The door of death

A young minister started to attend to his exotic king, who used to quote wisdom phrases and do his best to rule the kingdom in a… funny way.

One of the things the king used to do was related to the execution of prisoners, an event that the young man had to regretfully y attend. It was always the same…

“You have been condemned for your atrocious acts against the kingdom.”, the king used to start. After some deliberation, he would finish his interference with this:

“Now, if you are brave, REALLY brave… My kingdom needs VERY COURAGEOUS people and I am willing to pardon you…”, the king would wait for the prisoner’s smile and close his speech like this, by approaching a simple door at a corner: “… if you cross this door. This door takes a person to the most horrible place of my kingdom, a place not even the best men of my army would dare to go! This door keeps us safe from a monster nobody has been able to defeat.”, this time the king would wait for the smile to vanish. “Now, my men will free you and if you want you can cross that door, or you will be executed.”

ALL OF THE PRISONERS would rather die than crossing the door.

One day, he found the king in a good mood and he decided was safe to ask the king the big question

“Your Majesty, I would like to ask you a question that has been haunting me since I have become your servant.”

“Of course, you may ask the question.”

After a brief hesitation, fearing for his own life, the young man asked: “What is behind the door?”

The king showed an enigmatic smile and start to walk very fast, followed by the young minister who realized soon where they were heading to: the execution field.

Now, the young man was almost crying with the fear the king would throw him out through the cursed door, but he was able to kept a certain calm face; they at last were both facing the door themselves.

“Open it!”, ordered the king. The young minister rather clumsily opened the door and…

…And he was amazed! It was an extremely beautiful piece of jungle there. He was able to identify some flowers and trees, and no sign of the monster.

When he looked back to the king, he was definitely smiling.

“Where is the monster, your Majesty?”

The king whispered something under his breath, looked at the eager eyes of his new minister and said without a smile: “The most horrible monster of all does not live in that jungle, but in the hearts and minds of people. It is called FEAR… If the prisoners didn’t keep that monster inside themselves, they would dare crossing the door and, as I promised, they will be free again. But that monster kills them before our executioners. Be careful, minister, and don’t feed your own monster! Just trust yourself and the fear will eventually die.”

The day the New Year did not come

And one day, the new year didn’t come…

 

Millions and millions of people were just waiting, but the new year didn’t come, causing havoc, chaos and distress all over the world.

December 32^nd was here! And 33^rd, 34^th… Well, it was quite strange and some people took the initiative to try and reset the calendar, but others wouldn’t accept, a new reason for polarization.

FBI, CIA, INTERPOL, ABIN and many more organizations started to look for the New Year, following clues, but without any success. And time was passing… until people has forgotten about the new year and accepted this extended year.

 

When all went calm, a very young person showed up somewhere. He was looking at the horizon, appreciating the sun setting again and enjoying the moment.

Even though he was supposed to be working, by replacing his old co-worker, he decided he wouldn’t do it. After all, what was the point? So many like him have come before and all of them ended very old, bitter and disillusioned. In fact, his decision was taken on the way to his office when he had the chance to see the one he was replacing…

No way! He wouldn’t allow himself to get drawn by that; after all, he was the symbol of novelty and change, the embodiment of hope and renovation.

But he sighed… he knew he couldn’t post-pone it forever.

He just wanted people to be more aware of his importance, to take advantage of his presence and to transform themselves.

After many hours, he closed his eyes already tired, but he took his things and he went to office.

Next day, the new year started… Maybe with hope this time.

 

Are you ready to change? What do you need to make this new year a year of hope, renovation and novelty?

A sacred bond

A wonderful festival is being celebrated: Raksha bandhan. In the world, thousands, maybe millions of sisters are meeting their brothers and tying the sacred bond to them; at Brahma Kumaris, millions will be tied a rakhi by the sisters, creating a sacred bond between them and God, the Protector. Here is a fictional story based on true events that shows the importance of this festival.

 

She was lost. She was fearful. She looked at her children and her heart hurt by thinking what would happen to them.

Her husband, the king, was dead and very soon the enemies will be at the gate of the palace. The things they will do to her and others are unspeakable.

She then decided. She called a faithful servant and asked her to cover herself as if she was part of their religion and penetrate the lines of the enemy. The queen could see the fear in her eyes and she felt horrible to do this, but there was no other way.

Very quickly she wrote a letter to the invader king, put it in a very beautiful envelope made of the fine fabric and added a bond. A simple and yet elegant bond.

She gave the young woman clear instructions about what to do and she saw her leaving her chamber, the palace and the lands that saw the beautiful love she experienced.

Tears came to her eyes, but this was not time for tears. She took her children and went along with the rest of the workers in the palace to the temple. To pray. To pledge. To hope.

It took a day or two, but eventually they came and she heard the soldiers fighting and trying to protect the palace, honorably but unsuccessfully. All this time they have been at the temple and when the battle ended, she realized all was over.

Some time passed by – hours, maybe? – and she heard very strong steps. Initially, many people, probably soldiers, were walking towards the temple, towards her and her family. Then she heard the steps of just one person who slowly and with determination walked towards the temple.

And the steps stopped. With dignity, the queen looked at the tall man at the threshold of the temple; he was still dirty by the battle, she could see the tiredness in his eyes and…

… The beautiful envelope in his hands…

… And the bond in his right wrist.

She prevented herself to smile, she just kept looking at him, as per protocol he was the new king and he was the one who should speak.

“My queen”, said the new king, “my sister.”

Her heart beat was so fast she was afraid it will be listened; she tightened her hand around her children, but the rest of people were puzzled.

Slowly and gracefully, she got up from her worshipping position. She approached the new king greeting him according to his religion and also her own religion. She and her family, and the workers of the palace – including the courageous young woman who took the letter and the bond to the king – would live the rest of their lives peacefully. The new king adopted the old queen as his own family, respecting her religion.

All because of that letter…

Dear King, I greet you from the depth of my heart at this time of sadness. As you are entering my home, I want to give you this gift, a bond, because from now on, you are my brother. And every year I will tie that same bond to you, to remind us both of this sacred relationship.

I was never granted a brother, so I am glad I have this opportunity. King, oh my King, if you accept this pledge, tie the bond on your wrist and save the life of this brave young lady who took this message to you.

Yours, the Queen.

 

HAPPY RAKSHA BANDHAN!

Christmas 4 – generating an impact

A day, a night, there was a dream.

Standing on a hill, by looking back, there was something interesting: a dry Christmas tree... For a moment, past Christmases came to the mind with his joy and energy, with children and the elderly, with gifts and promises of gifts. A smile emerged, in this strange dream, and the thought about how all these moments would have impacted a life. There was a memory of a strange gift that appeared on a desk, which made looking at co-workers differently...

On this hill, looking around there was this cute Christmas tree. Without wanting or thinking, the tree came closer. On each branch, there was a photo and it was a person present in life, but the photos had different shades: in very light tones, beloved people; in dark tones, people with whom there were serious problems, and in gray, photos of estranged people for a long time... Under the tree, some gifts were waiting to be opened and the thought was about how this would impact life in the long run. In present times, gifts are usually disposable, temporary, but... But the love present in each one... In the dream, the love of each gift appeared like a soft cloud sparkling sweetly. Yes, this would stay forever.

Then, looking forward: a large seed was waiting on the ground. It looked like an egg and it was easy to guess that it was the future Christmas. The future years of life. It wasn't green, it wasn't that pretty; It wasn't gray or ugly either. Just this seed on the ground, which touched the heart more than the other Christmas trees, because there was the understanding future was ugly or beautiful. Future was still being created. At this very moment.

This Christmas will have a phenomenal impact on the future Christmases we will live.

Again, a smile appeared on face and soon, to wake up, to live the present Christmas and to generate the future Christmas.

And you, how much will your present life impact your future Christmas?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas 1 – the meaning is…

“Party!”

“Food!”

“Gifts!”

The apparent argument between the three kids was in relation to an essay asked by their teacher on a very simple subject:

The meaning of Christmas is…

For Jessica, there was not a best party as the ones she held for Christmas, with her family and friends all together. But for Oscar, food was the reason he used to go to parties; the 15-year-old boy loved his grandma’s cooking.

Joey had shinning eyes when he talked about the gifts he received for last Christmas – all very expensive. For this year, he was expecting to receive a surprise…

While walking, they met their classmate, Omar, who was with his little siblings. They all knew his family’s financial situation was not the best, but Jessica couldn’t refrain to ask him what he thought of Christmas.

He looked at them very surprised with the question, although he had to do the same essay as them, but he responded very firmly, and a little upset: “Work.” And he left.

For some reason, the three stopped talking and they walked slower than before to their houses. The first one to take leave from them was Jessica who could only think of Omar, working during this time, since he did not have both parents. She liked drawing and she did a beautiful portrait of Omar with both parents and siblings, playing very gladly with a Christmas tree at the background.

Then it was time for Oscar to take leave; as always, they were waiting for him with a big lunch, but for some reason, he couldn’t eat. After lunch was over, he went to his mother and asked if he could take food to someone he knew…

Joey did not greet any of his parents, since he entered his house through his secret door (he jumped his bedroom window)! He opened his wardrobe in a very fast way, got lots of things and start to prepare boxes. His parents came at that moment and after learning what he was doing, they decided to help him and do the same in their own bedrooms. It took them some time and eventually they filled their car with many boxes. And they left.

The first to arrive was Oscar who rang the bell. Omar’s mother opened the door with an inquisitive but kind face. By his side, Oscar’s mother was carrying a trolley full of containers and before his son said anything she mumbled about some left-over and if she would like to have those. Without waiting for an answer, she took the woman’s hand and both went to their kitchen, leaving Omar alone with Oscar.

“Tha…” before Omar could finish the phrase, a big car parked just in front of his house. Joey and his parents get off it and started unloading a few boxes.

“Hey, Omar, Oscar, come and help. These are things that I am sure will be very useful.”

By now, Omar’s mother was at the door, extremely surprised and a little embarrassed. After an apologetic comment, Joey’s father commented on we are neighbors, don’t worry. And he filled their living room with so many boxes.

When Jessica and her aunt came by Omar’s house – her parents were out of town – she found all the three families enjoying themselves a lot. She presented her drawing to Omar and his mother, and extended a deep invitation to everyone there to be at their house on Christmas eve.

They solved the meaning of Christmas…

Have you?