Yawn ... do ya feel me?

Okay so when I was listening to 89.7 yet again last week, they were talking about (which the internet supported) that those who yawn in response to someone else yawning are more empathetic than others (yawn! :-)) - did you know that? It reminded me of a book I read by Octavia Butler, an african-american sci-fi writer. I really liked the story,

• one because it was backdropped in California - so even though it was based in the future, I recognized the places being mentioned. Dean Koontz, horror, does that as well; its enjoyable to envision stories in familiar venues. Another feature I like in fiction is referring to other characters, places and such in subsequent stories - Stephen King, horror, and Robert Ludlum, political/spy thrillers, are among those that do that well - its like recalling old friends, familiar memories. Another thing that fascinates me about these particular guys is their use of pseudonyms in an alter-ego sort of way. But I drigress and...
  
  
• two, because the main character was an empath. She intensely felt others people's pain. Have you felt like that - having to turn away from something because its personally painful to be aware of it, wanting to be able to end that pain so you can end yours, something that makes your joints down to your knuckles ache and your stomach sick. I have and do. If you look it up you'll get every notion from supernatural and psychic abilities to super heroes and healing. There is a test to see what kind you are. If you can relate to the concept at all, you might appreciate this poem - otherwise I'm sure it would seem silly to say that the poem itself hurts.

The book is a great story about survival as I recall; it's been quite some time since I read it. You might like it too. Ohhhh...what was the name of it? Parable of the Sower - it was the title that originally caught my eye. I see she did another parable, Parable of the Talents - the sequel. I'm intrigued; I'm going to check it out. And I just saw that Octavia died last year, what a sad loss to literature and I feel it!

Parabolic Pearlz

One child explained to his friends about how it was with his father. He tells him, he says, "I am your child so give me all that I am entitled to. After all I didn't ask to be here, you know. This is your house, so you keep it clean. I am simply here because of your love--you brought me here and so you have to care and do what's best for me. You are unable to do otherwise. It is against your very nature isn't it? "

Then he says to them "Now I am heading back to my 'ol man's house. Dinner will be waiting and I want to get the best of it. Not reheated stuff. Cya! " The others looked after him in awe. But his brother who he had left behind, amongst them, got up to go also.

He says to them while waving "I need to get home also so I can get the table set. Dad always has such delicious treats for us. So l am going to get the dishes tonight and straighten up the kitchen before I get to some work he wanted me to do. It is the least I can do. He never leaves me wanting for anything. I can't even imagine what it would be like if he hadn't adopted me. I'll see you all tomorrow".
_{parabolic pearlz from suge's shelz ©2006}

Which are you? Some children of God are only too aware of a sense of entitlement to the kingdom of Heaven and demand "pay up ". While others never forget it is the grace of God and live to show their appreciation. Road rage, abortion, war are caused by entitlement. The disciples argued over who would sit next to Jesus -- whew, who earned/deserved that?

David used entitlement with Bathsheba but not when as God's anointed he served king Saul and let him live. It was not entitlement that served Laban seven years more for the right to marry Rachel which had already been earned. Paul left the service of entitlement to serve the lord-left what he saw in the world as right to serve what was right in God's sight. Jesus left at a manger all that was his right to die upon a cross for our sins. What entitlement have l earned; do I deserve? And yet, we are told... Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Less is more. Only empty can one be fully filled--Ever drink all your cup contains so as to make room for the maximum replenishment? It is at the feet of Jesus that one can look up and see fully into His face and all that He is.

Only what's done for Christ will last.