Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

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March 7, 2006

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Today??™s Queue Stories

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The Crow
? Rajendra Prathan

The little hamlet of Ambala surrounded by green hills on all sides has just one source of livelihood, Lake Ambala. It is situated near Ramtek, fifty kilometers from Nagpur where I live (in India). Lord Rama is said to have stayed at Ramtek during his fourteen years of exile. A temple stands there in his honour.

Ramtek is also the place where Sanskrit poet Kalidasa wrote the epic Megha Doot. A beautiful structure has been built there, in memory of the great poet. Ramtek has other tourist attractions as well. It is an important Buddhist site. It is also a heaven for the archeologically inclined. Centuries old monasteries have been unearthed in the hills along with stone-circles that served as burial grounds in Stone Age. Nearby Nagardhan was the capital of Vakataka dynasty that ruled considerable part of India between third to sixth century AD.

However, people from surrounding districts visit Ambala not for tourism, pilgrimage or archaeological reasons. They go there to bid a final adieu to their dead. It is believed that the departed soul will attain Moksha (freedom from the cycle of rebirths); if one??™s mortal remains are immersed in the holy lake. Every day, hundreds of shraaddhas (rites) are performed at the lake. It is an important part of Hindu religion.

For centuries, the lake has been accumulating ashes and bones of the dead and hair of the living. Relatives of the dead have to get their head shaved before they can perform the shraaddha! As a result, the lake started resembling a cesspool and it became a worthy cause for the conservationists. Finally, about eight years ago, the administration decided to get the lake cleaned.

They floated tenders for the job. Contractors dredged the centuries old cocktail of ashes, bones and hair from the lake and dumped it on the shore. A year passed before it was removed and the shore cleaned again, because the tender had no provision for transporting the filth.

But meanwhile, birds in the region had feasted on the poisonous thing and they all died. This posed a serious problem not just for the conservationists but also for those who sought Moksha for their dead. The shraaddha is not complete until a crow consumes the offerings. This species of birds is attributed with special powers. They can carry the offerings into the next world to the dead, it is believed.

We know how voracious crows are. Yet, when it comes to shraadha offerings, a crow can be very finicky. It is said that a crow cannot touch the offering unless the departed soul is fully satisfied. I have witnessed this on several occasions when crows gathered around the offering but did not touch it until a close relative of the dead prayed and promised to do whatever the dead person would have wanted done.

So, the relatives of the dead had to go searching for crows, after they performed the shraaddha at Amabala. Ramtek, the nearest town is about ten kilometers away. There, a few crows could be found near the butcher's shop. I too had to do this when my father died. The crow had not touched the food until I had prayed and promised my dad that I will take good care of my mom.

I had to visit Ambala in October this year once again, for the tenth day rites for my mother. Mother was a very devout lady. She had shown exceptional control over her own death. While I was performing the rites, I heard a commotion. People had gathered outside and they were talking excitedly, gesturing towards roof of the shed under which the shraddha was going on.

Once again to Ramtek in search of a crow, I thought as I finished the rites and came out of the shed, carrying the crow??™s offering in my hands. Someone from the crowd now gestured at me and pointed at the roof. I looked up. A jet-black crow was perched atop the shed! He seemed quite unaffected by the commotion going on. His attention was riveted on me or rather on the plate of food in my hands.

Something gave way inside me. Could it be possible that??¦? I put the food down and stepped back. In one deft movement the crow descended on the food. Within seconds he had finished everything. I watched in awe as the feathered courier to the land of souls flew away with the last morsel in his beak.

When I regained composure, I heard everyone around me say just one thing. They had seen a crow at Ambala for the first time in seven years.

Rajendra Pradhan

E-Mail rajendrapradhan@gmail.com

Website www.rajendrapradhan.com

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~**~**~

? ~ Matters of the Heart ~

Joyce C. Lock

? ? ?  Being raised in a house full of girls, gift giving for guys left us idea poor.?  Shopping for dad was no exception.?  When asked what he needed, he would respond, "A million dollars and a barrel of spending money."?  Though humorous, not only was it an impossible gift to provide but, it was not even a need.

? ? ?  So, if I asked what your need is, could you tell me??  Would you know what it is?

? ? ?  Perhaps you long, not lust, for something and the feeling will not go away.?  Maybe your heart is aching or breaking.?  You might either be crying in your sleep or yourself to sleep.?  A situation could be holding you back; controlling, crushing, or compelling you.?  But whatever the effect; a void, emptiness, and longing remains that seems to have no hope or resolution ~ wherein your world will never totally otherwise be right.

? ? ?  Focusing on circumstances takes our eyes off God.?  Failing to separate it from need makes us prone to praying in our will instead of His (Ja. 4:3).

? ? ?  If in examining your heart, that every action and motive is pure, you find the need to really be necessary for your heart's survival; search to define the need.?  When the answer comes, you have found the need of your heart and God's will for you.

? ? ?  Man may have a problem with such a bold statement, but God does not.?  According to Jesus, it makes others suffer when they are told they can not come to Him.? 

? ? ?  God created us to have needs (not counting them as sinful or selfish).?  Without them, we would have no way of knowing our need for God or how much He loves us.

? ? ?  When we hurt, God hurts; as any loving parent would.?  Taking residence in the Christian heart, when our spirit is wounded the Spirit is wounded.?  Your heart can not be touched without it touching the heart of God!

? ? ?  Any time our heart is pure (I Jn. 3:21) and feels pulled, grabbed, tugged, or touched from within; God has placed it there.?  That is God and His desire, also.?  Keeping our heart in tune allows us to 'know' His perfect will, in all things (as the Spirit beareth witness and is truth, I Jn. 5:6); giving confidence to believe, receive, stand, take steps of faith, walk away, and trust God to meet the need (each according to His divine instruction).

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God is for YOU (Ez. 36:9), forever caring in matters of the heart (Pr. 4:23).

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?© by Joyce C. Lock

http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

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Poetry Section

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If I Was Never Born
Linda Ann Henry

If I was never born? 
I would never be able to see Jesus' face
If I was never born,
I would never be in God's grace
If I was never born
There would never be beautiful poems? to write
If I was never born.
The people I try to help

Would be out of my sight


I forgive those who give me pain and hurt

They try to crush my spirit, but it does not work
Some are cruel, some do not care
They try to bring me to the bottom of despair

But, The Lord,? my God, is on my side

I stay strong, He makes me wise
If I was never born

The earth could not be beautiful at dawn

The butterfly, I love so much

May not be there at all

I would not smell the flowers, or fly into the air

I could never be an angel
Because, I was never there
The loved ones I touched
And those who feel unloved
Would never have known me
And with my heart and soul
Never have been touched

If I was never born,
No laughter would I know
I could not see the raindrops fall
Or watch nature grow
I would never have met my mother
Who would have been unhappy? to the end

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I would never have known my sister,

She would have no one to confide in

And I would have no joy, bubbling from within

If I was never born,

Without life, there is no eternity

I would never have been, God knew

So He gave me my beginning

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If I was never born,

I would not know how to pray to The Lord above

Thank you, Dear Jesus, for keeping me in your heart

You never forgot me

There is a light from you around my head

"Dear Child" My blood for you I shed"

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Linda Ann Henry
Do you remember me
The people's poet
Linda11231949@aol.com

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The BURDEN OF THE CROSS

Linda Ann Henry

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Jesus may I follow you

As you take your cross and walk

May I wash your face with your blood

You take my sins at a great cost

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As you carry the cross

How much you love your people

Small as I am

The way is so long,

Yet you? do it because you are The Great "I AM"

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Can I stand at your side,

I never was so close to God

I am thankful, in His image I am made

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I feel your sorrow and your suffering

I need to be near you

My heart belongs to the King

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The way to the cross where you lay

With nails in your hands

I will be with you until it is finished

When you cry out

'Forgive them for they no not what they do"

My Dearest Jesus, please forgive me too

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Linda Ann Henry

Do you remember me

The people's poet

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~**~**~

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Readers Feedback

Bill Walker's tribute to Loren is awesome! Barb

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Prayer Requests and Updates

My prayers are with Hart, Jene

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I will add Hart to my prayer list and wish him well. Natalie

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Hart: Prayers coming from CT for a speedy recovery! aro

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The Booher Family prayers are with you.

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Roger, Paula, Brooke,? Jami and Quinn Loftin, Jakob Honeycutt,

Jordan Booher,? Brandy Jones,? Travis Booher, Rachael Alexander,

? and baby Citrine Booher.?  The "JOY" of the Lord is Our Strength!?  Finding reasons to laugh in the midst of trials and tribulations keep us strong.

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Father God we come to You in agreement with this family that Your Hand of? Great JOY, Healing, and Love,? ENGULF them at this time...In Jesus Name Amen.

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Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

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Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Goodier, Steve; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy; White Robert;

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Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer ??“ moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator

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