Dear Reader:
Yesterday when I came across a parable that begins with a man sitting beside a river bank-my thoughts immediately took me to Mepkin Abbey-one of my favorite places to go and just let my thoughts free to ponder and float idly…like the Cooper River. ( title picture)
It is so easy to detach oneself from the busyness of daily life there and instead contemplate the real meaning of giving.
The name of this Indian parable is ” Rich Man and the Beggar.” The story begins with a man enjoying his quiet contemplation time in a beautiful river bank… until he is disturbed by a beggar.
The beggar yells excitedly that he had a dream that told him to go to the riverbank and find a man who had a precious stone for him. Was that him? If so… it would end his poverty forever.
Slowly the man pulled a large diamond out of his pocket… and without any hesitation handed the stone to the beggar. The beggar couldn’t believe his good fortune and quickly ran away before the other man changed his mind.
A year passed and the beggar,dressed in wealthy clothes, came looking for the anonymous benefactor.
The man still sitting in his favorite spot along the riverbank was enjoying the peaceful flow of water before him.
” Well… you have returned my friend… what has happened?”
” Many wonderful things, I have become wealthy, found a wife, built a home… I can do what I want, when I want, with whomever I want.”
” Then for what have you returned?” asked the man.
“Please… teach me whatever it is inside you that allowed you to give me that stone so freely. “
…………………………………….
As I grow older… the less I need or especially want any more… outside of good health for as long as possible… there is nothing I need than to just be with loved ones and share life’s thoughts with friends. Thoughts, these days, are my diamonds!
So until tomorrow… Giving away experience and wisdom freely through stories enhances my spirit of detachment-take any thought and use it to help you along your path.
” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
My natural precious ” gems.”
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
This is a great lesson. I feel this way now in my life… really trying to simplify, enjoying nature and take things slowly. I pray to God so much more than I ever have… Which in turn makes me so much calmer… It’s wonderful to finally realize all of the people and circumstances that I have no control over and then I can turn them over to God and not carry them as a burden anymore. 🌟💕
When we finally realize that we can only control the controllable…and the rest is in God’s most capable Hands…the center core of our being slows down ….bringing with it peace and serenity…oh what a beautiful gift that is! Think about you so often Lisa and praying that calmness and happiness fills your beautiful heart and soul going through this transition. Love you. Becky
Another thoughtful reading today and just two pictures. The latter prompt me to ask two questions. Firstly, I wonder about your beautiful birdbath fountain. We have one that is somewhat similar but with an overflow basin in the middle so that water constantly trickles out of this down into the main part of the basin where I have a collection of rocks and shells. This is solar powered and makes a lovely addition to our patio/deck. We so enjoy the sound of the trickling water and have heard that birds are attracted to moving water. But alas, this fountain birdbath has not yet attracted any birds! This is not just this year, but for at least five years! We have all kinds of feathered friends flocking to our feeders, but none visit this “bath” under one of our spreading Japanese maple trees. Anyone have any idea of why this might be?
The second question would be simpler….can you remind us of the name of the plant pictured? We have the same plant here in a red pot and today our son will be transplanting it for me. It came in trhis beauiful red, ceramic pot but with no drainage holes so I feel it needs a new home and then it might look more healthy once again. Right now those bright red “blossoms” are turning a darker red/brown colour which isn’t so pretty and some brown coming on the green leaves too.
Same here…have never seen a single bird at the fountain…whether it is on and flowing and or still waters while off…very strange. As far as the name of the plant on the decorative water can planter…it is Anthurium…sometimes called lipstick plant or flamingo flower. 🙂
Thanks, Becky! Both replies are helpful, though I guess we both need to discover the secret to attracting birds to our fountains. I’m just glad that our hummingbirds still buzz in and out to the feeder we have hanging in our other Japanese Maple tree.
My Anthurium is now replanted into a larger pot with holes for drainage so here’s hoping it will “bloom where it’s been planted” and flourish again with bright red flowers soon….