My Rosetta Stone

It seems like every day I tell a new proverb or story of my fathers' to a friend.

The baby born in Howra, the pig drowned and fed,
the refusal of the pot hanger,
the boy from the corner,
the 7 bugs per bite, or the slapping of the novice,
and these stories are always well received.

I tell them how he says that there are two ways of learning,
through acquired knowledge or through other's wisdom.
Acquired knowledge can sometimes hurt, because you learn as you go,
getting somethings right, and some wrong.
Where as learning through Wisdom is less painful.
For those that have already experienced the pain of acquiring the knowledge
simply pass it on to you, and you just need to listen.

I tell them about how he said that if I ever found myself in a bad situation
or with friends who were making bad choices
that I didn't have to stand up or make a scene that might upset,
all I had to do was turn my feet in the other direction and start walking.
Then if someone were to ask where I was going, I could say something like;
'I'm going to take my dad's advice' and just keep walking.

(He promised that if I ever did just that,
and then found myself in the middle of a pickle,
that he would always get me out of it,
and I've taken him up on that promise a few times now.)


My father is not perfect,
he is not always the most mild,
or humble,
but recently I have come to know that by learning through his wisdom,
and trusting in his promises
I can be a better person.


He has become a type of Rosetta stone for my life,
especially for my experiences here in Calcutta,
and I believe that if I share his wisdom with others he will be for them too.

So,
lately when the sisters, or other people,
have been catching me doing something that my father taught me,
I have been sincerely happy because then I can turn around and tell them about him.

Mathew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father...

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To make a mountain of your life
Is just a choice
But I never learned enough
To listen to the voice that told me
Always love!
(or) Hate will get you every time
Always love!
Don't wait til the finish line

Slow demands come 'round
Squeeze the air and keep the rest out
It helps to write it down
Even when you then cross it out

But Always Love!
(or) Hate will get you every time
Always Love!
Even when you wanna fight

Self-directed lives
I want to know what it'd be like to
Aim so high above
Any card that you've been dealt, you...

Always Love!
(or) Hate will get you every time
Always Love!
(or) Hate will get you

I've been held back by something
Yeah.
You said to me quietly on the stairs,
I've been held back by something
Yeah.
You said to me quietly on the stairs.
You said:

Hey, you good ones,
Hey, you good ones,
To make a mountain of your life
Is just a choice
But I never learned enough
To listen to the voice that told me...

Always love!
(or) Hate will get you every time
Always love!
(or) hate will get you

I've been held back by something
Yeah,
You said to me quietly on the stairs,
I've been held back by something
Yeah,
You said to me quietly on the stairs
You said..
Hey, you good ones
Hey, you good ones
Hey, you good ones