It is a Monday morning. The storms of the holiday weekend are a memory (unless you suffered the rising water, or splintered trees). Still the first day of a work week is a beginning, and beginnings are worth attending to. One of the prose poems of the Tao Te Ching suggest as much. Here it is. The “punch line” are the last two lines.

Verse 59

In looking after your life and following the way,
gather spirit
Gather spirit early,
and so redouble power,
and so become invulnerable.

Invulnerable, unlimited,
you can do what you like with material things.
But only if you hold to the Mother of things
will you do it for long.
Have deep roots, a strong trunk.
Live long by looking long.

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu, trans. by Ursula K. Le Guin

These words suggest that a beginning is opportunity to lay in store resources for a long journey. What the remainder of the week has in store is unknown. I do know that here and now I can gather to mind and heart ideas which instinct tells me have depth. I’ll need to draw upon such as the week progresses.

Nothing remains “as is”, the status quo for very long. Things change is a truism that is not trivial. We can take that one to the bank… These lines seem to suggest that meditative focus upon what matters, assessment of what one cares the most about, – transforms to an interest bearing account when change demands one stand-and-deliver.

Rooted deep, with a robust trunk, – adaptive potential of your resources, material assets as well as expressive/emotional proficiency are unlimited!  By having the long term in view one has space, and time enough to adjust, to tweak, to make measured changes in the course of one’s single, most precious life.

There is no guarantee with respect to a future. Circumstances can (and will) change on a dime. There is preparation, a sound beginning.

The lyrics of this 1965 song by the Mamas and the Papas, Monday, Monday is another extended meditation on the same theme.