Archive for December, 2008
Blessing the Poor - A Holiday Story
This story is based on a legend. I hope you enjoy my version.
A millennium or so ago, a good man who happened to be the king of Bohemia uncharacteristically rose late the day after Christmas. But his Christmas evening was like most others as he often devoted his time to concerns outside of his worldly kingdom.
The day was unusually quiet as most of his servants were given the day to themselves. The king spent his time in deep introspection and prayer. With great promise, the day began with golden rays of the sun sparkling on the newly fallen snow from Christmas night. But with each hour, the day grew bleaker and the sky became gray. More snow fell. His chamber, though, was warm as his page made frequent visits to stoke the fire giving life to the failing embers.
The good king told his page, all of thirteen years of age, to rest by the fire he cared for and to keep him company.
“Why do you tend to me when I have declared this day a time for rest and renewal?”
“Why Sire, my faithfulness to you gives me comfort,” said the page.
“You are not like the others,” said the good king.
“You are a righteous man–forgive me, a righteous king, and I am where I should be as I am calmed by your spirit. I see what you do.”
“And I see what you do,” said the king.
The winds picked up in a menacing way and its howl was chilling. Coming out of his meditation, the king would peer toward the window. The page slept curled in a ball on a bed of hay in front of the meager fire. The room was becoming dark as the beams of a full moon filled the room.
The erratic winds were laced with the sound of crunching snow just outside the walls. The king walked to the window. He first looked to the clearing sky and saw a well defined illuminated heavenly body that gave light. He then looked down and saw a fellow man. He summoned his page.
“Page, do you know this man? Who might he be?”
“Sire he is a mere peasant gathering the twigs and branches to keep his family warm. He is a good man whom I met. He is from my village.”
“Where is his dwelling?” the king asked.
“He lives near the foot of the hills near St. Agnes’ fountain. It is a good league from here,” said the page.
The king stroking his beard thought out loud, “that is an hour by foot on a good day.”
Spinning on his heel, he turned and looked in the eyes of the page. “Bring me meats and bring me wine. Gather pine logs too. Tonight, you and I will see him dine.” His eyes gleamed and with a smile on his face, the page heard the king’s charge and began to assemble the gifts.
They both loaded sacks of meats, breads, pine logs and a small gift and strapped them to their backs. They entered into the night’s foul cry. The wind was stiff and the snow was clad by an icy crust befriending the moon giving a glow but giving struggle to any traveler. The wind tore at the bare-faced page as he pulled his collar up for warmth.
An hour into their journey, the boy called out, “Sire, the moon now hides and the wind is wicked. I am afraid. My body is paralyzed with cold and can go no further. Continue on your journey and leave me.”
”This is your journey too my son.”
With love in his heart, his words lifted the boy.
“Mark my footsteps, my good boy, and tread them ever boldly. Step in my footprints and you’ll find that winter’s rage diminishes. As you take a step you will find your soul will warm; there is nothing you cannot do. Remember, son, just where we’re headed.”
Without a hint of question, the page trod where the king’s newly formed steps were made. Heat came from the very prints where the man had been.
Not long after, they reached the peasants home, and shared their bounty and shared their spirit. But on the journey home the next morning, the king asked the young man, “did you defeat the cold because of my nobility and wealth?”
Without thought, the boy spoke up, “I don’t think so.”
“Why then?’
“Because I followed you.”
“No, my young page. We followed each other. Remember, those like you who bless the poor, shall too find blessings.”
Based on the legend of Good King Wenceslas
Edward G. Kardos
December 21, 2008
Posted on Sunday, December 21st, 2008 | No Comments »
Meeting Governor Kaine
Governor of Virginia, Tim Kaine, had us by the mansion a few weeks ago to celebrate the Holiday Season. Well, he opened the Governor’s Mansion to the community but, nevertheless, my wife, two of our daughters and I enjoyed being greeted by his staff as we walked through the huge doorway.
As my daughters, all of eight years old, approached the room where the Governor and his wife were welcoming guests, I asked my twin girls if they would like to meet the Governor. Instantly, our more outgoing child of the two was shocked by the very thought. She was emphatic that she had no interest in meeting him.
I then realized she didn’t know anything about a Governor or why one would want to meet one.
With the host in sight and an earshot away, I gave her a twenty second lesson. I explained the best I could, the importance of the role of Governor in our state. Rather unfazed with the magnitude of the position description, she told me she was ready to meet him.
I listened to her that night.
We met Tim.
Posted on Friday, December 19th, 2008 | No Comments »
What Is Zen?
Much to my delight, I am receiving inspiring questions about the essence of my new book. Since Zen Master Next Door: Parables for Enlightened Everyday Living will be available in February, I’m thrilled to see this genuine interest.
My Zen parables reflect a spirit of Zen centered in experiences and introspection or meditation. The word “introspection” is something that everyone should understand but, conversely, the word “meditation” may be misunderstood.
But Zen can be, and is, interpreted as so much more. The stories, or parables, in my book emphasize our experiences and how they are integrated in our very being. The themes are not about the teaching of theory or religious doctrine. My interpretation of Zen stems from its most basic origin.
But we are more than our experiences. To live life means to experience the world and each other in many ways, but we generally do not spend time engaged in introspection, and only a few spend time in meditation. My hope is that a reader may, first, enjoy a vast array of themes that we as a caring global community find important. Secondly, I must believe that the reader will identify with numerous well developed characters who, from their experiences, recognize a personal awakening and become more enlightened individuals. Perhaps not with a capital E, but kind of enlightenment that crystallizes a moment and renders further understanding.
These parables are fiction but are based in truth. The truth? What truths? One truth I believe is important is that we should treat others as we would want to be treated. Like many, I believe we all want peace and that we must be, and have to be, a compassionate people. And shouldn’t we take the time to be present in our own lives? After all, it is our life. This is something that we struggle with in our multi-tasking existence. Moreover, the innocence of children, to use the broadest definition possible, should be our ultimate concern. When we see life like a child, we may actually see life.
I claim to be anything but an expert, and claim, only, to be a writer of fiction
Posted on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 | No Comments »
Are You Ready?
If opportunity calls, are you ready to answer?
Not a major news story, but you may remember hearing about Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Republican congresswoman who thought she was being “punked” and hung up, twice, on President-elect, Barack Obama. I don’t know her and don’t even know about her, but I think her actions reflect how we are these days. Maybe not everyone, but like many of us.
Sarah Palin experienced a hoax by radio DJs a few months ago and apparently this sort of thing happens to politicians. But my question is, are we now of the mindset that we have to question everything? Are we overly suspicious when confronted with a tinge of doubt? Is paranoia now commonplace? This is the direction our brains have headed since 9/11, but that is for another article.
I may be over analyzing, but we simply miss out on so much because we are looking for the problem. We seem to be searching for big problems and small ones. Sometimes so small a problem they just don’t matter in the scheme of things, but we get hung up anyway. I learned from good country folk that if we just look for the bad we can’t see the good. Our eyes and brains can only focus on one thing at a time. I’m talking about most of us. Our ego may be wrapped so tightly around our thoughts and feelings that our true self loses out. But maybe that’s just me.
Barack Obama did something most world leaders and other big wigs don’t do and that is to go directly to the source. That’s a good thing– that’s a change. He didn’t set up a scheduled call; he was spontaneous. Not exactly like getting three wishes, the congresswoman got three chances. But do we usually get that many opportunities to make good on poor decisions or mistakes, whether they be intentional or not?
If opportunity calls, are you ready to answer?
Posted on Friday, December 5th, 2008 | No Comments »