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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>After following and participating in the many recent discussions, I was reminded of a story I learned many years ago at my grandmother's knee and have tried to remember ever since in times when life or any activity seemed unfair. It seemed right to share it with the rest of you. (and yes, it was because of this story that part of my SCA name exists)</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>*************</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>Long ago and far away (because that is how any good tale should start) there lived a great philosopher whose advise was sought far and wide by all from peasants to kings. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>Every few years, this wise man would choose to take on a student, but only if he could find a worthy applicant.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>It came to pass that an announcement went out that the wise man was ready to train another student and invited all who felt themselves worthy to present themselves to him on an appointed date. On that date, three young men presented themselves at his gate and were admitted.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>They were shown into a garden where they found the wise man sitting among his flowers. As the three stepped forward, each intent on showing himself to be the most worthy, the wise man held up his hand. "We will not discuss your worth today", he said, "but rather, I would give you each a rose from my garden and ask that you return tomorrow to tell me what you have learned about life from the flower". He gave them each a rose and bid them leave, but return on the morrow at the same time.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>At the appointed hour on the following day, the three young men again entered the garden and sat with the wise man. He spoke saying "Tell me what you learned of life from your roses".</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>The first man said "As we were leaving, I clutched my rose tightly and my hand was pricked by one of the thorns. From this I learned that life is filled with pain, that pain can be hidden even in a thing of beauty. We must learn to live with the pain, for that is the only way to get through life."</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>The second man said "I held my rose closely all the way to my lodgings. When I got there, I saw that there was a clump of dirt attached to the roots which had smeared itself all over my best garments. From this I learned that even the best things have some soiled areas and that, if we are not careful, these soiled areas will attach themselves to us. We must take care in our lives that we not be besmirched by the dirt which others may fling at us."</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>The third mad said, "As I rushed out of here, intent on learning all I could of the value in what you had given me, I tripped and fell in the street. The rose flew from my hands and was picked up by a street urchin who would not give it back to me unless I gave him some coins. I did so and then rushed to my home to protect the rose until I could return here. I knew that you would not give us anything so simple as a rose unless there were great value attached to it, so I protected it and hid it until I could return it to you even though it cost me some coins and a sleepless night to do so. I believe that you wanted us to learn that we must protect things of high value lest they be taken from us, as happened when I was careless and lost mine momentarily to the street urchin."</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>All three young men waited hopefully as the wise man considered them. Then he plucked another rose from his garden.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>He carefully removed all of the thorns and gave them to the first young man, then he removed the dirt about the roots and put it in the second man's hand. He reached into his pocket and removed a few pennies which he placed in the third man's hand. Then he spoke to all of them.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>You each now have the only thing you noticed about your rose. You may leave here with that which you sought and found. I will remain here with what I find in the rose, a straight strong stem which bends but does not break, leaves whose intricate patterns might defy mathematicians in their intricacy yet whose formations are a thing of beauty in themselves, petals soft as velvet yet strong enough to protect the treasures within, a scent which pleases both the nose of an old man and the seeking of a young bee both of which ensure the survival of the rose through the generations. All of these will I keep for they are what I expected in the rose and therefore what I found. You expected to find either flaws or monetary value, and that is what you found."</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>"Take with you this lesson, what you expect in life is what you will find, no more and no less. I will take no student this year, perhaps by next year one of you will have learned to look for more in life and will return to try again" So saying, he arose and, taking his thornless clean rose, retired to his home.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>********************</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff>I think that there are times when any of us find too many thorns or two much dirt. Also times when we put too much of the wrong kind of value on acts or things. I know that when that happens to me, I try to remember the story of the rose and take a moment to step back and look for the things of beauty I have been missing in my tunnel vision focus on the thorns. </FONT></STRONG> </DIV><FONT size=2 PTSIZE="10"><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff></FONT></STRONG>
<DIV><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><B><FONT face="Edwardian Script ITC" color=#ff0080 size=5>Lady Constance de la Rose<BR></FONT>Baron of Loch Salann<BR>Kingdom of Artemisia<BR></B></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"><B></DIV>
<DIV><BR>"Never say a thing's impossible,<BR>For chances are you'll rue it.<BR>Because some fool who doesn't know,<BR>Will come along and do it."</B></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>