Week 4 Reading Diary: India

Hey beauties and gents, 

Silly Rabbit, Tricks are for Kids...

That's the first thing that came to mind after reading this particular story. The story of 

Bidpai: Poor Man, Rich Man, Young Man really stuck out to me because within each of the three mini stories, there were many life lessons that we should all try to keep in mind. 

This story reminds me of a quote by George Washington Carver, which states, "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."

That quote can be very powerful if you take the time to truly let it sink in. 

Some of the parts from each story that really stuck out to me are below. Click the link above if you want to read the pieces for yourself. As always, enjoy.(:

THE POOR MAN AND THE FLASK OF OIL 

A poor man received a flask of oil from his rick and kind neighbor. The poor man began to think of the things that he could do with this oil, in order to improve his living situation. "I can sell the oil, by 5 sheep, they breed more sheep, I'll find me a good wife, and we will have a son that we will love dearly!" 

- Now this is where it gets a little funky-

The man goes on to say, "if our son disobeys us, I'll punish him with this very rod in my hand," as he song the rod swiftly through the air.

IT WAS AT THE MOMENT, THE POOR MAN KNEW HE MESSED UP

The poor man ended up knocking the flask of oil from off the shelf, breaking it and spilling all of the contents. 

This story spoke to me by saying, malicious thoughts can turn your blessings into mere memories. The types of thoughts we have really can determine the future we have. 

THE RICH MAN AND THE BUNDLE OF WOOD

In the story of the rick man, he was so inconsiderate of the lives that people less fortunate than him lived. He demonstrated his lack of consideration by giving a poor woodsman only a fraction of the price for the wood he was selling. 

When a priest saw this treatment and called the rich man out for his wrong doing, the rich man said, "Why should I are about this poor man's life?"

That same night, the rich man's house burned from a fire started by the very wood the poor man sold to him.

Karma's a mean one, isn't it? The rich man is now as poor as the poorest in the town.

That stories pretty self explanatory.

THE YOUTH, THE HAWK, AND THE RAVEN 

This story basically discussed the woes that people experience at some point in time of their youth. A young boy is walking in the woods and sees a Hawk feeding a Raven that had fallen in his nest. The boy thought that the Raven was just so lazy and if that bird could be lazy and still be taken care of, so could he.

So he decided to stay in his house and wait for someone to come and take care of him. So he waited, and he waited, steadily growing weaker as the days went by. Finally, he realized that no one was going to come take care of him. 

Then finally, it dawned on him, he would have been so much better off if he imitated the Hawk instead of the Raven. This goes to show, that in life, there are roles that each person is meant to play. Some, the Raven, while others are meant to be the Hawk. 

Know your role and play it well. 

Alrighty, that's all, folks! 

-Bri. 

(Silly rabbit photo found here)

Storytelling Week 3, #InspirationalSONday Edition.

Hello There, Dearly Beloved!

Thanks so much for tuning into the first edition of #InspirationalSONday! So,  I am going to give you a little bit of background as to why I chose to feature inspirational posts, (which don't necessarily have to be posted on Sunday) just so you can feel like you're in the "know" of what's going on with the management around here. Here are the first things you should know about me, my name is Briana and I am a Christian, a believer of Jesus Christ and God above, and I attend church every Sunday faithfully. Now, me saying this doesn't make me any better than the next person, I am just as flawed and in need of improvement. With that being said, I receive small nuggets from the messages I receive each Sunday at church; what I like to call SoulFOOD. This food for the soul is what I use to get me through the day, and to reflect upon when I, or someone else,  needs it the most.

This #InspirationalSONday post will be discussing John the Baptist and Jesus and The Followers of Jesus. In each of these stories, coming from the second chapter of Mark, there is the continuation of the story of Jesus and the ways individuals were starting to see just what He was capable of. In the story of John the Baptist, we read about a wise, well respected man that knew that Jesus was coming and that  Jesus was greater and more  powerful than he could ever be. In the next story, there is the vision of Jesus traveling into a small town, and healing people of their ailments, both large and small. 

After reading these two stories and pulling out key points that stuck with me, I found myself interpreting the stories in a way that people living in today's world can understand. Too often we find ourselves looking down at others or sticking our nose up at things that may be going on in their lives, or simply looking down at the exterior, not understanding the interior that created it. Sometimes we find ourselves having that little thought in our minds saying, "great, that's one thing that puts me ahead of that person." Through all of these thoughts, does it ever dawn on us that this world God created and all of these people that Jesus bled and died for... is enough? That this world is big enough to have all of the success that each of us needs without tearing the other person down, or thinking that we're better than someone else. In the story of Jesus and his Followers, after healing so many people and being such a popular man in town, he still had the mind to show compassion and sit down and eat with the publicans and sinners like you and me. When asked why he was doing this, he simply responded by saying, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Wow. And just like that, it is all made clear. Focusing on those that truly aren't in need and then excluding those desperate for love doesn't fix the problem(s) at hand. We have to share love, uplift our neighbors and support one another. 

Motto of the day: Love thy neighbor as thy loves thyself. 

(Red heart on open book)

John the Baptist and Jesus, Mark 2, KJV (1611)

The Followers of Jesus, Mark 2, KJV (1611)

Dear Diary, It's Week 3

Hello there, beauties!

Well, I'm sure you're excited to see what this weeks #ReadingDiary is about. As you may have picked up, a large portion of my posts are centered either around black stories or biblical stories, well this particular study will be surrounding a biblical story about John the Baptist, and Jesus and His followers. In my story, you can look forward to a bit of a twist, instead of telling a story, this post will be the first of my occasional, #InspirationalSONday posts. Enjoy!

Look below to see quotes from each story, or click on the titles to read the story in its entirety. These particular stories come from the second chapter according to the Gospel of Mark, KJV (1611).

John the Baptist and Jesus

 "There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, "Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, "I will; be thou clean." And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

The Followers of Jesus

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, "How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?"

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."

                                       (Jesus Calls Levi)

You Get A Topic, You Get A Topic, We All Get A Topic!

You Get A Topic, You Get A Topic, We All Get A Topic!

Do you know what time it is? It is time to choose a topic, but don’t fret, we don’t have to narrow it down to the final decision quite yet, just the top four contenders. My top four choices are South Africa folktales, Jamaican stories, Bible stories and religious topics, and fairytales and nursery rhymes. 

I chose South Africa folktales because after first looking over the different unit topics in the UNtextbook, I knew that I wanted to give a lot of attention to stories and story lines that incorporate Black backgrounds and characters because I feel like that is lacking in a lot of areas. Although my blogs aren’t reaching a mass audience, it is still vitally important that the audience I do reach sees the representation of the beautiful black heritage and all branches of it. 

The next unit I chose, as a possible topic choice, was Jamaican stories for a combination of the reasons I choice the South Africa folktales. I also though that it would be a great source of inspiration to use Jamaican stories as a topic because that’s just an exciting culture. When I read that the dialect in the stories would be of the common speech in Jamaica, that’s what really sparked my interest. Can you think of all of the cool characters that could be born from these stories and the speech used?! I can. (: 

Next up, Bible stories. You’ve probably guessed that I have an appreciation for Biblical stories and the history there of. Growing up in the church house, I remember some of these stories but now that I am older, I’d like to gain a better understanding and see how my feelings of the stories now compare to my past sentiments. I also want to look at it from an unbiased viewpoint. I feel too often that individuals with a strong traditional religious background view everything in the Bible as the only way, or acceptable. I want to look at these stories from a slightly less biased viewpoint and appreciate them for what they are and how I presently interpret them. 

My last choice was Fairytales and Nursery Rhymes. I chose this topic as a final candidate because I thought it would be interesting to turn these childhood nursery rhymes into a story that progresses with age, as if the character have grown up. For instance, if the main character is about a little lamb attempting to conquer a task, in the story, the lamb will now be a teenager or a young adult. Regardless of the story, this principle can be applied and will make for an interesting story line, in my opinion. Also, although some may be common, I know that some of these stories I have yet to hear throughout my life so this will be a good way for me to learn a little more about the nursery rhymes and fairytales that are out there in the book of the world.

Buckle your seat belts and get ready for the #StorybookRidewithBri!

Image: Storytelling photo, creator unknown, found on the Lehman College site. 

Storytelling, Week 3: Diary, Can You Keep A Secret?

Dear Diary...

This particular story is a mixture of the biblical stories of Sarah and Abraham, Hagar, as well as Susannah. I wanted to create a story that incorporated all of their life lessons and struggles into one that would be presented in a more layman’s terms, in a fashion that would be more applicable to today’s society. Now I present to you the first few entries of Rohtua’s diary. I hope you enjoy!

Dear Diary, 

3.5.29

This isn’t fair! All I wanted was a child! I can remember now as if it was yesterday, all of my classmates talking about the type of lives that they wanted to live once they graduated from college and got their careers and personal lives situated like they wanted. Never in a million years did I think that my same thoughts I shared about my hopes and dreams wouldn’t become a reality. I mean some of the things that I wanted for myself did come to fruition, just not the pieces that I really wanted for myself. For instance, I have been very successful throughout my life, I’ve created my own Public Relations firm, I’ve been married to the love of my life for the past 40 years, but the one thing that I think would have made life so much better, so much more worthwhile, I wasn’t able to obtain that one; children. My husband Marc and I have tried for soo long until we finally decided that it just wasn’t meant to be for us. 

So here we are, 60 and 72 years old, no children, no grand children and I hear so much about these young girls that are having kids left and right with this whole PartnrLife program that has been around for about the past decade now. This PartnrLife program is something that was crafted to give partners the opportunity to welcome additional spouses into their households. I just heard on the news about this couple, Keith and Sasha who brought in two other girls into their lives to have more children. I’ll have to look more into that and see what I really think about this type of stuff. 

5.3.29

On the news today, I heard a report about a prominent young girl that was accused of having an affair with the gardener. Everyone knew that this couldn’t be the case, she and her husband were so happy together. They had just had their second child a year ago and were excited about trying for their third. 

Not only is this going on in their lives, I have a big confession to make right now. No one else knows but I have to share it somehow and since you’re my diary, you are my best bet. 

I’m not sure if I shared this with you, but Marc and I decided to try out this new PartnrLife program and we got two young ladies to come help around the house. There was one young lady that I suggested my husband try to have a baby with, ya know, so we could have someone that could pass along our family name. Gizzie got pregnant and had a son named Eli. At first, I was so happy that this little bundle of joy came into the world, but after a couple of weeks, I started to get so jealous and angry. So angry that SHE was the one that had the child with such ease and I had been trying for YEARS. 

Can you keep a secret? I don’t know what I should do, or what I even want to do, but I really think I just want to tell them to leave. Just pack up and leave! I know I should have thought this whole thing through before I made this decision but I just can’t stand for this anymore. I feel like my husband loves Gizzie and their child more than he loves me. 

6.3.29

Hello there again… I know you were just waiting for an update and I totally have one for you. Gizzie and her son… They. Are. Gone! I had too. It took Marc a while to get over it, but he did because I am his wife, his love. I’m so glad we could work this situation out for now. 

You remember that other situation with that prominent girl accused of having an affair with the gardener? Well she was one step away from being locked up, but this kid named Daniel came forward out of nowhere, said that he knew what really happened and could prove it! Turns out, she was innocent the whole entire time and the gardener had been lying since the beginning. That sounds like a miracle or the work of God to me. Well, until next time. 

Peace, love and blessings.



Rohtua.


(Photo of diary, from Squire of Cydonia)
Bibliography
"BibleGateway." .com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 100 Versions and 50 Languages. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2016. https://www.biblegateway.com

Week Two Reading Diary Continued: Housewives of the Bible Part II

The Story of SUSANNAH.

This was my favorite story of all, and I think that’s because it had a lot of drama and action wrapped up in this, “Housewives of the Bible” story line. Growing up, I don’t recall hearing this story, more than likely for good reason. 

Some of the key pieces from this story that I liked, or more so found interesting, are when it was expressed that people still have the same type of mindsets that some people have today. Because of their status, they were able to blatantly lie on the innocent Susannah. I think that it was ridiculous that she was going to be put to death based solely on their “word”, when even that wasn’t worth two quarters. 

I was glad to read when the LORD came through and sent Daniel to help Susannah out. That is just like today, when we find ourselves in sticky situations, we just have to call on the LORD to make a way for us.

(Susannah and the Elders, 15th-century)

Mary, Martha and Lazarus 

In this particular story, it was very clear the amount of power Jesus has and the clear evidence of his power towards those that believe in Him. Theses sisters lost a brother and could have easily blamed all of their pains on Jesus, which I'm sure that crossed their minds but instead, put their faith in him and their brother came back from the dead.

Real Housewives of the Bible: Week 2 Reading Diary: Bible Women

Read below for some of my favorite snips from the Bible stories I am reading this week. 

If you're interested in reading more on your own, follow the link to get more juicy stories about their lives as they unfold. 

Favorite portion from the story of Sarah: 

And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"

And the LORD said unto Abraham, "Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?' Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."

Then Sarah denied, saying, "I laughed not;" for she was afraid.

And he said, "Nay; but thou didst laugh."

Favorite piece from the story of Hagar: 

I found it rather interesting, from my interpretation, that Sarah originally wanted her husband, Abraham to impregnate their maid, Hagar with a child. Once that child was conceived and born, Sarah was jealous and despised the fact the her husband, even at the old age of 84 years, was able to conceive a child with Hagar. Once Sarah and Abraham's miracle child, Isaac was born, she sent Hagar off with no regard for the well being, not even taking into consideration that Ismael was the child of her husband. Sarah was the reason Ishmael was even conceived in the first place, and now she's the reason he's being sent off. 

Jacob, Jacob, Jacob... that is an interesting young gent right there. Between his four wives and countless kids he conceived with each, it would be an understatement to say he had A LOT going on. Not to mention, two of his wives, Leah and Rachel were real sisters. Let's see how well that would fly now-a-days. 

(Jacob and Laban, 19th Bible illustration)