the "broken" cup

The cherry trees have bloomed, winter is here and the "new" year is almost at its end (strange that though every day was a new day and will be to its end, the year suddenly feels old). This is the festive season - Christmas and everyone is joining in. For the greater part of the people here, we will once again gather by the fireplace, around dinner tables with family and friends; we will once again walk the "old town" with its new look - adorned and with the sound of music in the air and the blazing horns of the traffic, melodious noise fusion at its best.  Yet all is solemn at the manger where the greater part of us will go, to revisit a story that's over two thousand years old and pay our respects (I imagine though, that the first "manger" night might not have been as solemn or dignified). What is the "manger" story all about? A touching scene of a baby with his parents and animals around? Of inquisitive shepherds who come to see what the...

I saw him once by the path running between the row of houses playing with his friends - a seller stones and leaves. The people passing by paid little attention to these little merchant and buyers of stones and leaves and they in turn did not bother the big ones. I guess all they wanted were "little customers" just like them who would know the worth and bargain for their "precious merchandise." They carried on their merry play in that narrow lane and perhaps till dark until they were called home. Then again there he was as I walked home through that lane, all by himself with a piece of wood for a sword battling imaginary foes. Slashing the bushes and the hitting the rocks he carried on his battle and reminded me of my own little battles in the backyard just like him. The lid of a tin-container was a "strong and mighty shield," a broad piece of wood was a "sword," a long piece of bamboo with a pointed end was a "lance." Bushes were cut...

If there should ever come a time when you need to turn away from the crowd and make a stand, for all its worth make that stand. Stand strong and make that stand but remember to turn away not because you do not like them, you know someone who has a bias against them, you are not in their group, you do not want them to succeed, you do not receive recognition, you are not given benefits, you are not consulted, you are neglected and perhaps for a lot more reasons. Some choose to make a stand for causes but sometimes perhaps for the wrong reasons - publicity stunts, hidden interests. Come a better opening some jump right into that chance even if it was something they could have stood against in the past days. So make a stand with all your heart, mind and strength because you know and understand that it is wrong, it is unfair, it is unjust, it is against the weak, it is not the truth. Stand strong, fight the cause,  and be wise and calm enough to be corrected for we may sometimes be...

He was just a boy on the bus, calling out to people to get on board. His eyes counted the empty seats and his voice called out for people to fill them up. I watched as he checked to see all the seats were taken and then he called out to the driver to start the bus. The trip to the town began and he came around collecting the fares - little hands gripping the bills and the coins inspecting the bills carefully and returning changes. He did it with ease, after all he was used to it. I couldn't but help think about this little boy as I watched him from my seat. Perhaps another of his age would have been delighted to go on such a ride. Another would have loved the sights of the "world" passing by but this boy kept his eyes on his little hands with the fares and the change. What might have been a delight to another was to him a routine. He will step down not because he has reached his destination but a stop to let people down and take in others. The youngest on board, he w...