the road less travelled

The  concept for this anecdote was sent to me by someone very close to my heart – my sister – Vera. She is a remarkable woman, who was dealt an extremely difficult hand in life. Vera surmounted much hardship and walks life with courage and faith in a benevolent universe. She’s a ‘no-shit-Sherlock’, tough love, kinda gal. Vera is blessed with a wicked sense of humour and a heart of gold. Her earthy warmth, kindness, sense of fun and simplicity of spirit shine through whenever we chat on Skype. With Vera, what you see really is what you get! She has befriended and generously empowered many of life’s wounded souls. When I was a child, my sister Vera was my heroine. She frequently stood between me and trouble. At times in my defense, to protect me, I remember Vera taking the fall. When I think of her, I’m reminded of an anonymous quote: There are only 3 things in life that count:  1. Kindness    2. Kindness.    3. Kindness
Life’s a Journey:  Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses grazing near the trees. From a distance, they look like any other horses. However, if you take a closer look and wait a while, you may learn a thing or two. The one horse is blind – nevertheless the owner has chosen to provide a good home for him. Listen carefully, you will hear the sound of a bell. That’s the other horse in the field – a guide horse. Attached to the guide horse is the small bell that occasionally tinkles, signalling the blind horse where the guide horse is, so he can follow. Stand and watch these two horses for a while. Notice how the guide horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse. Observe, the blind horse listens for the bell and walks over to the guide horse, trusting that he will be safe. When the guide horse returns to the barn shelter at night, he stops occasionally and looks back. He seems to be checking on the blind horse and his progress. Like the blind horse in the pasture, despite our imperfections, problems and failings we are not discarded. Sometimes we are ‘the blind’, guided by the tinkling bell (words/actions of those who enter our lives, gifted us as our guide in times of need). At other times we’re ‘the guide’, reaching out to others in need – offering skill, a charitable attitude or kind words and actions.
Ring your bell with an open heart
Listen for the guide’s bell
Be gracious – resist snap judgements
Everyone you meet has inner struggles
Battles each persistently wages
Live simply – love generously
Care deeply – speak and act kindly
We all walk this earth and our individual path by faith and grace – not by sight alone