TO KNOW CHRIST
A dialogue between a recent convert and an unbelieving friend:
“So you have been converted to Christ? ”
“Yes. ”
“Then you must know a great deal about him. Tell me: what country was he born in? ”
“I don't know. ”
“What was his age when he died? ”
“I don't know. ”
“How many sermons did he preach? ”
“I don't know. ”
“You certainly know very little for a man who claims to be converted to Christ.
“You are right. I am ashamed at how little I know about him. But this much I know:
Three years ago I was a drunkard. I was in debt. My family was falling apart. My wife
arid children would dread my coming home each day. Now I have given up drink; we are
out of debt; ours is a happy home. All this Christ has done. This much I know of him! ”
To really know. That is, to be transformed by what one knows.
- one of the many short stories in the book "Song of the Bird" by Anthony de Mello.
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BAYAZID BREAKS THE RULE
Bayazid, the Moslem saint, would sometimes deliberately act against the outward
forms and rituals of Islam.
It once happened that, on his way back from Mecca, he stopped at the Iranian town of
Key. The townsfolk, who revered him, rushed to make him welcome and created a great
stir in the town. Bayazid, who was quite tired of this adulation, waited till he reached the
market place. There he bought a loaf of bread and began to munch it in full view of his
followers. It was a day of fasting in the month of Ramadan but Bayazid knew that his
journey justified the breaking of the law.
Not so his followers. They were so shocked at his behaviour that they promptly left
him and went back to their homes. Bayazid impishly remarked to a disciple, “Did you see
how the moment I did something contrary to their expectation, their veneration of me
vanished? ”
- one of the many short stories in the book "Song of the Bird" by Anthony de Mello.
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PRAY FOR A CONTENTED MIND
Said the Lord Vishnu to his devotee: “/ am weary of your never-ending petitions. I
shall grant you three requests. Make sure you choose them carefully because, having
granted them, I shall grant you nothing more. ” The elated devotee did not hesitate:
“Here is my first request, ” he said, “I want my wife to die so I can marry a better
woman. ” His wish was immediately granted.
But when friends and relatives gathered for the funeral and began to recall the virtues
of his wife, the devotee saw he had been hasty. So he asked the Lord to bring her back to
life.
That left him with just one petition. He was determined not to make a mistake this
time, for there would be no chance to change it. He consulted widely. Some advised him
to ask for immortality. But, what good was immortality, said others, if he did not have
good health? And health if he had no money? And money if he had no friends?
Years passed and he had still not made his choice: life or health or wealth or power or
love. Finally he said to the Lord, “Tell me what to ask for. ”
The Lord laughed when he saw the man ’s predicament, and said, “Ask to be content
no matter what you get. ”
- one of the many short stories in the book "Song of the Bird" by Anthony de Mello.
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DISCRIMINATION
I went right bock to the Religious Fair. This time I heard a speech of the High Priest
of the Balakri Religion. The Prophet Balakri, we were told, was the Messiah, born in the
fifth century Holy Land of Mesambia.
I had another exchange with God that night. “You ’re a great Discriminator, aren ’t
you, God? Why does the fifth century have to be the enlightened century and Mesambia
the holy land ? What’s wrong with my century? And my land? ”
To which God answered, “A feast day is holy because it shows that every day is holy.
And a sanctuary is holy because it indicates the holiness of every spot on earth. So the
Messiah is called the Son of God to show that everyone is divine. ”
- one of the many short stories in the book "Song of the Bird" by Anthony de Mello.
You may write me:
Arnold Mollaneda Jr. (a.k.a. John Henry)
Lot 20 Block 15 Phase III
NHA Bangkal, Talomo
Davao City 8000
Philippines
Visit my website:
http://john-henry-ii.simplesite.com/You may post an ad to my website. Send me the picture of your ad
and I will post it in my website. Send me your payment via Western Union.
my email address:
arnoldmollanedajr@gmail.com==============================================================================================
Quatrain 87 of Century II -
"Afterward there will come from the outermost countries
A German Prince, upon the golden throne:
The servitude and waters met,
The lady serves, this time no longer adored."
The "lady" is Maria Regina Hagad. I fell in love with her
in 1986 when we crossed paths outside of Alemar's Bookstore
(infront of Ateneo de Davao University). I'm no longer in love
with her now ("this time no longer adored").
