As I was running this morning, the “Jalad” episode from the Star Trek Enterprise series came to mind.  In this episode, the Tamarians turned the story of a legendary figure who stood up to a beast, into part of their language which is based entirely on metaphor.  “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra” describes an attempt by two people to understand each other by sharing a common experience. When the Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise was attempting to communicate with a Tamarian counterpart, the Tamarian used the metaphor as an example, helping Picard decipher their cryptic language.  

This memory caused me to wonder what metaphors we may be living (right now! today!) out unconsciously to describe who we are and how we are in our lives.  I can look back at my past and use the metaphor of the person walking to the well, filling up their vessel with water and walking back home only to discover that their vessel was cracked so that all the water leaked out.  However, as this person returned to the well again (I assume, this time with a non-cracked vessel!) they noticed that along the trail of the spilt water, flowers had taken root and were growing all along the way. For many years, my life seemed like the leakiest vessel out there, however as I get more clear about who I am and accept myself, I can see all the flowers that have bloomed and continue to bloom along the way. 

I wonder what kind of a metaphor could be created to explain the war between the Hezbollah and the Israelis so that both sides could understand each other through sharing of a common experience.  In your own life, do you have a shared experience with someone (s) else that creating a metaphor could help you to understand each other? 

Are you living your metaphor now?  What are you saying to your world?