Go gently.

This is a well-known castle in Scotland not far from where I once was a minister. It is the first ever attempt I made at a pen and ink. 

I had a member of my congregation who served in the army during the war and for a time in this very castle. On his death he wanted his ashes in the castle grounds. The authorities said this was not possible so I slipped up quietly one day with my son, and from yonder, parapet said a short prayer and committed his ashes to the rocks. I really did not think that what I had done was going to do any untold damage to the castle or to the environment.

Some month or so later his wife died. The family wanted her ashes beside his. When I arrived at the castle they were working on the rampart. All I could see was scaffolding. I had to retreat to the bottom and climb up through the trees and up the rocks to fulfil the family wishes. So I am very familiar with this castle and all those years later it is still there in spite of all my endeavours.

I am reminded of the tale of the disciples who questioned the master about how it was that he allowed rich people to become his followers. They saw this as a contradiction. 

It intrigued them that the Master who lived so simply would not condemn these wealthy followers.

"It is rare but not impossible for someone to be rich and holy," he said one day.

"How?"

"When money has the effect on his heart that the shadow of that bamboo has on the courtyard."

The disciples turned to watch the bamboo's shadow sweep the courtyard without stirring a single particle of dust.

Until we have found the ability to move through life without causing a stir or harm it is wise to keep our counsel. Just a thought.

Have a great day.

Shipwreck

Have you ever had a time where everything seemed to go wrong? Of you have because everybody does at one time or another. I was chatting with a friend the other day who was going through just such a spell. It seemed no matter what was done it went wrong.

The strange thing about it is that it so often just gets worse. From everything going wrong, it is a short step to everything you say is wrong. Of course, there is a connection. When you feel down you concentrate less and so the spiral of wrong gets worse.

 There was a man who was shipwrecked and all alone on a small island.

Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. Things for a moment seemed to be getting better.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost, even his one or two personal items that had become so important to him, were gone.

He was stung with grief and anger. "Why oh why is this happening to me?" he cried. He had what I call a dose of the “poor me’s.”

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad.

Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground,  it just may be a smoke signal that summons the love of friends.

As the sage says, "This too shall end."  We all indeed have shipwreck moments and times but often they are just the interval to the next great moments.

Have a great day.

A foot has not nose.

I watched yesterday as a mother told her son to do something he obviously did not wish to do. She asked him a second time and again he planted his feet firmly on the ground and refused to budge.

After a third asking, he reluctantly did what he had been asked to do. For me, this was the end of the situation but I was left with a strong feeling it may not have been for the young lad, although I was impressed with the relationship that obviously existed between the two. 

I was reminded of the old African wisdom story, which I thought of as I continued the task I was about.

Let me share it with you, in the hope that you find it as interesting as I do. You may even find it a story to hold onto as helpful.

The story tells of an occasion where a mother sent her son to the main road, about twenty yards away from the homestead, to invite a passing group of seasonal work-seekers home for a meal. She instructed him to take a container along and collect dry cow dung for making a fire. He was then to prepare the meal for the group of work-seekers.

The thought of making an open fire outside at midday, cooking in a large three-legged pot in that intense heat, was sufficient to upset even an angel.

The son did not manage to conceal his feelings from his mother and, after serving the group, she called him to the veranda where she usually sat sewing and knitting.

Looking straight into the eyes of her son she said "Tsholofelo, why did you sulk when I requested you to prepare a meal for those poor destitute people?"

Despite his attempt to deny her allegation, and using the heat of the fire and the sun as an excuse for his alleged behaviour, his mother, gave him a firm look, and said "Lonao ga lo na nko" - "A foot has no nose". It means: you cannot detect what trouble may lie ahead of you.

Had he denied this group of people a meal, it may have happened that, in his future travels, he may have found himself at the mercy of those very individuals. As if that was not enough to shame him, his mother continued: "Motho ke motho ka motho yo mongwe".

The literal meaning: "A person is a person because of another person".

We are all what we are and whom we are because of how we treat other people. Every action in our life plays a part in moulding the person you become in the days that lie ahead.

To see as others do.

I had an interesting discussion yesterday about what of all the senses would you give up if there was a compulsory need to give up one? It was amazing the range of views that people had and the reasons for their choices. Hardly one of the five senses was omitted.

I suppose this shows us to some extent what it is that we value. For some, it would be their hearing while for others their sight.

I have a blind friend, a lad I have loved spending time with because he helps me to see the world like nobody else does. Knowing him has helped me to look at things and really see them, and to appreciate with all my heart what it is I am seeing.

But another lesson he has reinforced for me is also the art of listening. When you cannot see, the need to use the ears and become a good listener becomes even more important.  It is not just what is said that is important, but the manner in which it is said.

One of the greatest compliments paid to me was paid by Andy when he said to me, "I do not really know what you look like but I can hear you are an honest man. "

I was thinking of this yesterday as I chased that little white ball around the golf course, and I remembered the story I would like to share with you now. 

After Bankei, a famous wise man had passed away, a blind man who lived near the master’s temple told a friend.

“Since I am blind, I cannot watch a person’s face, so I must judge his character by the sound of his voice. Ordinarily, when I hear someone congratulate another upon his happiness or success, I also hear a secret tone of envy. 

When condolence is expressed for the misfortune of another, I hear pleasure and satisfaction, as if the one consoling was really glad there was something left to gain in his own world.

In all my experience, however, Bankei’s voice was always sincere. Whenever he expressed happiness, I heard nothing but happiness, and whenever he expressed sorrow, sorrow was all I heard.”

On reflection, I feel that the greatest lesson we can learn is always ever to only say what we mean and to only ever mean what we say and say it with sincerity of heart. 

Have a marvellous day.

Something Missing.

Today I am scheduled to play golf with my sone, something I look forward to and enjoy. His golf is improving and very soon I will find it difficult to beat him, this is in spite of the fact that he plays with only one eye having lost an eye at a very early age.

This is similar to another true tale. A mother had given birth to a sone.

"Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was marred.

When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother's arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreaks.

He blurted out the tragedy. "A boy, a big boy ... called me a freak."

He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music.

The boy's father had a session with the family physician. Could nothing be done? "I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears if they could be procured," the doctor decided.

The search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man. Two years went by.

Then, "You are going to the hospital, Son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it's a secret," said the father. The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged. His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of triumphs.

Later he married and entered the diplomatic service. "But I must know!" He urged his father, "Who gave so much for me?

I could never do enough for him." "I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the agreement was that you are not to know, not yet."

The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come,  one of the darkest days that a son must endure. He stood with his father over his mother's casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal that the mother had no outer ears.

"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," he whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought  your mother less beautiful, did they?"

Real beauty lies not in physical appearance, but in the heart. Real treasure lies not in what that can be seen, but what that cannot be seen.

Real love lies not in what is done and known, but in what is done but not known.

Have a marvellous day.

A spiders web.

While out walking yesterday I watched a spider working on the repair of its web. It worked without stopping repairing the broken strands caused by the unexpected heavy gust of wind.

We see these webs so often and they go unnoticed as we hurry past. In the early hours when there is frost in the air or the touch of summer dew, they sparkle like wondrous works of art capturing the eye.

Such beauty, and yet also the instruments of death for the unsuspecting fly caught in them.

Life is full of traps that beckon us into their lairs. I am sure I need not labour this point we all are aware of the little traps we get caught in. Yesterday I had to keep myself on the go while my mind was telling me to sit down and take a break. I did not listen and carried on with the things I had to do. later in the day when getting ready to meet friends, I fell asleep in the bath. Maybe I should have listened but I was caught up in the lair of, I have too much needing to be done. I had stopped listening to the sage who says, "Stop fretting and all things needing to be done will be done, each in time."

There is a lovely story about spiders. Spiders are usually born on the lower branches of bushes or trees. Some for one reason or another decide to stay right there in the lower branches where, when old enough they leave the web of their parents and move over to another corner and build their own web. There in the safety, they catch the odd fly and have enough on which to live, not fat a full but they get by.

Others decide to climb to the higher branches and build their webs on the exposed branches of the trees and bushes. These are the webs that get torn and battered by wind and rain. They are also the webs that are up there where most of the flies are, so the captures they make are more frequent. In turn, these spiders eat better, are stronger and bigger. 

One day one such spider met a very small young spider on the branch of a bush. The young spider looked at the big one in awe. The large spider asked what the youngster was looking at. “Your size,” said the youngster.  “Ah,” said the large spider.

The large spider went on to explain that some spider chose to stay safe in the dark lower branches while others decided to struggle to the top. At the top the work was hard but the rewards were plenty. 

“So, you see,” said the large spider, “You can look up in jealousy from a place of safety or you can work hard and build castles in the sky.”

It is a bit like life really. You can potter about with the things you feel comfortable with or you can strike out and try things new and do things to delight the heart.

Have a great day.

The inflatable boy.

I was asked when I was going to be a bit lighter than I have been for the past few blogs. I suspect devoting time on the writing of my book has taken the edge off humour. Most of my walking time is in the next chapter.

I had reason to pop into the village store the other day to purchase a box of drawing pins which brought to mind the tale of the inflatable boy.

There once lived a little inflatable boy in an inflatable house. He lived with his inflatable parents. Each day he attended the inflatable school run by an inflatable headmaster. He enjoyed attending school, so it was with some surprise that he was called to the inflatable head teachers room one morning.

He stood before the inflatable head and wondered what was wrong. The head said to him, “It has come to my notice that you might be breaking one of the school rules.”  “What?” asked the young inflatable boy.

“Is it the case that you have a pin in your pocket?” asked the inflatable head.

“I have,” said the inflatable boy.

“Well you have let me down, and the school and your parents.”

I will leave you to dwell on that and I hope it brings a little smile to your day.  

An act of kindness or a word of encouragement can go a long way to inflating a persons' feeling of goodwill and well being.

On the other hand how easy it is to burst that bubble, just a short complaining word or action.

have a good day and beware of stray pins.

Off the cuff remarks.

One of the easiest things in life is to open our mouths and say something without thinking of what it is we are saying. If somebody else agrees with you or finds what you have said funny before you know it somebody has become the butt of all jokes.

I once worked beside a lad of my own age, his name was Barry. Barry had his problems, he was slow on the uptake. What to some people seemed like a simple task took Barry a bit longer to work it out, but having grasped what he was being asked to do he dis so with everything he had. 

One day somebody made a comment about him. “Room temperature IQ, that one” 

Everybody found it very funny, and before long Barry became the one who people poked fun at.  It became the simple way of saying to everybody, " I am one of you I am not like Barry."

Over the few years, I worked with Barry I heard many things said about him and I am sorry to say, I should have defended him more often but said nothing. Here are one or two of the things I heard said that come to memory.                  

1. One short of a six-pack.
2. Bright as Alaska in December
3.  If brains were taxed he would get a rebate.
4.  Posses the wisdom of youth and the energy of old age.
5. He must have got into the gene pool while the lifeguard wasn’t watching.
6. He reached rock bottom long ago – and then he kept digging.
7. The doors are open, the lights are on, but nobody is at home.
8. He is depriving some village of an idiot.

So it went on. A book could have been written of all the little quips that people came up with about Barry, and we only have to read a few to realise how cruel people were.

I liked Barry, and I have many fond memories of him and have in the past few days made an effort to find if he is still around. 

He was the only one who always had a kind word to say to me when I met him. He was the one who always asked if I needed anything. Truth is if I wanted somebody to help me with anything Barry would have been the first person I would have gone to find. 

It is easy to make the off the cuff remark, without thinking about the consequences of the remark. 

I have often found it to be the case that what people accuse another of is so often the failing of their own lives.

The person who has surrounded themselves with possessions, and never has that little bit to give to charity, accuses others of being greedy. 

Just a thought.

Have a wonderful day.

It is a goal.

As those who read this blog are aware I am one of those people who play the game of golf and rather proud that this is a game that was invented right here in Scotland. Those who know me also know that in this mind of mine nothing is ever as simple and straightforward.

As I walked yesterday and counting the miles I had done this month is such a pursuit, something I do not have to do because my watch tells me it is one hundred and sixty-seven miles. an average of almost nine miles per day. My watch has also set a February challenge of two hundred and twelve miles. Now that does seem pointless, I would walk anyway and probably never look at the miles.

I was thinking about golf and smiling as many people say that playing golf is just a good walk spoiled. Whoever sat down and thought, what we need to do is get a little ball painted white a stick with a club end and a little hole in the grass two hundred yards away and using the stick hit the ball into it counting how many shots it takes.

But it is not only we humans that indulge in such things.  There is a dog that lives close to me the moment it is released from its lead in the park starts feverishly chasing its tail, round and round.

Then there is the dog that sits at the end of the drive into the house where its owner lives. Every time a car or vehicle passes it chases it as fast as it can for a good hundred yards up the road. 

I remember saying to the owner, “Do you think your dog will ever get fit enough to catch one of those cars? “

He smiled and replied, “That is not what bothers me. What really bothers me is what he would do if he ever did catch one.”

I smile when I remember that little dog running and barking in its endless and meaningless pursuit, and think of the wondrous joy of the golfer who has scored a hole in one or hit a stroke that has gone straight towards the target further than they have ever hit before.

But these are not the only meaningless actions that can be seen day in and day out. We all at some time have pursued meaningless goals and wasted precious time getting nowhere and doing nothing much. 

The great sage once said, “To live a meaningful life, choose meaningful goals.! “

But if the purpose is to find some happiness is hitting a little ball such a meaningless pursuit?

Have a marvellous day.

Echoes

On one of my many walks there is a tunnel that goes under a hill it then bends around and for a moment you are in total darkness. Just for a moment if this is your first venture into this tunnel you want to reach out to the sides to feel the comfort of some solidity.

A young boy was walking with his father in a deep mountain glen. Not paying proper attention to where he was walking he tripped and fell letting out a yell of pain, "AAAhhhhhh!" To his surprise, he heard his call repeated from the mountain. "AAAhhhhhhhh!"

"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"


He receives the answer: "Who are you?"


Then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"


The voice answers: "I admire you!"


Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"


He receives the answer: "Coward!"


He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"


The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."


This time the man screams: "You are a champion!"


The voice answers: "You are a champion!"


The boy is surprised but still, he does not understand. 

Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. 


It gives you back everything you say or do. 


Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. 


If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
 If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.


This relationship applies to all of life;


Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

Your life is not a coincidence, your life is a reflection of you.

Have a marvellous day. 

What you say, says what you are.

YesterdayI walked for ten miles at Loch Leven in Scotland a beautiful place to walk.  In the course of the walk, I almost encountered all four seasons. I had sun then wind and rain completed with the stillness of a spring sky. My heart rejoiced in the wonder of it all. Birds are encouraged by the managed edges of the loch and the forest areas. So I enjoyed the song of a large variety of birds beginning to make ready for spring.

Being at one with nature has always been very important to me, being at one with the people I meet equally so. I tried so hard to bring my children up in this knowledge and it fills me with joy to see them enjoying nature and walking as much as I do. It also makes me feel proud to know that honesty and truth plays such a great part in their lives.

I was thinking this as I walked feeling at peace and at one with the world, because earlier in the day I had twice heard somebody say, “ A little lie never did anybody any harm.”  

They had been talking about a recent event on our news where a well-known figure was seen to tell an obvious lie during a speech. A lie he did not need to tell, but one that came so easily. 

It reminded me of the story of the man and his two sons.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and a father was taking his two little boys to play miniature golf. He walked up to the gentleman at the ticket counter and said, "How much is it to get on?"

The man replied, "£1.00 for you and £1.00 for any child who is older than six. Children are admitted free if they are six or younger. How old are they?"

The father replied, "The lawyer's three and the doctor is seven, so I guess I owe you £2.00."

The man at the ticket counter said, "Hey, Mister, did you just win the lottery or something? You could have saved yourself £1. You could have told me that the older one was six; I wouldn't have known the difference." 

The father thought then replied, "Yes, that may be true, but my children would have known the difference."

As the wise man said, "Who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying." 

In challenging times when ethics are more important than ever before, it is wise to set a good example for everyone you come into contact with, and for those around you.

Have a marvellous day.

A little indulgence.

I walked a fair number of miles yesterday more than I have for a very long time so when I approached the Bistro where I had left my motorhome I felt no guilt at all as I sat and indulged in expresso and a large cream-filled meringue.

There are times when it is good to loosen the reins and indulge.

As I found a table to sit and enjoy my indulgence I saw something that took me back many years, something I had not noticed in ages other than formal occasions. I watched an older couple being served a meal and before eating they both held hands and said a little grace.

A young girl at the next table asked her grandad what they were doing? He seemed to be at a loss for words.

I was reminded of a tale I had used while preaching a sermon many years ago. Although times and circumstances have moved on for me there is still a little truth to be found in the tale.

   

A mother took her six-year-old son to the restaurant. As they prepared to have their meal he asked if he could say grace.
 He bowed his head and said,  "God is good. God is great.  Thank you for the food, and I would thank you even more if  I am allowed ice cream for dessert. Amen!"
 

He was heard by those around and there were many smiles and silent laughter. One woman though was rather indignant. "That is what is wrong with this world, children do not have a clue about how we should pray. We have come to a sorry pass when we are letting children pray for ice-cream." 

Hearing this, the young lad burst into tears and asked his mother,  "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"
 His mother assured him that he had done a terrific job and  God was certainly not mad at him.

A gentleman approached the table.  He winked at the lad and said,
 "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."
 "Really?" the boy asked.
 "Cross my heart," the man replied.
 Then in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream.  A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
 
 

The man winked again and left. At the end of his meal, the waitress served him a large ice-cream paid for by the man.

The lad stared at his for a moment
 and then did something his mother will remember for the rest of her life. He picked up his ice-cream and without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her,
 "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes. 
My soul is good already."

I enjoyed my meringue and left to finish my day feeling good.

have a marvellous day with maybe something that is good for the inner being. 

Building barriers.

So the USA it seems may indeed build a wall and the UK may take back control of our borders. I make no political comment on either of these events, here is not the place so to do, other than to express a concern that both actions seem to be brought about because we would prefer to blame others rather than ourselves for the things that go wrong.

It seems a natural thing to do, blame others, it is something we seem to learn very young. We have a saying in Scotland, "A big boy did it and ran away."  Popular because at some time in most lives we have pointed the finger of blame.

There is an ancient tale. 

Once upon a time, there was a king who ruled a prosperous country. One day, he went for a trip to some distant areas of his country. When he was back to his palace, he complained that his feet were very painful, because it was the first time that he went on such a long trip, and the road that he travelled on was very rough and stony.

He then ordered his people to cover every road of the entire country with leather. Definitely, this would need thousands of cows' skin and would cost a huge amount of money, but he was determined to do this.

Then one of his wise servants dared himself to tell the king, "Why do you have to spend that unnecessary amount of money?  Why not  just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet ?"

The king was surprised, but he later agreed to his suggestion, to make a "shoe" for himself.

Sometimes if you wish to make this world a happy place it is better first to change yourself.  Having done so you may indeed have made the first big step towards your goal, .of changing the world.

Have a great day

See the obvious.

It never fails to amaze me how my eyes and mind so often play tricks on me and that those tricks frequently end up carrying over into my art. 

I was walking yesterday when my eyes spotted this scene. I leave you to glance at it and see if you are seeing exactly the same as me before I share a little secret with you.

But let me first digress and tell you a little tale of one of my boyhood favourite characters. I used to enjoy watching, The Lone Ranger. My real hero and smart thinker thought was not him rather I found myself captivated with his American Indian sidekick Tonto. He was my real hero.

The Lone Ranger and Tonto were on a journey that required them to camp in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep. 
Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, "Kemosabe, look towards sky, what you see?"

The Lone Ranger replies, "I see millions of stars." 


"What that tell you?" asked Tonto.


The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says, "Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.  

Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo.


Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning. 


Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.


Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.


“What's it tell you, Tonto?"


“You dumber than buffalo chip.   Someone stole the tent,"
 Says Tonto.

Going back to my painting, what did you see? The truth is after a hard slog up the mountain at the back of our village and then making the journey home I stopped to take off my boot to give my painful ankle a message. This gives me ease of pain for the last two miles.

I sat on a mossy wall and leant down to undo my boot. The painting is what I saw at my foot at the base of the wall, a wonderful cliff face with trees and possible a waterfall. In reality some stones pebbles and weeds.

It is not always obvious what we see but what we do can be even more amazing. Let the mind flow and enjoy.

Have a great day.

A true valentines story.

I am very aware that this date is a special day. A day when the postman takes longer to deliver his mail than other days. A day when the cost of a bunch of flowers that last week cost one price but now cost double that. 

Am I being cynical? of course, I am but forgive me but I find it very difficult to succumb to what has always been for as long as I can remember a commercial day thought up by the sellers of cards, chocolates and flowers.

Stop being a spoilsport I hear somebody whisper in my ear. I remember being the shy boy of the school class and never expected to be involved in schoolboy romance so possibly my vision is blurred.

I really do hope that for those who see this as a special day of romance it turns out to be just that. In the mood of the day let me relate a true story.

John stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way along platform 6 of Waverly Station Edinburgh. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose.  

His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in the Carnegie Library Dunfermline. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes pencilled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful person and an insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous lender's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in a town further up the coast. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. 

The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month, the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. John requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. 

When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting - 7:00 PM at platform 6 Waverly Station Edinburgh February 14th. "You'll recognise me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen.

I'll let John tell continue the tale in his own words.

A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit, she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. 

Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had greying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her grey eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. 

This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be, grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment.  

"I'm Lieutenant John McEwan, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?"  

The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!"

It's not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell's wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive. 

"Tell me whom you love," says the well known saying, "And I will tell you who you are."

May your heart be touched with Love this day and may you share your love with those who touch your life this day, and may that love still be yours again tomorrow.

Those inner wolves.

I spent what for me seemed like a very long time sitting on a hairdressers chair while the girl worked furiously to bring my hair back under control. I had not had such an experience since about last September so it was certainly needing to be brought back under control. 

I watched as she worked and wondered if this was as difficult as bringing the inner wolves under control. Let me share with you what I mean, the thought comes from a poster that hangs on my study wall. 

There is a tale of a Grandfather, whose grandson came to him with anger at a schoolmate who had done him an injustice. 

He sat his Grandson down and said to him, "Let me tell you something. I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down and does not hurt your enemy. 

It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times.

It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offence when no offence was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so and in the right way.

But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eye and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"

The Grandfather solemnly said, "The one I feed."

Beware the inner wolves. 

Have a great day.

I have lost all my marbles.

I was out golfing with my son a few days ago and I played well above my average playing ability hitting some shots that made me look forward to the next one. I had a fairly high number of good putting shots also.  All in all a good round of golf.

As I walked up the fairway chatting with my son I told him how much I was enjoying my time with him. I went on to tell him that the more I watch the news the more I realise how fortunate I am. When he asked me what I meant I told him that I was getting very accustomed to hearing about people my age who had died. I have almost reached the point where I am afraid to read the newspapers because I might see my name in the obituary column. 

My son, who is a pretty down to earth person, looked at me and said, "You are right, but you just might manage another twenty years."

Some years ago I made a little thing on the computer a marble calculator. Let me explain.

I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years. 

I multiplied 75
 with 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.

 

I was 60 years old and by that time I had lived through over three thousand two hundred Saturdays. 

I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about 780 of them left to enjoy. 

So I entered into my marble calculator 780 and set it up to delete one every Saturday with a click on the Saturday button.  

Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and imagined I was throwing it aside. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight. 

"Now let me remind you that not very long ago I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then I have been blessed me with a little extra time to be with my family and friends and I had better start to make the most of them. That the book I had been working on for ages had to get finished. There are some paintings I still wish to paint. The follow-up book has to happen.

I tell you about this today because I have just been in and reset the marble calculator to add a marble every Saturday and I can watch it filling with those blessed days. I had a thought, "It is nice to put back some of the marble to replace the ones I have been losing anyway".

Have a marvellous day and look after those marbles. 

The little spoon of happiness.

It is amazing how one's attitude can change the whole of life. When you are feeling upbeat and happy everything around you can look the same.

When you are feeling down, for whatever reason, even the most beautiful of sights can seem dark and dismal. 

A man was seeking the way to find true happiness being down about how he had so many good days and so many bad ones. he had been told that a sage who lived in the hills would tell him the secret.

On arriving at the place he did not. as he was expecting, on entering the main room he saw a hive of activity. Tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world.

 The man had to take his turn to be able to speak to the wise man. Eventually, he spoke to him and told him why he had come. The man listened but told him he could not explain at that moment instead he suggested he go around the place and look at all the beautiful things to be seen.

“Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something,” said the wise man, handing the man a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. “As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.”

The man began wandering around the house and its gardens, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. 

After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was.

“Well,” asked the wise man, “Did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”

The man was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

“Then go back and observe the marvels of my world,” said the wise man. “You cannot trust a man if you don’t know his house.”

Relieved, the man picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the taste with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

“But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?” asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the man  saw that the oil was gone.

“Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you,” said the wisest of wise men.

“The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.”

To be able to see all the marvels of the world but still be aware of the beauty that lies within each one of us. This is the true secret of happiness.

Bucket Lists.

Time management has never been a number one priority. I have spent the largest portion of my time doing that which needed to be done on the day it had to be done. What a joy and liberation it was when I found Lao Tzu who told me to go with the flow.

Now I had a philosophy that matched my actions. But living on the basis of going with the flow can be far from relaxing. As a parish minister, it meant getting up at 5am on a Sunday morning to write the sermon that would be preached that day and having preached it preparing the one that would be preached that evening.

Living on the edge can lead to some very nervous moments but it can also lead to much worse.

An elderly gentleman once approached a master painter and asked if he would give him an honest critique of some work he had completed.  The master looked at them very carefully knowing very quickly that they were not of much worth. What he saw was art but art that lacked talent and practice.

Being a kind and gentle man the master, in all honesty, told the elderly man of his opinion of the work. The old man was disappointed but it seemed not at all surprised, he had already suspected the outcome of his visit. He apologised for taking up the time of the master but would he please just give him a few more minutes of his time and look and one or two more paintings.

The master did just that. Now he became an enthusiastic viewer asking the elderly man if this was the work of his son. he told him that what he was looking at now was very good and full of potential. Whoever painted the works now on showing should persevere and one day he would be a great artist.

He asked the old man again, "Is this the work of your son?"

The old man looked somewhat down but said to the master, "These are not the work of my son these are the works of my own hand fifty years ago. Had I heard your praise then life might have been so very different? Back then I became discouraged and gave up painting."

Living on the edge might indeed be a way of living. Going with the flow is I assure you a great way of living but spreading ourselves too thin and trying to do the impossible each day can sometimes mean that something of great worth is lost.

I hear many people of my age and stage in life talking about their bucket lists. I suspect this is often wishing to accomplish that which was left behind. Go with the flow but keep in mind the important things that should be done.

My follow up book is progressing it is not on a bucket list but how I wished I had done it years ago when the mind was more alert and time seemed aplenty.

Have a fruitful day.


  

Laughter Shared.

There once lived on the African plains a rhino that was very easily angered. One day a giant turtle strayed into his territory unknowingly. On spotting the turtle the rhino ran over with the intention of getting rid of him. The turtle in fear did as all turtles do in such situations withdrew into his shell.

When the rhino demanded he leaves, there was not a sign of any movement. This angered the rhino so much, he thought the turtle was fooling with him. He started banging on the shell with his marvellous horn in an effort to get the turtle to come out. With no success, he tried harder and harder. The poor turtle was hurtled this way and that. From a distance, it looked as if the rhino was practising for an important football match.

Soon a load of monkeys gathered in the trees to watch the spectacle making it even more like a football game. They laughed and laughed at the antics of the rhino. The rhino was so angry he didn’t even notice that the monkeys were there. On and on it went until he had to stop for breath.

In the moment of silence, he heard the monkey laughter. He became aware that they were making fun of him. 

Neither the rhino or for that matter the turtle who had emerged from his shell enjoyed the fact that they were being mocked by a gang of monkeys.

They looked at each other and the turtle nodded and retreated back into his shell. The rhino gathered himself, stepped back a few paces as if making ready to take a penalty kick, and ran hard kicking the turtle straight at the monkeys. The turtle flew through the air and hit the monkeys like a row of skittles sending them flying.

Suddenly the place looked like an emergency ward for monkeys. They lay all over the place bruised and battered. 

Meanwhile, the turtle and the rhino, smiling like old friends walked off the scene together. 

The monkeys realised that there had to be better ways of amusing yourself than mocking and laughing at others.

 There is nothing more beautiful than laughter shared but nothing sadder than laughter at the expense of another.

May your day be full of laughter and your heart be full of joy. Have a great day.

Love.

Life is moving so you would think that most of the big questions of life would by now be answered. If it was all so simple, for those with enquiring minds it seems the answers do not come, the questions just get more difficult. So when I was asked to consider the thought of what is love I found myself once more in the depths of thought and consideration which a two-hour walk seemed not long enough.

There was once a man who suffered from cancer, cancer that could not be treated. He was 18 years old and very aware that time for him was short. All his life, he was stuck in his house being taken cared by his mother. He never went outside but he was sick of staying home and wanted to go out for once. So he asked his mother and she gave him permission.

He walked the town and found again the familiar shops. He passed a shop selling music, CDs and records. He looked through the front window for a second as he passed. He stopped and went back to look into the shop. 

He saw a young girl about his age and he knew instantly that she captivated his mind.  Was this love at first sight? 

He opened the door and walked in, not looking at anything else but her. He walked closer and closer until he was finally at the front desk where she sat.

She looked up and asked, "Can I help you?"

She smiled and he thought it was the most beautiful smile he has ever seen before.

He said, "Uh... Yeah... Umm... I would like to buy a CD."

He picked one out and gave her money for it.

"Would you like me to wrap it for you?" she asked, smiling her beautiful smile again.

He nodded and she went to the back.

She came back with the wrapped CD and gave it to him. He took it and walked out of the shop. He went home and from then on, he went to that shop everyday and bought a CD, and she wrapped it for him. He took the CD home and put it in his cupboard. He was still too shy to ask her out and he really wanted to but he couldn't. His mother found out about this and told him to just ask her.

So the next day, he took all his courage and went to the shop. He bought a CD like he did everyday and once again she went to the back of the shop and came back with it wrapped. He took it and when she wasn't looking, he left his phone number on the desk and ran out...

 Three days later the telephone rang.

The mother picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"

It was the girl!  She asked for the boy and the mother started to cry and said, "You don't know? He passed away yesterday."

The line was quiet except for the cries of the boy's mother. Later in the day. The mother went into the boy's room. She thought she would start by looking at his clothes. So she opened the closet. She was face to face with piles and piles and piles of unopened CDs. She was surprised to find all those CDs and she picked one up and sat down on the bed and she started to open one.

Inside, there was a CD and as she took it out of the wrapper, out fell a piece of paper. The mother picked it up and started to read it.

It said: Hi... I think you are a really nice person would you like to go out with me? Love, Jacelyn

The mother opened another CD...

Again there was a piece of paper. It said: Hi... I think you are a  really really nice person.  Do you want to go out with me? Love, Jacelyn.

Love is... when you've had a huge fight but then decide to put aside your egos, hold hands and say, "I Love You" Love is precious it should be grasped at every opportunity. Life is full of moments when love can touch our lives but often we let it slip from our grasp. Love is not something to consider or think about it is something to be lived.

Yes, I have had many thoughts over the years and preached many sermons on the theme, taught many lessons and had ethical discussions. Were they worth the time? of course they must have been if at my age this is all i can come up with on the topic.