David Morse — American missionary to India — became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau’s cabin reading to him from the Bible, and explaining to him God’s way of salvation.

Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Savior — he would shake his head and reply, “Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner — I would feel like a pauper there…like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud — but I want to deserve, I want to earn my place in heaven — and so I am going to work for it.”

Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau’s decision, and so quite a few years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there.

“Come in, dear friend,” said Morse.

“No,” said the pearl-diver. “I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time — I have something to show you. Please do not say ‘No’.”

“Of course I’ll come,” replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: “In a week’s time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi — and I am going there on my knees.”

“Man, you are crazy! It’s nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay.”

“No, I must get to Delhi,” affirmed Rambhau, “and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet — for it will purchase heaven for me!”

“Rambhau, my friend — you can’t. How can I bear you to do it — when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you!”

But the old man could not be moved. “You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want — you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss…I must go to Delhi!”

Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him — where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.

Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small but heavy English strongbox. “I have had this box for years,” said he, “and I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it, Sahib Morse. I once had a son…”

“A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never before said a word about him!”

“No, Sahib, I couldn’t.” Even as he spoke the diver’s eyes were moistened.

“Now I must tell you, for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return? My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who ever sought for pearls.

What joy he brought to me! Most pearls, as you know, have some defect or blemish only the expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the ‘perfect’ pearl — one beyond all that was ever found. One day he found it! But even when he saw it — he had been under water too long… That pearl cost him his life, for he died soon after.”

The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. “All these years,” he continued, “I have kept this pearl — but now I am going, not to return, and to you, my best friend — I am giving my pearl.”

The old man worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary.

It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and glowed with a luster and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.

For a moment the missionary was speechless and gazed with awe. “Rambhau! What a pearl!”

“That pearl, Sahib, is perfect,” replied the Indian quietly. The missionary looked up quickly with a new thought: Was not this the very opportunity and occasion he had prayed for — to make Rambhau understand the value of Christ’s sacrifice? So he said, designedly, “Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I would give you ten thousand dollars for it.”

“Sahib! What do you mean?”

“Well, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more — I will work for it.”

“Sahib,” said Rambhau, stiffening his whole body, “this pearl is beyond price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift.”

“No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it…”

The old pearl-diver was stunned. “You don’t understand at all, Sahib. Don’t you see. My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn’t sell it for any money. Its worth is in the life-blood of my son. I cannot sell this — but I can give it to you. Just accept it in token of the love I bear you.”

The missionary was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. “Rambhau,” he said in a low voice, “don’t you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time.”

The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary, and slowly, slowly he began to understand. “God is offering you salvation as a free gift,” said the missionary. “It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. Millions of dollars are too little. No man on earth could earn it. His life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life-blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to accept it as a token of God’s love for you — a sinner.

“Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God that I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won’t you accept God’s great gift of heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?”

Great tears were now rolling down the cheeks of the old man. The veil was beginning to lift. “Sahib, I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for the last two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation!”

Submitted by: Josh

Music: ‘solitude’ © Margi Harrell

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the famous 19th-century poet and artist, was once approached by an elderly man. The old fellow had some sketches and drawings that he wanted Rossetti to look at and tell him if they were any good, or if they at least showed potential talent.

Rossetti looked them over carefully. After the first few, he knew that they were worthless, showing not the least sign of artistic talent. But Rossetti was a kind man, and he told the elderly man as gently as possible that the pictures were without much value and showed little talent. He was sorry, but he could not lie to the man.

The visitor was disappointed, but seemed to expect Rossetti’s judgment. He then apologized for taking up Rossetti?s time, but would he just look at a few more drawings – these done by a young art student?

Rossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately became enthusiastic over the talent they revealed. “These,” he said, “oh, these are good. This young student has great talent. He should be given every help and encouragement in his career as an artist. He has a great future if he will work hard and stick to it.”

Rossetti could see that the old fellow was deeply moved. “Who is this fine young artist?” he asked. “Your son?”

“No,” said the old man sadly. “It is me – 40 years ago. If only I had heard your praise then! For you see, I got discouraged and gave up – too soon.”

Submitted by: Evita


Music: ‘Dreams’ © Margi Harrell

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick,
and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing
and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it
and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw how you handled your responsibilities,
even when you didn’t feel good
and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I learned most of life’s lessons that
I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.”

Submitted by: Thomas


Music: ‘Where I Belong’ © Bruce Deboer

Many of us, when we look at ourselves, tend to feel lonely and bored. Why? It is because we have not seen the deeper layers of
our self.

We look at ourselves only in the realm of the mind, or at the level of the body and never look at the deeper layers. If you don’t look at the deeper layers of yourself, you find yourself empty and shallow and experience a sense of loneliness. When you experience a sense of loneliness, you find that your life is utterly boring.

However, if you are meditative with reference to your self, you will see that your body, mind and intellect are the periphery of your personality. In the deeper layers of yourself, there is the pure Saakshi Chaitanya.

When you understand the deeper layers of yourself, you will become content and blissful. In that state you experience not loneliness, but aloneness. And the moment you start experiencing aloneness you will find that the quality of your life becomes very different. Therefore, with reference to your own self, learn to be more meditative. What does it mean, to be meditative?

If you are not meditative, you will find your life to be in bondage, in shackles; the more you are meditative with reference to your self, the more will be the freedom of your life, the more liberated your life will be. Therefore, being non-meditative to one’s self leads to bandhana or bondage, whereas meditativeness with reference to one’s self leads to a state of nirvana or kaivalya or moksha . Therefore, it is a great responsibility on us, whether we are in grihasthashram or sanyasashram , to learn to be more meditative with reference to our self.

A king was looking for a suitable candidate for the post of prime minister. After several tests, three people were short-listed. The next day was the final test. There was a rumor that the king had a magic lock, created by a clever craftsman, which can be opened only with great skill and knowledge. And whoever unlocked it, would be the prime minister.

Hearing the rumor, two of the selected candidates acquired a lot of books on locks. They spent the whole night going through the mathematical equations relating to locks. The third person was very relaxed. The other two commented to each other that this fellow was a fool. Instead of making the best use of the time he is relaxing! The next morning, all three were taken to the palace. And the rumor turned out to be true. The king said whoever unlocks the lock created by a master craftsman will be prime minister.

These two people felt very happy thinking that it was good that they had referred to many books and then they went and looked at the lock. Once again they returned to the books and started referring to them to find out a solution to the problem, whereas the third person, looking relaxed, went there and looked at the lock and pulled it, and to his surprise, it opened. In fact, it was not locked at all. The other two were still busy referring to the books.

In the meantime, the king announced that the third person had been selected as prime minister. The other two asked him, “You never referred to any book on locks, how did you unlock it?” And the king said, “The very first thing that a prime minister should do is that he should know whether the problem really exists or not, before trying to solve it.”

If you do not know whether the problem exists or not and if you try to solve it, the whole effort becomes futile. Here the problem was that the lock was not fastened. And these two persons assumed it was locked and with that assumption they tried to solve the problem. Therefore, they found that they had wasted their time.

We feel we are in bondage. We have to really start looking within. We’ll find that our fears are imaginary; we imagine that we are bound.

Submitted by: Jonhny

Music: ‘Dream’ © Margi Harrell

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn’t fail.
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much.
I said I didn’t care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you’re in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!

Submitted by: Jonhny

Music: ‘Dream’ © Margi Harrell

I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don’t have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn’t give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

Have a GREAT DAY! Unless you have other plans.

Submitted by: Jonhny

Music: ‘Heart Desire’ © Margi Harrell

1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.

2. Most people will be about as happy, as they decide to be.

3. Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.

4. Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.

5. Success stops when you do.

6. When your ship comes in, make sure you are willing to unload it.

7. You will never have it all together.

8. Life is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the trip!

9. The biggest lie on the planet When I get what I want I will be happy.

10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.

11. I’ve learned that ultimately , ‘takers’ lose and ‘givers’ win.

12. Life’s precious moments don’t have value, unless they are shared.

13. If you don’t start, it’s certain you won’t arrive.

14. We often fear the thing we want the most.

15. He or she who laughs – lasts.

16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.

17. Look for opportunities – not guarantees.

18. Life is what’s coming – not what was.

19. Success is getting up one more time.

20. Now is the most interesting time of all.

21. When things go wrong – don’t go with them.

Submitted by: Jerry S


Music: ‘For The Children Of The World’ © Yuko Ohigashi

Life’s hard to live and still people make it harder to live. Just living for right takes so much, that I wonder how people have time to do wrong, foolish things, to make life more complicated.

Everyday is a duty, one hundred things to do and think of, you have your family, your friends, your work, your home, your God, all to tend to in twenty four hours. You oversee cooking, cleaning, clothing. You have your daily prayer schedule or temple to go to, you have the needs of father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Children to tend to. No one day is like the other, many of the surprises are unwelcome.

We live each day working hard not knowing what tomorrow will bring. We have a life to live and to live it righteously takes a lot, each day. Morning to night is gone in no time. There is money to manage and just when you have managed to save the rare bit something unexpected comes along and you have to give it away.

You pay for your health, eat right, live right, spend to be healthy and then unexpectedly something small, something stupid comes up and big money goes, your days go. your whole schedule goes. Life is so unexpected. You just about have time to be with the ones you love and you live in that fragile stage because you never know when the ones you love will go. We are busy living hard lives and we don’t have choice but to live it.

And so far I have just dealt with the external requirements our Life demands. There are more important ones – the internal needs. We have so much to deal with everyday. Life by the time you are thirty is packed.

Disappointments, sad memories, regrets, past issues, people who went away, something is always on your mind. something is always tugging at our heart strings. We have to clear our old deeds of another life-time and we have to make sure we succeed in this because it is the main reason of our lives, we have to undo all the wrong we have done in this lifetime because then we never knew better, we have to come to terms with certain things of our life, let go of other things, we have to make peace with the war, we have to end wars and we have to live with us, the us that no one knows.

Life can be so difficult, it is for almost all. Yet we are blessed to able to go on for without the Blessing of God and His kingdom could we manage any of this? We have no control over our lives yet we live it., we have no weapons against diseases yet we go on not thinking about it, we have the old to take care of, the ill to look after, the additional difficult new twists and turns to manage our daily life. suddenly there can be a major change, suddenly there can be a major illness, suddenly there can be a death and it has happened to many. But we continue to live on. For, to live on righteously is all we are called to do.

Which is why I wonder how those who are not like us manage to live the reckless and careless lives? yes Life is struggle , hardship, sweat, work, and everything you don’t want to hear. this is Life and sooner we accept it, the better.

Life is difficult, our loved ones do fall ill, they will die someday, money is a hassle, everyday living does make demands, anything happens anytime, we don’t know anything. And the unnecessary trouble human add to our journey: deceptions, greed, backbiting, manipulations, hurt. What can we do??

Nothing, move away from what we can move away from and continue no matter what the distractions and disturbances to live righteously the way we have committed to. It is a tough road but it id our road.

We don’t want it easy, we only want goodness, honor, decency, the ability to fulfill our duties, claim our soul’s belongings, love who we love, live small, live well, live honestly. We have many like us on this path, they’ve made it, we will too. We have a duty towards Life and never mind the millions who make it easy by taking the unrighteous path, we will live here.

In my book of Life, really no matter what the difficulty, there is no other way to live Life than to live it with dignity and duty, Because that’s what then makes it our Life.

Submitted by: Jerry S

Music: ‘Dreams’ © Margi Harrell

You are strong…
when you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave…
when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are happy…
when you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.

You are loving…
when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise…
when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true…
when you admit there are times you fool yourself.

You are alive…
when tomorrow’s hope means more to you than yesterday’s mistake.

You are growing…
when you know what you are but not what you will become.

You are free…
when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.

You are honorable…
when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous…
when you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are humble…
when you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful…
when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.

You are merciful…
when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.

You are beautiful…
when you don’t need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich…
when you never need more than what you have.

You are you…
when you are at peace with who you are not.

Submitted by: Jimmy

Music: ‘Dreams’ © Margi Harrell

Rule One
Life is not fair; get used to it.

Rule Two
The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule Three
You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice president with car phone, until you earn both.

Rule Four
If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn’t have tenure.

Rule Five
Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.

Rule Six
If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault, so don’t whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule Seven
Before you were born, your parents weren’t as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rainforest from the parasites of your parents’ generation, try “delousing” the closet in your own room.

Rule Eight
Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades; they’ll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn’t bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule Nine
Life is not divided into semesters. You don’t get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

Rule Ten
Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule Eleven
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you’ll end up working for one.

Submitted by: Jimmy

Music: ‘Left Alone’ © Yuko Ohigashi