Parable of Immortality

Finding words to comfort someone when they lose a loved one can be a search into the deepest parts of our hearts. A parent loses a child or a parent slips from us; a spouse, friend or sibling can leave an aching hole inside. The words are only meant to help soothe the void but can never replace our loved one. Only the memories fill the void, gathering inside and healing pain with time.

When I lost my mother, a brother shared the following poem by Henry Van Dyke called "A Parable of Immortality" and helped begin the process of letting go. A process of letting go the natural connection and beginning the supernatural connection to a lost loved one. I still talk to my mother through loving memories and with a respect for what I believe lay beyond our life here.

So it is that I share with some dear friends that very recently lost their son in a tragic incident. I also share it for anyone that has lost a loved one. Words to help soothe the void and help begin the process of loving rememberance.

A Parable of Immortality

I am standing upon the seashore.

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze

and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength,

and I stand and watch until at last she hangs

like a speck of white cloud

just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says,

" There she goes! "

Gone where?

Gone from my sight . . . that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar

as she was when she left my side

and just as able to bear her load of living freight

to the place of destination.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment

when someone at my side says,

" There she goes! "

there are other eyes watching her coming . . .

and other voices ready to take up the glad shout . . .

" Here she comes! "

More Cowbell

"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen." ~Paulo Coelho

There is a very funny skit from Saturday Night Live called "More Cowbell". The premise that something so out of place as a cowbell is the perfect answer for something lacking. I can hear the clanging cowbell already.

Its interesting that something so unexpected can change the whole atmosphere around our lives. The unexpected things that happen can have a surprising and positive effect. A change in tone, a stranger crossing our path or different road taken home. Each of them, while seemingly insignificant can create this unexpected change in your life.

Maybe its an oversimplification but even something unexpected as a cowbell can actually add more to your life. Embrace what you can by trying something different. Change up the ordinary and see what types of opportunities occur. When life becomes stagnant, shout out for "more cowbell" and see what happens.

Noah Created Movement

"March on. Do not tarry. To go forward is to move toward perfection. March on, and fear not the thorns, or the sharp stones on life's path." ~Kahlil Gibran

If you could share something with the world, would you wait until it was perfect? Or would you get it out there even if the rough edges had yet to be smoothed over?

My brother-in-law's grandson has learned to sign pretty darn well while still only being 7 years old. His mother has been hearing impaired since birth if memory serves me correctly, so signing is a matter of everyday activity. It becomes natural over time, but learning both spoken language and sign language is a feat in itself.

So with the perfection of a seven year old boy, the video below is him signing the story of Noah's Ark.



The words being signed are as follows;

~~~~~

Hi, I will tell you a story about Noah's ark. God told Noah to build an ark and he said “Noah, I want you to build an ark”. His three sons helped him. He said “I want your family and animals safe. So that way move to a different country. So you can have a better life.” And when he was finished, he saw the animals coming.

So he opened the door, all the animals came into the ark. He put all the animals where they should be. His family packed everything. And when he was going in water, God said “Noah your family is safe, now you can go to a different country.” And he was going to a far away country with storms coming, rain and lightning, all over every where.

After the storm he was in a different country. God said “You have done a good job keeping your family safe.” He was happy that God said that. So he saw a colorful sky, he saw a rainbow in the sky. And that is all the story about Noah's ark.

~~~~~

My intent was to show you the innocent beauty of a child telling an age-old story. It was also my intent to give an example of someone moving forward with what they know. While not perfect or completely polished, a young child bravely shows what he can do to all that will watch.

Each of us need to move forward in our lives, unafraid that we may not be perfect. The polished edges are not yet apparent but only with movement can they be smoothed. A rock tumbler will do no good if it sits motionless. It is in the movement and tumbling of the rocks inside which accomplishes the polished finish. The same can be said of our lives. When we create movement and step out from being idle, only then will great things begin to happen.

Take the example of a young boy bravely stepping out to show the world his signing ability. He has started a movement in his life that will bring wonders to everyone around him. In return, the rough and tumble experiences will cause him to shine even more.

Create that kind of movement in your life.

Sack Lunch

"Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world." ~Annie Lennox

Received the following story from a friend that reveals the goodness in all of us. It shows how in simple measure we can make a difference in another persons life.

~~~~~

Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. I was certainly glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap is what I was thinking.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

"Where are you headed?" I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
"Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan."

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time.

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. "No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base." His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. "Take a lunch to all those soldiers." She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. "My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him."

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, "Which do you like best - beef or chicken?"

"Chicken," I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class.

"This is your thanks."

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. "I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this." He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand and said, "I want to shake your hand."

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, "I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot." I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. "It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You."

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little.

~~~~~

The story goes on to talk about service to country and such.  What I take from this story is the human spirit of kindness to others.  The ability to make a difference in another person's life with a simple sack lunch. 

A simple act of kindness moves others to do the same. If you move to show kindness, you can end up moving mountains.