Thursday, December 27, 2007

Happy New Year

I was reading Paulo Coelho's book "Like the flowing river" - an excellent book on thoughts and reflections that I would recommend to everyone to read. If you've already read the book you'll know what I mean. Anyway, I came across a number of amazing stories but here is a short one I want to share from memory:

The story of the piece of coal

A man used to go to church regularly every Sunday but after some time started feeling bored that the sermons added nothing new to his life and there was a lot of repetition. So he stopped going. One day the pastor decided to pay the man a visit. Feeling awkward, the man tried to think up of a proper excuse to tell the pastor if the subject came up. He didn't exactly want to tell him "i stopped going to church because you're boring!" When the pastor arrived, the man tried to make conversation with him but all the pastor did was stare into the fireplace at the pieces of coal that kept the fire alight. He tried numerous times to start up conversation with him in vain. After quite a while of silence, the pastor picked up a piece of log lying on the side and used it to shift a piece of burning coal to the outside of the fire. The man watched as the piece of coal instantly started to lose it's brightness and warmth. It slowly turned into a cold and dark piece of coal. Fearing that the piece of coal would be extinguished, he quickly shifted it back into the fire so that it would continue to burn. At that point the pastor got up to leave and bid the man goodnight. The man thanked him and that's when the pastor first spoke. He said, 'no matter how bright and alight a piece of coal is when in the company of other pieces of coal that keep the fire burning, it will always turn dark and cold when left alone - see you at church next sunday!' and left. Ends.

Reading this story made me realise instantly the importance of good company and good friends!! No matter how boring or how mundane, it's good company and good friends that keeps those moments of darkness that strike us away and keep us going!

May you all enjoy good company and good friends. Happy new year!!!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

hello!
I'm a big Paulo Coelho's fan and I don't know if you heard about his blog
http://www.paulocoelhoblog.com
I've started as a fan and now I'm collaborating with him and thought that you would like to enter his universe.
Check the blog.
if you want, or subscribe to his newsletter
http://www.warriorofthelight.com/engl/index.html
You'll see a community of warriors of light sharing ideas, dreams and most importantly following their personal legend.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

A Warrior of Light needs both patience and speed. ( Manual of the Warrior of Light)

Merry Christmas!

Aart

Watermark said...

Thanks Aart! I didn't know about the blog!!! I've subscribed now and have bookmarked it too!