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This flash fiction can be read philosophically, prophetically, as an extended metaphor, or as a variation of ‘The Wise and Foolish Builders’ parable in Matthew 7:24-27
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An intent young woman stared happily at the sandcastle she’d formed with her hands and a butter knife. And though it wasn’t a ground-breaking achievement, it was still a labor of love she was proud of. What she hadn’t thought about though, were that forces she had no control over would soon be transforming what she’d created. Not once had she ever considered what building something so close to the water’s edge might entail.
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After some while, the tide shifted (at the appointed time) and her sandcastle began dissolving under the lapping edges of evolving boundaries. It was compellingly evident to her that her creation was now returning to what it had been before she’d begun, and that nothing she could do or imagine could ever stop the process. As she mulled this, a shaft of light suddenly flooded into her, and she began to see that her inability to preserve what she’d accomplished was entirely set apart from her ability to accomplish it. What she’d created had become subject to an irresistible transformation; one that was predominant in all of creation. Now, she clearly saw, that everything created on the Earth, and in the universe, would also, at the appointed time, cease to exist or be transformed. Somewhat discomfited, she gathered together her belongings, and as she turned to leave, she realized that where her sandcastle had once been, there was only a wet expanse littered with various bits of smooth glass and broken shells.
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As she walked, she noticed an eager young girl patting sand into colored buckets up near the sea wall. The sight made her smile, and she thought, ‘here is another young soul beginning an innocent journey into self-expression. Thankfully, it’s safer where she is, and the tide won’t destroy what she’s done, as it did mine.’ Feeling a surge of gratefulness, the woman stopped to watch. It wasn’t long before a motley assortment of sand-shapes were encircling the young girl. With great joy, the child jumped up gleefully and danced. She was so happy with what she’d accomplished, she called her mommy to ‘come and see’. Running to her, mommy knelt down, and showered her little girl with kudos and kisses.
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Feeling hopeful and refocused, the woman returned to her car. Once inside, she turned on the radio just in time to hear that a massive storm was approaching, and because of extreme high tides, and the possibility of dangerous tidal surge, the damage to low-lying coastal communities could be very great….
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© richard lloyd cederberg
5/2024
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You made me recall a home I built in 1980 that was solar passive, all electric, hidden on a wooded hillside that was very little maintenance for the 20 years that I owned it. Recently, when I saw it on Google, I couldn't recognize the place. There was no undergrowth under the scrawny tall trees, just gravel ugliness and the house had been transformed from natural cedar to some white glaring look that didn't fit in to the natural world anymore. I can only surmise that a fire came through and burned all the underbrush and perhaps the house. It was then rebuilt to the owner's desires.
I also have just replaced my roof shingles for the 2nd time in 40 years on this house. Without constant upkeep, over al these years it would have deteriorated like some of the houses on the street whose owners only rent out and don't repair them. All physical things are doomed in time like Europe along beautifully shows.
However, once placed on the Internet and published in cyberspace, there's a good chance that your beautiful little story here reflecting life in general, will prevail for very long time without deterioration except, being very far down on search lists, unfortunately.
Ron