Before Trying To Change the World!!.

I am in no doubt that you are all aware of the horrendous events taking place in the UK at present. Gangs of wild youths roaming the streets at night, looting shops, committing arson by setting fire to property. It is indeed sad to watch and to read about.

Yes there is much to be said about what is wrong with society. But I think we need to be aware that no matter how bad things are there is never an excuse for such greed and reckless behaviour. It broke my heart to watch a young lad who had got caught up in all of this sitting at the side of the road with blood coming from a wound caused by some missile. As he sat some other louts came along, rather than help him they stole all of his possessions and swaggered off.

Even as I write my heart feels heavy, where are we heading and how did we ever get here.

But it is not all bad. I began by saying taking place here in the UK. Sadly that is what is said in the press and on TV day by day. The truth is it is not the UK it is only in England. Yesterday some lout opened a webpage in Facebook here in Scotland, “ Lets start a riot in Glasgow.” Almost instantly another site opened,” Lets not start a riot in Glasgow.’ This site was swamped with people saying NO loud and clear. Today two young persons are to appear in court for trying to incite unrest, thanks to the goodness of people who still care about society. It returns you faith in human beings.   

There is a lovely little story that makes a similar moral.

 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 for such a long trip, and the road that he went through 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.

Then one of his wise servant dared himself to tell the king, "Why do you have to spend that unnecessary amount of money ? Why don't you 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.

There is actually a valuable lesson of life in this story : to make this world a happy place to live, you better change yourself - your heart; and not the world.

Have a good day and lets not have a riot in Glasgow.

This blog is linked to my other .   The Mirage

Let Us Race Again

I apologise that this morning my story begins again with a tale of running but I really just had to share this with you. Since my fall I had allowed myself to get so very unfit. I had not realised just how unfit I had allowed myself to get, until I tried to go for a run with my wife. She had to keep stopping and waiting until I caught up. So humiliating for it had always been me do the waiting.
Yesterday 28lbs lighter and a lot of walks and runs under my belt I was at the two mile mark a full minute and a half before her. I have to say it felt good, even to the point that I was feeling bad about just how good it was feeling. It was after all not a competition; it was just an exercising run.

I have though, to admit, always been very competitive. It feels good to be fit enough again that when I see a runner out in front of me I just want to catch up and maybe even pass them.

Now the reason I am sharing this is because this little incident reminded me of another story of a similar incident.

Long ago there was a young athletic boy hungry for success, for whom winning was everything and success was measured by winning.

One day, the boy was preparing himself for a running competition in his small native village, himself and two other young boys were to compete. A large crowd had congregated to witness the sporting spectacle and a wise old man, upon hearing of the little boy, had travelled far to bear witness also.

The race commenced, looking like a level heat at the finishing line, but sure enough the boy dug deep and called on his determination, strength and power he took the winning line and was first. The crowd was ecstatic and cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man remained still and calm, expressing no sentiment. The little boy, however. felt proud and important.

A second race was called, and two new young, fit, challengers came forward, to run with the little boy. The race was started and sure enough the little boy came through and finished first once again. The crowd was ecstatic again and cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man remained still and calm, again expressing no sentiment. The little boy, however, felt proud and important.

"Another race, another race!" pleaded the little boy. The wise old man stepped forward and presented the little boy with two new challengers, an elderly frail lady and a blind man. "What is this?" asked the little boy. "This is no race" he exclaimed. "Race!" said the wise man. The race was started and the boy was the only finisher, the other two challengers left standing at the starting line. The little boy was ecstatic; he raised his arms in delight. The crowd, however, was silent showing no sentiment toward the little boy.

"What has happened? Why are the people not happy for my success?" he asked the wise old man.

"Race again", replied the wise man, "...this time, finish together, all three of you, finish together" continued the wise man. The little boy thought a little, stood in the middle of the blind man and the frail old lady, and then took the two challengers by the hand. The race began and the little boy walked slowly, ever so slowly, to the finishing line and crossed it. The crowd were ecstatic and cheered and waved at the boy. The wise man smiled, gently nodding his head. The little boy felt proud and important.

"Old man, I understand not! Who are the crowd cheering for? Which one of us three?" asked the little boy. The wise old man looked into the little boy's eyes, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders, and replied softly . "Little boy, for this race you have won much more than in any race you have ever ran before, and for this race the crowd cheer not for any winner!"

This time the people cheer for the event.

This is the way of the Tao.

This blog is linked to my other.      Poppies In The Wind

The First Day of a New Marriage.

Yesterday I was talking to two friends. We were interrupted by a couple. They asked if they had got it right and I was who they thought I was. I did not recognise them and wondered what it was they wanted of me. They introduced themselves and a memory sprung to the fore of my mind.


This was a couple I had conducted the wedding of over thirty years ago. Here they were still happy and together. How good it was to see them. They told me they remembered that day as if it was just a short time ago. I asked them what it was they remembered the most. One of the jokes you told after the dinner stuck in their memory. I felt a bit of a disappointment that it was not something I had said during the ceremony.

The story I had told was this.

On the first morning of the honeymoon the bride had got up early. She disappeared leaving the groom wondering what was happening. He heard her leave the house and not soon after returning. Soon she appeared in the room. He was overcome by her beauty, but he was even more surprised to notice that she carried a breakfast tray. On the tray was a large flask of piping hot coffee, bacon and egg, a newspaper and a rose in a little vase.

The groom was overcome with joy. He sat up and enjoyed his breakfast. Over a second cup of coffee he read the newspaper. Having finished he turned and kissed his wife. “Thank you, that was just marvellous, what a way to start a marriage,” he said.

“That is good,” said his wife, “that will be how I expect things to be from now on.”

I had gone on to say that marriage was about two people each caring about the other and each seeking to bring joy to the other.

It seemed that they had remembered that each time they were not agreeing. One or other had often said, “That is how I expect it,” and laughed.

A small joke at a wedding had become part of their lives. We are never ever aware of the effect we are having on others. I thank you all for the comments yesterday I went to bed last night feeling overwhelmed. So here I am today again with my little humorous tale from yesterday.

What little gem will we say today that might affect the lives of others? Thanks Jim and Anne, the real bride and groom for the memories.


This blog is linked to my other where I speak of the art used. Thoughts of Spring and Love

Liberation

Jerry who often makes comment on my blog always begins with the same words, I am alive and here and all is good, or words to that effect. How poignant these words are this morning.


Yesterday was such a beautiful day, the sun shone and it was warm. I did some hoeing and weeding down at my plot. Having done the weeding I sat and chatted to old Archie, listening to his words of wisdom and humour.

In the afternoon I visited my son and we ate outside and relaxed and chatted. I headed off to bed feeling it had been a marvellous day. I dozed off, then it happened, I awoke struggling for breath. The more I struggled the more I coughed, the worse it got. Eventually I had to call the emergency services. They sent out a doctor who gave me some terrible concoction, foul tasting but it enabled me to get some easier breathing and eventually some sleep.

So as Jerry says I am alive and well and that is good. There is no doubt whatsoever that when you face the alternative, I hope you never have to, life is good. This morning the air tastes marvellous and the view from my study window looks like it has never looked before.

There is a parable story of the monk who spent years seeking to find meaning in his life. He was so sure that if he found the right person he would find the meaning of existence. So he journeyed miles and years, all the time seeking wise sages to question and learn from. One day he was crossing a dangerous river. Trusting in the boatman, he lay down in the boat.

Then a strange thing happened. He saw a corpse in the water floating towards him. As it got nearer he started to see the face of the floating corpse. He was shocked to see it was himself.

At this stage the boatman shook him and said, “We have arrived.” The monk had indeed arrived at the end of his quest. He had discovered that life is so precious it has to be lived not wasted in foolish quests and meaningless pursuits.



I hope this blog today does not sound depressing. I for one feel alive and life is marvellous. My second task, writing this being my first, is to go try and catch some of the lost sleep. So much for me learning lessons, “look to yourself blind fool.”

I hope you all have a wonderful creative day.

This blog is linked to my other where I discuss the artwork on here.  Archie