on it, and toss it their way. Compassion broadens our own soul. We might not arrive at the end of our journey with the most material possessions and awards, but our hearts may be lighter for all that. I don't mean 'light' as a contrast to 'dark'. Those of us who find peace in the shadows may flee the sun as the energy sapping 'demon' it can be. I mean 'light' as opposed to 'heavy'.

I don't want to burden myself with heavy obligations that I don't need. I don't want false expectations to weigh me down. I throw these aside, smile at my fellow travellers and maybe we can find something to discuss upon which we can agree.

''Not much,'' you think? Then we shall be quiet, but peaceably so. I do so wish everyone to have a merriment of mind that leads to happiness. You distract yourself with whatever elegant mental bubble you've got there, and trudge along to 'glory', the 'xeper', or whatever.

Life is too short, it really is, to be miserable. Let's all find something which amuses us and perhaps we have some happy tales to tell. It really can be as simple as that.

Do I hear a whisper in those bushes of the glowing eyes, ''And I be 'simple-minded', too?'' I care not. I prefer this simplicity which looks for the good everywhere I turn my eyes. I am happier that way. And that is quite simply, enough for me.

Enough 'of me' today. Find ten excellent thoughts within your own mind now. Do I ask too much? Start with one, just one . . .

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