“How I Lost My Brother? Because I Told The Truth.”
(You may listen to the audio by clicking on the Play button below.)
From Julie
On: Gratitude
I was in high school when Billy Joel released his song “Honesty”. Until today whenever I hear the song, a deep sadness inside me is so unexplainable. At that time, I was too young to understand the deeper meaning of the words. All I knew was the way the song was sung, there was this air of sorrow and despair. “Honesty is such a lonely word. Everyone is so untrue.”
But I asked myself then, how could honesty be such a lonely word? But then, as I grew older and entered the real world of adults, I began to understand, and appreciate, the beauty of the song.
To me, it is a song coming from a heart filled with love, that wishes nothing but goodwill and truth to humanity. And it is feeling sad that, instead of being the norm, honesty has become a rare commodity.
Every time I encounter people – even friends and family – who seem to not value truth, I remember this song. And this may well apply to the spirit of gratitude. What is gratitude but the twin of honesty. Is it not?
And, yeah, you may include my comment in your next blog. One little request, though. Is it too much of an ask, for you to include the lyrics of the song? Goodluck, Moore!
From Bruce
On: The Truth Will Set You Free, Only If You Are Free
Let me begin by saying, “I lost a beloved brother, because I told the truth.”
It was in the late summer of 2002 when I lost my only brother. It was such a painful memory. No, he did not pass away, or anything like that. Nor did I commit anything bad to him. It was simply because I thought truth would set us free.
You know, we were very close growing up. We were more than just blood brothers. We were the best of friends there was.
When he introduced his fiancée to our family, I was the happiest person in the room. Finally, my little brother had found his mate for life.
Two years into their marriage, something fell off the cliff. My brother worked at an offshore facility somewhere on the Gulf coast. And he would be away from his young family for months.
In one of his off periods, he was back home. One night he came to me, looking so distraught as if the world was just about to end. He looked me in the eye and asked me to tell the truth about anything I knew. He said he was hearing some rumor that his wife was spending more and more time with her boss at work. And this guy was a prominent figure in town. And now my brother was asking me if I knew something that would give the rumor mill some kind of credibility.
I miss my brother
I loved my little brother so much. And I still do. I told him what I myself had noticed. But two things I made clear to him: first, all I could say was it was true his wife appeared to be getting close to the guy, but that’s it. I had no idea what was happening “inside the walls.” Second, that if there was truth to it, he should have an honest conversation with his wife. I reminded him that, maybe, he had to share a little bit of blame for whatever coldness had developed between them. That his months-long absence due to his job had something to do with it. So, his forgiveness was warranted. If there was truth to the rumor.
Of course, his wife would deny everything. The next thing I knew they decided to move out of town. I did not have any chance to know what happened. I could only surmise. My “testimony” had ruined everything. My little brother loved his wife so much. This I was fully aware of. And he chose her and their young family.
I was supposed to be happy for my little brother, for sticking it out for his wife. But I had been sad for losing him. He cut me off from his life. And I had to respect it. It is my wish that my brother and his wife, and family, are doing okay.
Yes, you are right. Truth will set us free, only if we are free. Free to accept the truth, and deal with it without killing the truth itself. To my little brother: semper fi. (He knows of this.)
From WenF
On: Monarch Butterflies
Thanks to my brother-in-law, I saw the monarch butterflies one autumn day in 2016. On the last week of our unforgettable autumn in Canada, my brother-in-law took us for a walk at a beach. My husband and I strolled hand in hand at the boardwalk, relishing the wonderful vacation we had. At the end of the boardwalk, my attention was caught by a bush with many white flowers. From a distance, I noticed many orange “stuffs” fluttering in the breeze. I hurried to come closer. It was then that I saw the many monarch butterflies hovering around the bush with white flowers. They were so beautiful. And they did not fly away when I started taking pictures. They too must have been relishing the last few days before they start migrating to warmer regions.
Thank you for sharing your research on the monarch butterflies. I now have a better appreciation of my experience with these beautiful creatures. I will treasure the memories as I look at the pictures I took.
In the Philippines, we also believe that butterflies may be the spirit of a loved one manifesting his nearness on a special or memorable occasion. In some wedding ceremonies, the couple releases butterflies to signify the presence of their ancestors.
Remembering your father and his story on butterflies is heartwarming. If he were to read your blog post, he would surely smile because you associate him with something beautiful.
On: Gratitude & Naikan Way
“Thank you” are just two words. They do not cost anything when spoken. But they mean so much when uttered sincerely. Whispered or formed only with the lips, these two words are powerful, inspiring, so satisfying both for the speaker and its receiver. Why then do people hesitate in saying thank you as often?
Thank you for sharing the Naikan Way. This is new learning for me even if in some ways I might be practicing it already. Naikan is like being mindful of my experiences now, particularly of my encounters. When I am first to smile at the guards at the village gate during my morning walk, I’d see them waive a welcome to me. When another senior jogger or teenage biker greets me with a pleasant, good morning, I tip my hat to acknowledge. The exchange is fleeting, but it perks up my day. In my heart, I knew the universe smiled.
Some authors suggest keeping a gratitude journal or a gratitude jar in which to save short notes of thanksgiving. This can brighten up our day when we experience the blues.
What a wonderful world it would be.
You said it right: gratitude makes us see beauty around us. Makes us joyful too. It is easy to recognize beauty even in the most ordinary experience when we are joyful. Like how you perceive the milkweed. Or, how I marveled at the sea of dandelions on a spring day. Like how we rejoiced at the first drop of rain at the end of a long, hot summer.
So say thank you often, even for the most ordinary gesture. Rejoice at every thank you received. And let our universe glow in gladness.
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