Reflection for 2009

Love and Shout - Clarice Lispector One day, a teacher asked his students: -- Why do people yell at each other when they are annoyed? Everybody thought for a while -- Because we loose our cool, said one, this is why. -- But, why yell when the other person is next to you? Isn’t possible to talk in a soft voice? Why do we shout when you are angry? Each of the students gave the teacher an unsatisfactory response. Finally, the teacher explained: -- When two people are mad at each other, their hearts become very distant. In order to cover the distance between them, they feel they have to shout to be heard. The angrier they become, the louder they have to shout to hear each other to get through the great distance. -- Now, what happens when people are in love with each other? They don’t shout, but rather speak softly. Why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance separating them is very small. -- When their love increases, what happens? They don’t speak anymore, they whisper and their love brings them even closer. Finally, they don’t even need to talk, they look at each other and that’s all. And so it is the way two people behave when they love each other. When you argue, don’t let your heart drift away, don’t let words keep you distant because one day will come when the distance between you will be so great that you will not be able to find your way back. O Amor e o Grito - Clarice Lispector . Um dia um mestre perguntou aos seus discípulos: - Por que as pessoas gritam quando estão aborrecidas? Os homens pensaram por alguns momentos. - Porque perdemos a calma - disse um deles. - Por isso gritamos. - Mas, por que gritar quando a outra pessoa está ao teu lado? Não é possível falar-lhe em voz baixa? Por que gritas a uma pessoa quando estás aborrecido? Os homens deram algumas respostas, mas nenhuma delas satisfez o mestre. Finalmente ele explicou: - Quando duas pessoas estão aborrecidas, seus corações se afastam muito. Para cobrir esta distância precisam gritar para poder escutar-se. Quanto mais aborrecidas estejam, mais forte terão que gritar para se escutar um ao outro através desta grande distância. Em seguida perguntou: - O que sucede quando duas pessoas se enamoram? Elas não gritam, mas se falam suavemente. Por quê? Porque seus corações estão muito perto. A distância entre elas é pequena. Quando se enamoram, acontece mais alguma coisa? Notem que quase não falam, somente sussurram, e ficam cada vez mais perto do seu amor. Finalmente, não necessitam sequer sussurrar, somente se olham e isto é tudo. Assim é quando duas pessoas que se amam estão próximas. Portanto, quando discutirem, não deixem que seus corações se afastem, não digam palavras que os distanciem mais. Chegará um dia em que a distância será tanta que não mais encontrarão o caminho de volta.

Spunky the Miracle Dog

Photo from Google. Borrowed for resemblance with Spunky

This true story is dedicated to my daughter Giselle.
Posted by Jean-Louis @  http://thelightseed.blogspot.com
 
This is the amazing story of a little dog named Spunky who belonged to a friend of ours.

 
At that time, my 2 children and I had moved to Hendersonville and had gotten acquainted with Spunky. Giselle, my daughter, was particularly fond of Spunky. One day the little dog disappeared and in spite of all that we did to find her whereabouts, our search was unsuccessful.

About 9 months after her disappearance, my 2 children and I were invited for dinner at our friend’s house. Around the dinner table, ready to start, I suggested that each one say a little prayer of thanks for God’s blessings. Then came my daughter Giselle’s turn. She was only 8 years old at the time. She just whispered this simple unexpected prayer from her heart: “Heavenly Father, I really miss Spunky; could you please bring her back? Thank you for your love, amen!”

For a few seconds, my adult mind was musing silently: “Oh what a cute little prayer while at the same time doubting that the Lord was going to do anything. In my mind, her request was apparently for no less than a resurrection since Spunky has been missing for 9 months. As far as I knew, the little dog was dead. After all, my adult and skeptical reaction was natural.

Next morning, at 7:30 AM, I put the children on the school bus and left for work. As I was turning from the gravel driveway onto the main road, guess who I see in the middle of the road about 200 yards away? Spunky, together with 2 or 3 other wild dogs that were crossing the road!

Ouch! The Holy Spirit smote my heart in a strong, inescapable, convicting manner. His still small voice whispered a few words of rebuke: “You have been walking with me for so many years and you know my word so well. But your daughter, an 8 year old child asked me a blessing in faith and love and here is the answer right in front of your eyes. Jean-Louis, you are lacking in faith, a childlike faith like that of your daughter.”

Woe is me… once more I was in the dog house… being spanked by the Lord!

 
Right then and there, I had to confess my lack of faith and ask forgiveness for my cynical attitude and asked Him to grant me the faith of a child.

This couldn’t have just happened by coincidence. After all our human efforts, we couldn’t find Spunky, but God is attentive to respond to the call of a small child, even to the arranging of what seemed an impossible circumstance. He knew exactly where Spunky was and guided her steps in my path precisely at the moment I was leaving for work. A few seconds before or after and I would have missed her because the pack of dogs were running across the road. Can you imagine?

Spunky looked skinny and mangy. Her fur was missing large clumps of hair and was full of fleas. She acted as if she didn’t recognize me. Still under the effect of the amazing surprise, I took her back to our friend’s house. After several weeks of treatment and care, she regained her good health, a normal weight and her happy, spunky disposition.

 
You can imagine the joy we felt and the gratitude towards our Good Shepherd who cares not only about His lost sheep but also about their lost dog!