When purposefulness overpowers meaning
and meaning overcomes purposefulness
growth becomes the product of the relationship.
Design is the process.
One would believe that
by keeping purpose and meaning in perfect balance
one could also achieve a perfect design.
But this is not so.
Use balance as a point of reference
in an experiential process of awareness
to be able to shift in the moment.
* * *
In the dance of purpose and meaning,
A subtle force, unseen, intervening,
Purpose moves with steady hand,
Meaning shifts like grains of sand.
When purpose overpowers, meaning bends,
And meaning rises, purpose ends,
A tension births the greatest truth:
Growth emerges from this booth.
Design is not a fixed embrace,
But a process, an open space.
A dream, unfolding, incomplete,
A rhythm where opposites meet.
Balance, they say, will guide the way,
But even balance will sway.
In its stead, awareness blooms,
In the shift, the path resumes.
Perfect designs are not of mind,
But of hearts that know to find
The flow within each ebbing beat
Purpose, meaning, incomplete.
So, let the dance be free and wild,
Each moment, fresh and undefiled.
In shifting balance, let us see
The growth that comes from letting be.
* * *
In a small village nestled at the edge of a vast forest, there lived a young artist named Elara. She was known for her beautiful, intricate designs—paintings, sculptures, and pieces of pottery that seemed to capture the very essence of nature. But despite her talent, Elara often found herself struggling with a question: What makes a design truly perfect?
One afternoon, she sought the advice of an old craftsman, Master Kain, who had lived through many seasons and created things that had lasted for generations. Elara had always admired his work, and perhaps he held the answers she was searching for.
Sitting in his workshop, surrounded by half-finished projects, Elara asked, “Master Kain, I’ve been thinking a lot about my work lately. I want to create something that feels perfect—something that speaks not just to the eye but to the heart. I’ve been told that balance is key. But what does that truly mean? And how do I find it?”
Master Kain smiled and paused, his gnarled hands resting on the edge of his wooden table. He took a deep breath, as though choosing his words carefully.
“Balance, my dear, is not about perfect symmetry or fixed lines. It’s not about forcing purpose and meaning into a neat little box. When purpose becomes too strong, it overwhelms meaning. And when meaning becomes too overwhelming, it drowns the purpose. But when they exist together, when one grows into the other, then something magical happens.”
Elara furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of his words.
“Let me tell you a story,” Master Kain continued. “Long ago, there was a traveler who sought the perfect path through the forest. He believed that if he followed the right trail, he would reach the perfect destination, the place where everything made sense. But no matter how hard he tried, every path seemed to lead him in circles. He became frustrated, believing that his journey had no purpose.
One day, an old woman appeared before him and asked him why he was so troubled. ‘I’m looking for the perfect path,’ he said. ‘The one that will lead me to the answers I seek.’ The old woman smiled and said, ‘There is no perfect path, only a perfect relationship with the one you are on. It is not the path that matters, but the way you walk it.’”
Elara listened closely, her eyes narrowing in thought.
Master Kain went on, “The traveler learned that when purpose and meaning worked together, he no longer needed a perfect path. His journey became a process of discovery. Every step he took, every turn he made, became part of the design. There was no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ – only movement. And in that movement, there was growth.”
Elara leaned back, feeling the weight of the lesson. “So, you’re saying the design isn’t about a fixed goal? It’s about the process?”
“Exactly,” Master Kain nodded. “Purpose and meaning should not be locked in a struggle for dominance. They should flow into one another, creating something that grows and shifts naturally. If you try too hard to find the perfect balance, you’ll miss the point. Instead, embrace the relationship between purpose and meaning as it evolves. Be aware in the moment, and let the design unfold. That is the true path of growth.”
From that day forward, Elara stopped obsessing over the idea of a perfect design. Instead, she immersed herself fully in her process. She learned to listen to the purpose behind each stroke of paint, to feel the meaning woven into every curve and line. Her work blossomed, not because it was perfectly balanced, but because it reflected her own growth, constantly shifting, adapting, and evolving.
And in the village, her creations became a reminder to all that the journey itself – marked by purpose, meaning, and awareness—was the true masterpiece.
* * *
In a small village nestled between the rolling hills and the sea, there was a quiet grove, known only to a few. The grove was where the villagers came to reflect, to search for clarity, or to simply listen. It was said that the grove held the wisdom of centuries, but no one knew exactly how. They only knew that it was here, in the shifting of light through the trees, that they found answers to the questions they could never quite articulate.
One such villager was a young woman named Mary. She had spent her whole life wondering about the meaning of her existence, her purpose, and how those two forces intertwined. She would often sit by the old stone well, her fingers tracing patterns on the weathered stone, listening to the soft rustle of leaves above her. The villagers spoke often of purpose—what you were meant to do, what you were born for. They also spoke of meaning—the why behind the actions, the heartbeat of life itself.
But to Mary, purpose and meaning seemed like distant stars in the night sky—visible, but always just out of reach.
One evening, as the sun dipped behind the hills and the first stars began to twinkle, Elara wandered deeper into the grove, guided by a pull she couldn’t quite understand. She came upon a small clearing, bathed in the glow of the moon. In the center stood a figure, cloaked in shadow, dancing alone.
At first, she thought it was the wind, or perhaps some trick of the light. But as she stepped closer, she saw that it was a person—a man, with eyes that shimmered like the night sky itself. His movements were graceful but erratic, an elegant chaos. His body swayed between fluidity and sharpness, as though he were caught between two worlds.
"Who are you?" Mary asked softly, her voice trembling in the quiet of the grove.
The man paused, his gaze turning toward her, as if he'd been waiting for her to ask the question. "I am neither one nor the other," he said, his voice both soothing and distant. "I am the space between purpose and meaning, the dance that binds them."
Mary frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I don’t understand. What do you mean?"
He smiled gently, and with a slow, deliberate movement, he resumed his dance. "Purpose is a steady hand," he said, his movements firm and intentional. "It shapes us, pushes us, forces us forward. But meaning... meaning is more like the wind. It shifts, it flows, it changes without warning. Sometimes it’s strong, sometimes it’s gentle, but it’s always there, guiding us in unseen ways."
Mary watched, mesmerized, as the man moved. Each step seemed to echo something deep within her, a rhythm she had never known she had. "But how do I know where I am meant to go? How do I find my purpose?" she asked.
He slowed his dance, his body now still but his eyes alight with a quiet fire. "Purpose may begin the journey, but meaning will carry you through it. When you try to force one to overpower the other, the dance falters. But when you let them move together, you find something deeper—growth. It’s not about the destination, Mary, but about the flow. The balance between the two will always shift, and in that shift, you will grow."
She stared at him, trying to grasp his words. "But... what if I never find balance?"
"Balance," he said with a slight chuckle, "is not fixed. It is always swaying, always changing. And so should you. Growth happens not in perfect alignment, but in the moments when you let go of control and allow the dance to lead."
Mary stood there, still unsure but strangely comforted. "But what if I fail? What if I can't find the rhythm?"
The man’s smile widened. "Failure is part of the dance. The missteps, the falls—they are just as important as the graceful turns. Every mistake brings you closer to the flow. Remember, Mary, purpose and meaning are not fixed designs. They are processes, open spaces. They are your dream unfolding, incomplete yet beautiful."
He turned and began to dance again, more freely now, with a wildness that seemed to echo the beating of Mary’s own heart. As she watched him, a new understanding bloomed in her chest. It wasn’t about finding the right purpose or the correct meaning. It was about living within the rhythm of life, trusting the ebb and flow, knowing that each moment was a step toward something greater.
She took a deep breath, her body beginning to sway with the dance, uncertain but willing. "So, I just... let it be?" she asked.
The man’s laugh was soft and knowing. "Yes. Let it be. And in the letting, you will see how the dance continues—unfolding, incomplete, yet perfect in its own way."
And so, in the moonlight, Mary danced with the shadows, the purpose of the stars above, and the meaning carried by the wind. She danced, not to find an answer, but to be part of the answer itself. For in the shifting balance of purpose and meaning, she found her place.
And in the dance, she grew
* * *
Bridging the gap between divine omniscience
and mortal awareness.
Find your truth. Know your mind. Follow your heart. Love eternal will not be denied. Discernment is an integral part of self-mastery. You may share this post on a non-commercial basis, the author and URL to be included. Please note … posts are continually being edited. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2025 C.G. Garant.
