personal improvements

Poems, Parables

and Practical Principles

Personal Improvements

a friends of light

production 2023

all wisdom reserved

Meet the new boss… way better than the old boss.

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Sometimes in order to understand why life is the way it is, we must first look for the metaphors.

A lake is a fascinating aspect of Nature. (Basically, it’s an Earthy depression that’s filled with water.) At just about any time, all sorts of activities can be seen happening on the surface. Boaters boating. Swimmers swimming. Ducks and geese coming and going. Cresting waves happily intending their way towards shore. All sorts of things. 

But, what about the activities going on beneath the surface? Surely there must be life down there! 

Yes, it can be perceived, but not seen. 

Unless, of course, one should dive in with eyes wide open.

***********

Awareness is not paranoia, it revelation.

There once was a man who loved concrete lawn ornaments. In fact, he loved them so much that he treated them with affection and often sung praises to their magnificence – which, early one morning, magically brought them to life.

For a time, the ornaments sat pondering each other. A goddess, a man and a rather large goose just stared at one another. It seemed a relatively short time before differences were being judged. One was beautifully painted, another stucco’d in tan and the other was just plain white. Then one day a miracle happened, another ornament was created. A magnificent benefactor pulled up and poured a mystical, magical fluid into a shell that was shaped like a dog. Within a few hours the shell was removed, and the dog was placed next to the others.

All at once the three began observing the dog. It looks like a dog, but there’s something more. “What was that magical fluid that was poured into the dog?” They didn’t understand. “Are we a goddess, a dog, a little man and a fat goose, or are we the fluid that’s contained WITHIN this shell, that only looks like a dog, a man, a goose and a goddess?” 

Can you guess what happened next? It occurred to the ornaments that while judging their exteriors, the most important part went unnoticed – the inside! “What’s this?” exclaimed the goddess, “We’re all one with each other. The fluid that made me also made you! And you know, I’m feeling that this fluid isn’t just in us, but in many other things, too!” 

The sidewalk smiled. 

Where did this leave the owner? Probably watching his creations’ lives unfold, with great affection.

***********

The nature of things is their very being.  

Stop trying to change nature and start being.

A certain man woke up one morning and as usual, went outside to stretch. This morning, however, had something in it that this certain man had always feared – the volcano behind his village began to smolder... again.

“Oh no.” He fretted. “Could this be the one? Could this be the time when it finally blows?” The certain young man then fell to his knees, under the weight of all the things he now has to prepare for. “Oh Lord,” the man prayed, “Please stop this volcano from exploding. Please don’t let it hurt us, we are your kind and humble children.”

The volcano then let go a large burst of steam. “I must wake the others.”

Just after this man (who is normally the first one up) entered his abode and began to awaken his family, the volcano blew. It blew with such tremendous force that the wake of the blast woke up everyone else in the village. In fact, it jolted them right out of their beds.

“MY GOD!!” They all shouted, as they watched a tremendous plume of dirt and ash blast into the troposphere. “WE MUST RUN!”

Now just outside this village was a very large cave dwelling – the home of the local sage. And he wasn’t too pleased to see the entire village coming his way. “And now they come.” 

As the people of the village approached the cave’s entrance, the sage raised his staff and commanded them to stop. “Why do you come here, now? What do you seek?”

“We need the shelter of the cave, oh wise sage.” The certain man spoke up. “Soon there will be fire and brimstone all around us, and your cave is the only safe means of shelter we have left. Can we please enter?”

“CAN WE ENTER?” A few men sarcastically repeated. “PLEASE?” They were quite agitated that this certain man was asking permission from another to save his own, as well as his families, lives. “Get out of the way old man, or we’ll trample you!”

“WAIT!” The certain man shouted. “This cave is this man’s abode, his home. We have no right to enter it without his permission. Would you like someone trampling you, in your own home, to get to safety? No, you wouldn’t. Do not presume to own this man, only presume to ask for his mercy.”

Having heard these words of wisdom (spoken for the first time by anyone of the village outside of himself), the sage felt his heart warm and he neighborly opened his arms and guided the village folk into his safe place.

Let me just say here, the sage, knowing that the volcano was about to blow, moved out of his straw house and into the cave a few months ago. He knew what was coming and prepared for it ahead of time. Oh, he told plenty of others, but who’d listen? “It’s done this many times before old man, leave us alone to our problems.”

“Do you have any food?” A young woman kindly asked. “My children are hungry. We left so fast, we brought none with us.”

“Yes. You will find what you need over there in that corner.” The sage pointed to a bin full of food, sitting just beside a cistern full of water.

Another spoke up. “Do you have any blankets? We left home so fast that we didn’t bring any with us. And it is so damp and chilly in here.”

“Yes.” The sage replied. “There are blankets and extra clothes over there in that spot.” He pointed to a place across from the food.

“Do you have any more wood?” Another asked. “It’s getting cold and dark in here and I fear I will catch my death of cold. There is wood right outside this place, but I fear I will be injured trying to get it.”

“Yes.” The sage again replied with much compassion. “I have plenty of wood stacked in the back of my dwelling. You may go and gather more to build a bigger fire.”

After much time and observation, the certain man approached the sage when he was alone, no longer serving his fellow villagers. “You give so freely.”

“Yes.” The sage seemed rather peaceful.

“You don’t even get mad that they’re using all your stuff.” The certain man kept looking around at all the supplies getting used up, which was more than likely, not going to get replaced.

“No.” The sage was looking in the same direction but had opposite observations.

“And you’re not upset that your life has been turned upside down.” The certain man can only relate the current moment to any moment previous to the eruption.

“No.” The sage answered quite matter-of-factly.

“You don’t even seem to care that we’re using all your rations. Soon you will have no food at all.” With each personal observation, the certain man realized that he may be standing in the same space as this man, but clearly, they exist in two separate worlds. 

“Maybe.” He shoved a rock six inches closer to the opening with his sandal. 

“How?”

“How what?”

“How do you do it?”

“Do what?” The sage knew what he was asking, he just wanted the certain man to express it a little more clearly.

“How do you keep so calm and peaceful in the middle of all this chaos? How do you not get angry with all that is going on? Even the volcano blowing its top has left you unaffected. How do you do it?” The certain man had reached his commonsense limit and could no longer reason with the sage’s reason.

“Are you asking me something?” He just had to ask one more time.

“Yes, I am asking you how you can keep so peaceful in the middle of such mayhem. How do you stay so centered?” The certain man was shaking his head in a total lack of understanding. 

“Because, I am NOT in the middle of such mayhem, as you so eloquently have assumed.” A slight twinkle came from his left eye.

“WHAT?!” The certain man was flabbergasted. “You don’t call all these people cohabitating together for the first time, chaos? You don’t call that volcano out there spewing tons of matter everywhere, mayhem?” The certain man was pointing inside, then out.

“No, at times I do consider these things chaotic, but not all the time.” The sage kept his cool.

“What do you mean not all the time? How can you see anything but misery and fear and chaos in this time, right now?” The certain man was certainly perplexed at the sage’s “non-negative” outlook.

“Good sir.” The sage began, “Look over there. Look how some of the villagers are helping the others to cope. Some are crying, while others are consoling. Some have lost faith, while others are strangely finding it. Observe in these times of strife and stress, how they bring out the best in us. Look at how this moment is empowering our people in a way that they have not ever been empowered before.”

“Wow, I never saw that.” The certain man didn’t change the direction he was looking, but certainly saw something he wasn’t seeing before.

“It is because you are not looking for it.” 

“Well then, what about that damned volcano out there? Are you telling me that you’re not afraid of what it might do to you – to all of us?” The certain man was almost taking an adversarial position, due to his ignorance.

The sage smiled a beautiful smile. He saw no adversary. “Is this the only volcano to have erupted in this region?”

“No. There have been others.” The certain man responded without thought.

“How many others?”  

“Lots. So many that this whole place was made by them.” That response had a little more thought to it.

The sage looked deep into the certain man’s eyes for the wisdom he knew was there.

“Oh.” The certain man had a revelation.

“So, you are saying that this land, upon which we live, was created by volcanoes?” Again, the sage smiled.

The certain man thought about that for a while. He suspected he knew where the sage was going.

“And what if those volcanoes did not blow? Where would we be then?” A crooked grin erupted.

“I am starting to see where you are going.” Make that two.

“Know this, my wise brother, there has never been, nor will there ever be a volcanic eruption that did not, or will not, one way or another result in NEW land to replace that which came before; NEW soil, full of nutrients from deep down within Mother Earth herself, to replace the barren soil which lay before; NEW plant life where none had existed before; NEW animal life, to feed on the NEW plants, grown from this NEWLY created fertile soil; which will inevitably support NEW people, who will come here from far away to experience this NEW land.” The sage was pointing toward the covered opening.

“I am starting to see what you see.” Through the covered opening.

“Your perspections define the world in which you live. And your beliefs create that world. If you can only see fire and brimstone and death and suffering, then you are not seeing the entire picture. For that is only one aspect, one moment in time concerning volcanoes. But if, on the other hand, you can see past the immediate sorrow and pain and come to expect the miracle of NEW GROWTH, then you will tolerate the temporary inconveniences and focus on the miracle, not the emergency.”

“So, volcanoes actually seem to make things better, not worse.” A light bulb suddenly lit over this certain man’s head…

“Yes, from a certain perspection.” That the sage clearly saw.

“And thinking that they need to be stopped, or plugged somehow, is not the right thinking.” The bulb is burning brighter.

“You cannot stop nature. You cannot think that you own Her. You do not.” Then the sage looked deep within the certain man’s eyes one more time. “And you cannot pray to God expecting this event to end, before its steps of destruction and then reconstruction.”

“How did you know…?” The certain man knew the sage had somehow heard his prayer this morning.

“Tell me, look around and tell me what you see.” The sage had his arms folded and was using his chin to point.

“I see people crying and fearful. I also see people working through it, helping those who aren’t yet.” The certain man suddenly felt like he was looking at life with a brand-new pair of eyes. 

“How do you think those people who are working through it got to that frame of mind, to help out their brothers and sisters?” The sage new those new eyes could see more.

“I’m not following.”

“How can human beings be so much the same and yet so oppositely different? How can one be crying in sorrow and pain, and another be consoling with love and compassion?” The sage was pointing to a place within his abode where a fire was burning brightly, and many villagers were huddled around it - trying to keep warm and right minded.

“Well, I know for a fact that Bob over there just lost his wife a few months ago to the illness. And Jane, the one he is consoling, has lived with her family her whole life and has never before experienced loss.” Jane’s brother didn’t make it to the cave in time. He had apparently headed out early this morning to hunt up some excellent breakfast, and well….

“So, what does that tell you?”

“That Bob has experienced this so-to-speak volcano in his life before and has built up the strength to get through it. But Jane has not ever experienced anything like this and is very scared.” The certain man’s eyes lit up to this wonderful revelation.

“It is the volcanoes in our lives that empower us to become more than we were before the eruption. NEW LAND.” He patted the certain man on his chest. “You cannot stop the eruption. You cannot think that you have power over it – you do not. Small eruptions are necessary in order for steam to be blown off.  The release of steam is a natural process, not to be tampered with by the civility of mankind. Cap those small eruptions, and one day, a very large one will come that will wipe out everything… and then rebuild it.”

A number of days went by before anyone even looked outside the cave. (Oh, and if you were wondering, the sage took care of the bathroom thing ahead of time, too.) When the sage and the certain man peeked out for the first time, they noticed everything had been covered in ash. Ash so thick, that all the homes were leveled under its weight.

A few other villagers followed behind the first two and noticed the carnage. “OH MY GOD!” One of them screamed. “We have lost everything! Our homes, our lives! Woe am I.” The man looked with great sadness towards the two leaders. 

“You have not lost your life.” The certain man spoke up. 

The sage smiled as he saw a great light shining around this man, which was not there before the volcano erupted.

“We might just as well have.” The sad villager just stood in place, shaking his head in his hands.

Then the certain man spoke. “Everyone! Everyone, come out. Come out and witness the beginning of our NEW lives!”

After a few minutes, everyone had semi-stumbled their way out of the damp, dark cave, into the brightness of day and stood before the great site of carnage and destruction. Some fell to their knees and wept.

“Stand.” The certain man commanded. “Stand and witness what Mother Earth has blessed us with.”

“BLESSED US!” One of the villagers sneered. “She’s DESTROYED US!”

“NO.” The certain man spoke quite firmly. “We will move, but not far away. We will build new homes, better homes than we had before. We know better now, and this is just a real good excuse for us to show it. This ash that you see,” the man reached down and scooped some up, “this ash will fertilize all the fields and our crops will be greater than ever. We will use this catastrophe to our benefit.” Then the certain man turned to the sage. “And we will take care of those who have taken care of us.”

Then the certain man, who just a short time ago awoke as a humble gardener, turned and led his people to a safer, better place - and used everything the volcano did, to his and his village’s advantage. 

And what of the sage? He still lives in his cave. After what’s just happened, it’s gonna’ take a bit of time for him to get centered again. 

***********

How important are words? Watch yourself on how many times you use “terms of death” to describe something.

Kills. Killer. Killing. Die. Dying. Dead. Death.

And how many times did you use one of those terms to describe your own life? And you wonder why things are the way they are.

Watch your words.

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All words of advice are intended for the ears of the one speaking them.

That's why you put those people on your path, to say the words you most need to hear.

There once was a certain person who understood – a sword is a sword, but the good one, is the sword that is tempered. 

In fact, the best sword is tempered many, many times through the process of being shoved into a furnace, which brings it to an unbelievable temperature (almost to the point of melting); and then it gets snatched out of the breath of fire, only to be beaten and beaten and beaten, over and over again, until it is folded and beaten down some more. Only to be, once again, thrown right back into the fire, to have this process repeated over and over again…. 

Until finally, it is slammed into water for the final tempering.

Then it is polished, polished in such a way as to make the sword not only aesthetically perfect, but absolutely perfect.

Some of the greatest swords ever made were folded hundreds of times. No element on Earth could withstand a blow from these swords and no element on Earth could harm these swords, for their tempering was so great.

These swords have always been coveted by those who know swords.

But this person also understood that there are people who claim to have good swords, too, which unfortunately, break upon their first bit of use. These swords are clay swords. These swords look like swords outwardly, on the outside. Many are highly polished and beautifully adorned with magnificent sheathing. But, most critically, these swords have yet to be tempered – even a little bit.

I know one thing, if I were to ever have to go into battle, I would want to have at my side a sword that has been tempered - one that has been put through the fire, many, many times. One that has been beaten and folded and beaten down some more and then shoved right back into the fire. I would want one that has been tempered more than any other sword that mine may go up against.

I would not want a clay sword.

***********

When seeking the truth…

It is always best to go to the “horse’s mouth” to receive the correct information. Lest you go to others and are led astray.

On the I Love Lucy show, Ricky Ricardo never said, “Lucy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do.” Never, not once. Yet, those are the words he is MOST remembered for saying.

***********

What you believe is your reality...

though it may not necessarily be the real one.

A certain worker arrived at a new job. It was a very challenging one, requiring many tasks. This worker worked in an office with about a half-dozen other workers, whose desks nearly touched one another for the lack of space.

This worker was given a desk with a basket. It was this worker’s first basket; it had a label on it, reading “IN.”

After a short time, this worker came to know the assigned tasks very well. Things came easily. Within just a few days, this worker’s basket was emptied each evening before going home. 

Then one day, the boss brought over another basket. He picked it up off another worker’s desk and set it next to the “IN” basket. “Here,” the boss smiled, “you take his basket and add it to your tasks.”

“Okay.” The worker confidently accepted this new challenge. ‘They must see my potential.’ The worker thought. After about another week or so, the new tasks were accomplished and now both baskets were empty by the end of the day.

Then the boss showed up again, and once again, gave this “hard-charger” another basket. And then another… and then another… and then another. In fact, each time this worker was able to empty ALL those baskets before going home, the next day a new one would show up. By now, on this worker’s desk was a condominium of baskets, stacked four high, two deep.

Well, this went on for a season. The worker worked harder and harder to get all those baskets emptied, while all those other workers had their loads lightened, one by one. This ate at the worker terribly. ‘Why should I have to do all their work? Why can’t they do their own?’ The worker believed this to be terribly unfair and resented it.

Fuses started running shorter, while the days kept running longer. Things like patience and compassion were becoming a rare commodity. Frustration and stress increased dramatically, while the personal need to do the best this worker could, was decreasing rapidly.

Then it came. One more basket was given to this worker. This left the co-worker with nearly nothing to do. The worker exploded like a volcano. The magma, which was boiling just below the surface, came spewing out, all over everyone – even the boss.

Everyone was shocked at the words of this worker. No one saw them coming. They had never seen such a display of anger and rage in an office employee. Then the Head Boss walked into the office, touched the worker on the shoulder and said, “Employee, let’s get a cup of coffee.”

Everyone believed they were seeing this worker for the last time. And sadly, the worker believed it, too.

Well, without a word being spoken, the Head Boss and that volcanic employee walked over to a nearby coffee shop that many would go to for lunch. “Two coffee’s – black.” The Head Boss held two fingers in the air, then turned to the employee.

‘Here it comes.’ This greatly worried worker believed that the unemployment line was directly ahead. ‘Why didn’t I keep my mouth shut and just stick it out? It was just one more basket. In time, I could have done it. I know I’ve been drinking and smoking a lot, but that would have changed once I got caught up. I know I haven’t been spending any time with my family and friends, but that would have changed, too.’ The rationalizing thoughts kept coming. 

“Damn.” Then reality struck.

“Employee,” the Head Boss started out.

“I’m sorry…” The fearful worker cut in, attempting to soften the blow.

“Wait.” A hand went up. The Head Boss wanted to stop the employee from saying another word. “I have something to say. Although it was your boss who kept giving you all those baskets, I was the one asking him to do it.”

“WHAT?” The worker was shocked and sat straight up. “But… why?” The worker then folded like a piece of clay that had the crap molded out of it.

“Because…” The Head Boss’ eyes glimmered. “I had to know your limitations. And I’ve got to say, I’ve never had an employee do what you have. I think you were doing the work of about three of them back there. That’s amazing.”

“So, I’m not fired?” A shred of light began to glisten.

“Oh, Heaven’s no!” The Head Boss reached across the table and again, touched the worker’s shoulder. “You’re one of my best employees. Why would I want to do that?”

Five gorillas and two elephants mopingly made their way off this worker’s shoulders and meandered into the kitchen. Both humans drank their coffee without a word being spoken, but with joy in their eyes.

“Time to go back.” And off they went, back to an office that was absolutely certain they were going to be one employee short by the end of the day - and for some, that was okay. You see, these workers quite loathed this worker’s abilities and work ethic. They quite enjoyed just skimming along, doing as little as possible for that paycheck and thought this worker was going to mess that up. They were so happy to see that worker finally leave.

Surprise!

“People.” The Head Boss got everyone’s attention. “This employee is one of our best. Learn from this employee.  I did.” Then the Head Boss looked at the worker’s boss and instructed him to, “Return all the baskets to their rightful owners. And let’s all get back to work.”

It took a while for this worker to calm down. But in time, wisdom sunk in that it’s good to know one’s limitations. And also, because of the Head Boss’s wishes, to know everyone else’s tasks, too. And in record time! 

Well, as it would happen, after a season, the Head Boss promoted the worker’s boss to another position and immediately began looking to fill the vacancy.

Now, who do you think became the next boss?

************

Choice has always been the first rule.  And it will also be the last.

The first cell is formed from the union of separate autonomous entities. Two become one. And within this one is a mass of matter - unique and absolutely needed. 

Now look closely, a wall is beginning to form in the middle of the cell. It forms beginning at the outside edges and moves toward the center. Notice the mass of matter; it begins to agitate. Within its mass, pieces begin to pull in opposite directions – they start to separate.

As the wall closes in and seals, exactly the same amount are numbered on each side. Then the cell separates, becoming two completely autonomous entities. One becomes two.

In what way did the mass of matter separate? What impulse was generated to go to one side or the other?

Choice.

***********

The river is always new.

Even though the ditch it’s running through,

may be as old as the hills.

You do not have a single cell within you, right now, that you were born with. Every seven years you become brand new – whether your mind wants to accept it or not. In fact, each year 98% of you is replaced. The truth is, every second of your life, you’re regenerating.

Cells are like tiny computers. Each one can be programmed by its user to do whatever the user asks, as long as it is within the parameters of the program to do so. And in a computer, what can go one way, can go the other.

Isn’t it funny that the “oldies” referred to on the radio, actually brings us back to our “youngies?”

***********

Sometimes, in order to successfully do a thing that has not ever been done before, the achiever must act as if it has been done a million times before...  with confidence.

When a baby takes its first steps, the brain is constantly re-minding the legs (and all its muscles and joints and tendons and ligaments and nerves and bones) of what the legs did to simply stand up and what the legs must do in order for the baby to move forward. Like, “First you must do this…” Followed by, “Now that…” Followed by “Next this…” and this goes on for each little movement, just in order for the baby to take one simple step forward.

That is, until at some future point, these things are accomplished without considering HOW they are done, at the time they are being done. Taking the step forward simply occurs, followed by skipping and running and leaping and bounding and… 

Well, you get the picture. 

***********

Bullies exist to teach us to be strong...

not to teach us to cry foul.

There once was a very large boy who attended school - a very large boy. From fear of getting hurt, no one liked to play with him or talk to him, because he was rough and always had to have his way. This made him even more mean and forceful. He found it very easy to impose his will upon the other children. It actually became fun after a while.

Then one day the bully wanted to buy something but didn’t have the money to pay for it. So, he spied on the smallest child, which he knew had the money and scared him into giving it up. “That was easy.” Then he looked around and saw that no one was going to challenge his actions. So, he smiled and gleefully went and purchased that prized dessert.

The next day the bully found everyone looking at him differently than they did before – with fear. “Hey, this feels good.” It appeared everyone respected him now and gave him the room that he most deserved. “’Bout time.” He mumbled.

Then came lunchtime and again he had no money. But this time, as he looked around, he saw everyone else was already looking at him. He realized that getting lunch money this time was going to be a little more difficult. So, he hid in the bathroom and waited for some kid to come in. He beat him severely because the kid only had half the money he needed. So, he put that kid aside and waited for another. The next one satisfied his needs quite nicely. “You tell ANYBODY what happened here, and I’ll go after your family. Got it?!”

This ritual of sneaking up and attacking carried on for a long time – many semesters, in fact. ‘No one will challenge me once I get my grips on them.’ The bully always thought just before grabbing another unsuspecting victim.

Well… this day was going to be quite different. 

A new family from far away just moved into town and one of their children was about to witness the bully for the first time. As he entered the bathroom, the bully grabbed him from behind and held him tight in a bear hug, which kept getting tighter and tighter. “Give me your lunch money!” The bully grunted out. 

The new kid put his chin to chest and then threw his head straight back, reverse skull thumping the bully right on the nose. The bully let go - immediately. “Who are you… to steal from me?” The new kid was trying his best to talk, spin and catch his breath all at the same time. “Who in this school gives you the authority to do this?”

“NOBODY, YOU IDIOT!” The bully retorted. “I’m the biggest and the baddest and I run this place. Now give me what I want, or you’ll get the beating of your life.” Just then, the bully felt blood running down his chin.

“Hey! You gave me a bloody nose!” He screamed. “I’m gonna’ kill you!” The bully then lunged towards the new kid, who simply moved out of the way and let the bully fall flat on his face. This really hurt the bully. I mean, it really hurt him. 

The new kid then left him lying in his own ignorance and went back to class.

Once the bully got back his senses and recognized what had been done to him, he devised a plan that would surely allow him to capture that new kid and beat the “h-e-double-toothpick” out of him. His plan included a friend that would be hidden away close by, just in case the bully needed him to finish his dirty work.

As the new kid turned the corner, WHAM! Down came the wrath of the bully. But just as quickly, the new kid jumped up and this time, slapped the bully’s face, scratching it terribly with his fingernails – resulting in even more pain than the bathroom incident.

“Aaaaaa! Come on! I need your help!” The bully screamed towards the bushes. The friend promptly jumped out and gave quite a thrashing to the new kid. The two then spit on him and left him lying in his own blood. “Serves you right!” The friend said. “I guess you ain’t gonna’ be botherin’ us no more. HA!”

Then the bully spoke up. “And if we want your lunch money, you better give it to us, without us even askin’ for it! Got It?” And away they went, laughing and shadowboxing each other all the way down the sidewalk.

The new kid became very angry. A few of his newfound friends came upon him and saw him in his horrible condition. “You must tell your parents.” The children begged.

“No.” He responded, wiping off the dirt and grime.

“You must tell the teachers or at least tell the principle, so they will do something about those bullies.” 

Again, he simply replied, “No.”

“Well, if you’re not going to do anything, one of us is gonna’ call the police. They can take care of it for you.” 

“NO.” The new kid sternly responded. “I will handle this in my own way; it is my problem and no one else’s. But I could use a little help, though.” 

“You want our help? Sure!” A few kids yelled out.  “Heck, we’ve been getting our lunch money stolen from us for a whole lot longer than you have. What can we do?”

“Band together.” The new kid said. “If we all band together we can overcome this menace. That is the way we do it where I come from, and it ALWAYS works.”

A few days later, the new kid had another close encounter of the bullying kind, except this time the bully had two more friends than before. Just as they got close to the new kid, a bunch of other kids sprang from the bushes and a mighty fight ensued. The bullies had only their fists and great size to use against their enemy. But their victims had metal rods and sticks to fight with. They did much greater damage to the bullies than the bullies did to them. So, the bullies ran away and hid.

“What can we do?!” The bully huffed in a fit of rage.

“Let’s get more.” One of his friends pointed out the small opening of the sewer drain.

“Yeh.” Another chimed in. “Let’s get a whole lot more of us and really pound ‘em. Once we really do ‘em in, they’ll tow the line, for sure.”

“And we’ll be back in lunch money heaven, again!” The bully yelled. They gave each other a collective high five and then crawled back out.

Well, during the bullies planning party, the new kid had a party of his own. “We will wait no longer to be preyed upon by these fat boys.” He said with great diligence. “We will attack them when they least expect it. And once we leave them all bloody and hurt, they will witness our strength and stop hurting us for certain. Finally, we will not have to live in fear anymore.”

The next day as the bully got off his bike, he was attacked from behind by at least 10 or 12 smaller kids. Not only did they beat the tar out of him, but they also smashed his awesome bike and put some pretty good twists in it, too.

Then the kids left him all bloody and hurting and carried off to school – thinking that everything would be back to normal.

Can you guess what happened next? That’s right. The bully picked himself up, brushed himself off, witnessed the carnage done to his one-of-a-kind hopped-up bike his Grandpa made for him so long ago and let out a rage that everyone within earshot could here. “THEY ARE DEAD!!!” He screamed at the top of his lungs. “NO ONE!! AND I MEAN NO ONE DOES THIS TO ME AND MY BIKE!” Then he fell to the ground, half covering the mangled frame. “My beautiful bike.” He silently cried with great remorse. “Sorry, Gramps. But don’t worry, they’re gonna’ get theirs.”

The next day, the bully gathered as many of his humongous friends as he could find and hid behind the bushes outside of school. They had iron pipes and chains and knives and… well, you get the picture. 

When the new kid got to school, he anticipated something could be wrong, so he rounded up a few of his friends, too – that is, every single kid who’s been wronged by this bully and every one of their friends, too. And let me say, that’s more kids than even the bullies were aware of.

Then, just as all-out war was about to take place, a young girl came running up between them and asked, “Why are you doing this? Why are you about to kill each other?”

The bully spoke up. “They destroyed my bike! And they’re gonna’ pay for it!”

The new kid shot back. “But you ripped my clothes and nearly broke my nose!” 

“Because you skull thumped me in the face and DID break my nose!” The bully shot back, pointing to his “rocky-raccoon” make-up job – complete with stripes.

“Because you assaulted me in the bathroom and tried to steal my money. Do you not think that I have a Right to defend myself? Do you think that I would give ANYTHING over to you just because you are so big and fat? In my country, we believe that to die in defense of our cause is the greatest deed a man can do. Are you willing to die in order to keep stealing my lunch money? Do you really want my stuff that bad?” The new kid got right into the bully’s face. “Or are you going to leave me and my friends alone?” Then the new kid stepped back and motioned to the throng of newly empowered “man wannabe’s” ready to do battle, standing behind him.

The bully then came to see his own mortality. He realized that his cause of acquiring someone else’s money (or anything else for that matter) wasn’t worth his life. “Ah, you shrimps were becoming boring anyway. C’mon guys, let’s get outta’ here.” Then the bully turned to the new kid. “Loser.”

The new kid then turned and asked the girl why she spoke up, why she had to intervene. “I’m your sister for gosh sakes. You think I want to see you get splattered all over the place by that big fat idiot… and his friends?” She laughed and took his hand. “I love you and I want to see you around for a little while longer. And oh, by the way,” she added, “Mom and Dad are pretty proud of you, too.”

“But I never told them. How did they…?” Then the new kid figured out his sister had told them. 

“But they think you’ve caused enough chaos and need to calm down a little.” 

Then they both smiled and walked arm over shoulder into school, knowing they no longer have to be paranoid about what could possibly be coming next.

***********

Mercy cuts time short...

lest you decide to hate for the rest of your life.

There was a boy who was born into a certain family. He was taught from the moment he could understand, to hate another family. This family did his family wrong a long time ago and every generation that proceeded forth, continued on with that hatred.

Now this family had good reason to hold things against this other family. For this other family did do many unspeakable things – then attempted to cover them up. 

So, on and on this went, generation after generation, one family hating another for things done a very long time ago. Then this boy grew up; He reached a certain age where he could now serve in a more proactive role in his family’s struggle for “justice.”

The friends of this boy all thought the same way. And they all fed upon each other’s hatred for this other family. For they were justified.

One day, this now young man confronted one that belonged to the other family. Hatred filled this man; he was ready to do his “duty.” He had been trained by life and taught by men on all those things he must do, when obligated to do them. 

But something happened on that day to that moment of judgment. The man stopped and thought for just a second – just a part of a second. What he saw before him looked just about like he did. He saw another man, similarly dressed, who also, had a family, a wife and two children. He saw that he too, lived in a similar home and had similar issues that he must be dealing with. In a way, he saw himself… and couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do his duty.

So, this man, in shame, turned from this hated adversary and went back home to his family.  And he cried for failing to do his duty. His wife also cried. For little did the husband know, that it was her brother he was about to do his duty unto. She could not reveal her true roots, for she truly loved her husband – and her husband loves her.

This man vowed from that day forth, to not hate another. Especially if it’s one who’s only guilty of being associated to a certain family, which during a certain generation, did something wrong. He must do something right.

And his children did not grow up hating. And their children did not grow up hating. And within what seemed to be no time, no one hated anymore, for mercy had shown up at the door.

***********

We get what we give.

Or in other words…

The image in the mirror is only a reflection. 

Change the image and you’ll change the reflection.

i got what i gave,

it came and it went.

it went by so fast,

no time was ever spent.

pondering and wondering and looking way down,

into the heart, into the sound,

of beating rhythms, cosmic and spatial.

thoughts, words and deeds,

are they relational?

is what i’ve done, revisiting me?

showing me truths, once invisible to me?

am i to blame for that which i see?

i got what i gave, oh Lord, 

won’t You please have pity on me?

i see it. i change it. i reflect another way.

thank You, Father, for showing me this day.

all of those things i’ve brought to me now,

are blessings in disguise… so here do i vow.

i get what i give, this here is true.

i love from now on, reborn I – anew.

***********

The choice to turn on the light

is always a personal one.

A certain person was born into darkness. Many things existed in this darkness, for this person could hear them, but could not see them. Wrongful thoughts came upon this person to do wrongful things, because of these sounds. The sounds, at times, sounded as others – giving advice, giving knowledge, giving past experiences and opinions.

Frustration and anger arose in this person, because of all this darkness and the inability to see what was out there. This person began to fight against it, but after a while realized, there was lots of fighting, but not much winning.

Then a thought came, “Light does not fight with the dark for supremacy, It simply turns Itself on.” And so, this person looked within and saw all this darkness, then commanded, 

“Let there be Light.”

And so It is.

***********

i’m sorry for not recognizing who you are,

i wish i’d looked a little bit closer.

i don’t know why before i couldn’t see your truth,

but my eyes are now open wide to it.

i’m really sorry for the things i’ve said and done,

and i wish that i could take them all back.

for in you i see my hope, my dreams and life,

and i wish, just once, things could start all over again…

from the beginning.

i love you with all of my heart,

and i really want you to know,

i’ve come to learn a lesson,

that’s changed my whole life, so.

i’m sorry for my violent temper,

and for all those times i took away your smile.

right now, the way i feel,

i’d carry you the next million miles.

although you’ve expended great time and effort,

and you may have your doubts,

please give me just one more chance,

to show you what i’m all about.

You are my Twin, my Self,

you are the one i want to spend the rest of my life with.

you’ve seen the worst of me,

now witness the best of me.

i will serve you and love you,

i will give you all that you hope for.

so now i say with all my heart,

that i have truly not done my part,

but one more chance is all i ask,

to prove this truth i’ve learned at last.

I LOVE YOU, now i will show it.

***********

A stone thrown into a lake certainly makes a splash. And along with that splash comes the outwardly moving wave, in the shape of an ever-expanding circle.

Now upon hitting the water, the stone immediately disappears, leaving behind only its wake.  However, it always takes a little while longer for the stone to settle on the bottom, finally coming to rest. 

And the time it takes for this to happen always depends upon the depth the stone has to travel.