I pass a lot of houses on my way home; some pretty, some inviting. But my heart skips a beat when I see my house nestled against the hill. I’m especially proud…
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No, Yes and Maybe
There were three tulip bulbs named No, Yes and Maybe. They lived at the bottom of a bulb tin, content to be round and fat and dressed in silky brown garments. When…
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Giving your life
Itzhak Perlman is one of the finest violinists alive today. Several years ago, Perlman agreed to attend a charity reception after one of his concerts in Vienna. Tickets for the champagne reception were…
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Where’s your temper?
A Zen student came to Bankei and said: “Master, I have an ungovernable temper — how can I cure it?” “Show me this temper,” said Bankei, “it sounds fascinating.” “I haven’t got it right now,” said…
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We do cancer
Richard was a widower; his wife had suffered a long and painful death from cancer. Then he met Celia; they came to love each other and each other’s children dearly. Less than…
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The gardener and the surgeon
A gardener once worked for a heart surgeon. The heart surgeon was an atheist. The gardener was a man of faith. They got on very well together, but often had friendly arguments…
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With arms wide open
The legend goes that the 19th-century Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) made a clay model for a statue of Christ the King, arms outstretched, raised high in gesturing command, his head held high in…
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On one foot: A wisdom story
A rather eccentric looking young man wearing an old brown suit and holding a small, worn, stickered suitcase walked into the centre of the city, spun around a few times in the…
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The reluctant oak tree
Once upon a time, there was a giant oak tree in the middle of a city park. Its branches stretched out generously on every side so that the tree was a welcome…