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STORYTIME
TAPESTRY
The Newsletter
devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world
Jan 29, 2006
Today's Queue Stories
~**~**~**~
IT??™S GOOD FOR
THE SOUL
By:
Joseph J. Mazzella
"It??™s good for the soul." That is a something that we have all heard
in our lives. I myself love doing things that are good for the soul. Nothing
brings you joy any quicker and nothing makes you feel more alive than doing
good things for your soul and for the souls around you. Here then is a short
list of some of the things that I think are good for the soul.
Loving God, loving yourself, and loving others is good for the soul. Giving
thanks to God and praying to God everyday is good for the soul. Spending some
quiet time out in nature is good for the soul. Laughing, singing, and dancing
are good for the soul. Handing out smiles, giving out hugs, and sharing kind
words are all good for the soul. Loving and adopting an animal is good for the
soul. Doing good things for others without asking for or expecting anything in
return is good for the soul. Thinking positive, uplifting, and joyous thoughts
is good for the soul. Saying cheerful things, doing helpful acts, and living a
kind and generous life are good for the soul. Doing work that makes the world a
better place and bringing all the joy within you to that work are good for the soul.
Deciding that you will only feel bad when something bad happens and not worry
about it until then is good for the soul. Spending happy times with children
and the aged are both good for the soul. Listening to music, reading uplifting
books, and taking the time to watch the sun rise and set are all good for the
soul. Choosing love, joy, and oneness with God everyday of your life and then
sharing it with everyone everywhere are great for the soul.
May we all then always do things that are good for our souls and for the souls
of all those around us. May we all live the way that God meant for us to live
and love the way that God meant for us to love. May we all take great care of
our souls in this life and in the next.
Joseph J. Mazzella
joecool @ wirefire.com
Joe lives in West
Virginia with
his wife and three children. Various dogs and cats have adopted Joe and his
family for their own. Joe enjoys his family, beauty, love and hearing from his
email friends. Joe likes to take the time to smell the roses and enjoy the
beauty around him as he goes about his daily life.
~**~**~
FAITH
Gautami Tripathy
Climbing the slippery temple steps, with a prayer in her heart, Rama was
oblivious to the crowds around her. The peal of bells, the smell of incense
permeating the surroundings, set the ambience of the temple. It was a very old
temple built in the times of Cholas. Visited by thousands everyday. By those
who had faith as well as the skeptics. So walked Rama, jostled by the crowds,
some times pushed back. She went right on, not stopping or looking back.
How could she? She had to come here. Had been doing that for 60 days now. Never
ever missing any day. Her daughter, Krittika, was in the hospital, in coma for
more than 2 months. She was only 7 years old. Had been in that state
after a major accident on the highway, while going to UP from Delhi. Lost so much
blood. Had a clot in her brain. Rama had lost her son, Rohan, (4 years)
and Husband, Shekhar, in that accident. Doctors were not sure about the little
girl recovering either. When all is lost, Faith is
regained. Rama held on to that for her daughter's
sake.
She reached the sanctum sanctorum, offered her
prayers, bowed in obeisance. Turned back. She felt someone pulling her sari.
Looked over. Saw a small boy. He had a sweet cherubic face and reminded her of
her son. Lost in the worry for her daughter, she had not been able to grieve
for all that was gone from her life. Her husband and son. But now looking at
that boy, she felt tears in her eyes. Her grief poured out.
She bent down and held that boy in her arms and cried her heart out. And the
boy too reached out and with his tiny arms held on to her, comforting her,
letting her hold him. So they were thus for sometime.
Rama realized after sometime that the boy's parents must
have been missing him. Asked him about them. He pointed towards a pillar,
without saying a word. She could not see anyone but the temple was crowded.
Before she could ask anything, he was lost somewhere
behind that massive pillar.
She went to the hospital, straight from the temple.
Found her mother-in-law smiling after a long time. She looked askance. "
Krittika made some movements."
Rohini, her mother-in-law said. " The doctors are
saying she might just recover." Rama did not know what to say. Just
held on to Rohini. Looked at her daughter. She knew her in-laws had lost so
much but they were there to comfort her, not leaving her or Krittika's side.
When she went to temple next day, she searched for that boy, found him, held
him talked to him. She had not done that for sometime now. Withdrawn into herself.
Her daughter was showing signs of recovery, though it was very slow. But now
Rama was not as withdrawn as before. She went on praying, looked out for that
boy, related with him. But whenever she asked about his parents, he just smiled
and pointed behind the pillars. She did not give it much thought. So it
went on for sometime.
Krittika had regained consciousness. Was responding to treatment. The doctors
were elated by this turn of events. They talked about miracle. Along with treatment
and faith, Krittika was on her way to full recovery. And the day soon came,
when she was to be discharged from hospital.
Rama as usual went to the Temple. After
offering her prayers, she looked out for that boy. Could not see him anywhere.
She was desperate to see him. After all he had given her solace and restored
all the love in her heart when she had needed it the most. He was nowhere to be
seen.
She went behind the pillar. There was nothing there. Only a wall, which was not
from the Chola period. Appeared recently built. She asked around. The oldest
Pujari of the temple came out. He smiled sadly after she told him about the
boy, describing him. He told her, that the boy was dead for 40 years. Fell down
from behind the same pillar. But the Pujari said that he had never seen the boy
since that day. But those who needed healing.....and belief....and
faith......saw him as did Rama.
Was he a ghost? Belief? Faith? Own self? Or
everything together....
(c)2005 Gautami S Tripathy
e-mail:s_gautami@yahoo.com
http://firmlyrooted.blogspot.com
~**~**~
Darkness, Light, And Being Strong
Christina Hymes
People think that my darkness is everyone's light or something along the lines of
that. But where then is my light? My poetry and my family. That should be
enough right? No, I am not a materialistic person. I could live in a no bedroom
apartment on a cot, with no television and no light; and still be satisfied.
But I still haven't found the light. That one thing that drives me. The person I
want to be when college (if I ever make it through it) will end.
For six years, I have been suffering the darkness. When I am in it I am living,
no, I am not living. I am dead inside. Brain clumped with rotten milk in its
corners. I don't even want to dump the clumps down the drain. I want the rotten
smell lingering in my nostrils. When I am in the darkness it is all I know. I
used to say that's all I am, Darkness.
I have
come to realize how much more I really am through talking with those who know
the real me. I love life, I really do. Children playing outside my apartment,
no matter how much they scream, I can't help but peer down from my balcony and
laugh. But then I remember my childhood and all that joy fades into darkness. I
love the sunrises but I also know that it is the start of a long
day and long night. The sun sets in glory ready for a nights rest and I struggle
just to get sleep. I know night has come. The darkness of the night.
When I
lay in bed and all the thoughts run around me in circles and I can't get them
to stop. It is almost as if I entered a world through a hidden door and I can't
find my way out.
Despite all these dark and light battles I have learned the true meaning of being
strong. Strong does not mean you can carry on many projects and still accomplish
them. To be strong means you can overcome obstacles, recognize your problems,
embrace them, and then solve them. Being strong mean smiling and putting up a
fight. To be strong you must be determined to find that light and
never let it go. I have found the light, it is those I love and my goodness, that
drives me to find whatever it is that, will provide my long term happiness.
Christina Hymes
CDRC Marketing Assistant
hymc0001@unf.edu
Writers Feedback
I
loved Pamela's story about Left Behind. Jene
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