Here's
a beautiful article from a story told by Alan Cohen in his book: Wisdom Of The
Heart. It is about love, friendship and forgiveness. If we are kind, tender
hearted and forgiving to one another just as God in Christ does to us, this
world will be a better place for all of us.
When
a woman in a certain
African tribe knows
she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness
with a few friends and together they pray and
meditate until they hear the song of the child.
They recognize that every soul has its own vibration
that expresses its unique flavor and purpose. When
the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. Then they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone
else.
When the child is born, the community gathers and sings the child's song to him
or her. Later, when the child enters education, the village gathers and chants
the child's song. When the child passes through the initiation to adulthood, the
people again come
together and sing. At the time of marriage, the person hears his or her song.
Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends
gather at the person's bed, just as they did at their birth, and they sing the
person to the next life.
To the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing
to the child. If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime
or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the center of the village
and the people in the community
form a circle around them. Then they sing the song to him/her.
The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not
punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your
own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.
A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have
forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or
dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel
ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty;
and your purpose when you are confused.
You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at
crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune
with yourself and when you are not. When you feel good, what you are doing
matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn't. In the end, we shall all
recognize our song and sing it well.
You may feel a little warily at the moment, but so have all the great singers.
Just keep singing and you'll find your way home.
A
real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. ~Walter
Winchell
Some
people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and
leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.
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Tim
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