The Great Adventure

The Great Adventure

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Reparation

from Island of the World by Michael O Brien

"...for Josip and Josip alone, she exercises something akin to diabolic loathing. It is so astounding he takes it on as a challenge. He estimates it will take 3 - 4 years to tame her, but he is resolved that even if can not tame her, he is willing to spend a lifetime enduring her as reparation.

Reparations for what? I have not hurt the woman. We have never met before. My parents and ancestors surely did her no harm. General reparation then. He can accept the insult as a mild form of humiliation offered for her soul and offered as a payment for sins committed against her people by Croats. The disproportion in this seems incredibly unfair because most of the victims of Yugoslavia's confusion were not, are not and probably will not be Serbs. Even so she has an eternal soul and he feels pity for her. Whenever she throws a dart, he takes it in the chest and says a silent prayer for her."

Monday, July 4, 2011

from Island of the World

by Michael o Brien

"...a messenger is is in his words, if the messenger is truly himself. His life is his primary word, and his spoken word bears his life. He learns to be this when he has discovered that a man can give to others only what he truly is."

Seek nothing for yourself.
stand ready to serve
in quietness,
demanding nothing,
expecting nothing sacrificing and praying without anyone knowing
Silence
Silence
Silence