Timing
April Ambles: Reflections of a Philosophical Forager — Day 27
For musicians, timing is everything. The steady rhythm of a piece of music is essential for collaboration, which is where most musical magic begins. Even for a solo performer, timing is of essence in order for a piece to flow so that it is pleasing to the ear. In the playing of an air, which is less bound by the metronome than other melodies, the space of a pause makes a difference.
Timing is also everything for chefs: that delicate balance between when you put something in the oven and when you pull it out so that it will be the perfect consistency, have the perfect crust, and be ready at the exact moment your guests sit down; the calculation of time it takes to gather, prepare, combine ingredients to make a dish; the order in which dishes are served.
In relationships timing is of essence as well. There is a time for honesty, a time for praise, a time to listen, a time to touch, a time to simply hold the space.
Nature has its own timing, which varies slightly each year, and varies drastically with different elevations and latitudes. Daffodils appear some years in January. Other years and in other locations, they may wait till March. Sometimes snow keeps the blooms from reaching their prime. Other years they wave like unfettered sunshine.
Patience accompanies the acceptance of timing. It takes a certain amount of time to make a good roux. It takes years to master an instrument. A relationship is a constant play of tuning in to timing. Hurrying does not help. We might as well settle in and enjoy the pace.
For more amblings from the author, check out Child of the Woods: An Appalachian Odyssey.
