[blockquote source=”Alan Wilson Watts, Zen and the Beat Way “]”It is interesting that Hindus, when they speak of the creation of the universe do not call it the work of God, they call it the play of God, the Vishnu lila, lila meaning play. And they look upon the whole manifestation of all the universes as a play, as a sport, as a kind of dance…” [/blockquote]

I saw a little boy playing ‘bubbles’ this morning. His grandfather, you see, had arrived the evening before – and these bubbles were just a small token of the many ‘gifts’ he carried with him.

And, with every dip of that wand – he squealed and hopped and lunged his way into the morning’s delight. Bubbles have such a magic about them, and to a little boy – this magic is irresistible.

“You missed one,” his Grandfather shouted…pointing upwards to a lone bubble struggling against the wind. And, with just the slightest hint of a grin to his face – I knew this Grandfather was up to something.

A Grandfather’s grin, you see, is always his ‘tell’.

And, oh how I knew that grin…the grin of ‘something delightful to come.’

Sure enough, just as the little one took off in chase – I watched as the Grandfather pulled a tiny bell from his front coat pocket, and patiently waited for just the right moment.

“Over there,” he shouted as the bubble settled back again to the earth.

And with one final, gloriously grasping leap… the little boy clasped his hands around it, and…

BRRRNNNGGG

There it was, the sound of a bell.

Oh,  and you should have seen the look in this little one’s eyes – I mean, how could a bubble ever ring?

“Grandpa…did you hear..?” he asked, “it made a jingle!!” And, with hands tightly cupped, he walked ever-so-carefully back to his Grandfather’s side.

Ah, such delight a little cleverness might bring…when something as small as a jingle, perfectly timed, can bring a whole world of magic to a little boy’s hands.

“That means, you get a wish,” his Grandfather smiled, “anything you want.”

And, without ever missing a beat, the little boy answered,

“Grandpa, I want more bubbles…”

My dears, isn’t it amazing how these little ones know – that the most perfect day in the world, is the one spent with Grandpa on the front porch blowing bubbles?

There’s a lesson in here for all of us, I’m sure…

But for now, my dears, I must be off – to secure a bell and a Summer’s worth of bubbles. 😉

Many blessings, my dearest friends…and love, to one and all.