storytime in heaven?
Most mornings, we take 20 minutes to read aloud from Arabian Nights, The Marvels and Wonders of The Thousand and One Nights. These ancient folk tales were first translated into English from the Persian tongue by Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-19890). They include tales of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor, along with many other compelling legends. Even Sir Burton's biography is compelling! Check this guy out:
Sir Richard Francis Burton was a gifted linguist, daring explorer, prolific author and one of the most flamboyant celebrities of his day. Forced to leave Oxford for unruly behavior, he joined the British Army in India, where he gained a remarkable knowledge of Arabic, Hindustani, and Persian, eventually acquiring 29 languages and many dialects.
He led the famed expedition to discover the source of the Nile and, disguised as a Moslem, made a pilgrimage tp the then-forbidden city of Mecca and penetrated the sacred city of Harar in unexplored East Africa. Burton translated the unexpurged versions of many Oriental texts, including the Kama Sutra (1883) and Arabian Nights (1885-88), which is perhaps his most celebrated achievement.
This is the type of guy you want at your next dinner-party. (Although I must admit, I wouldn't envy the souls who tried teaching him at Oxford!) Just when one might think there are no adventures left to tell (after all, Star Wars and Indiana Jones have long been available on DVD), we learn anew that brilliant rascals like Sir Burton are there for our discovery and inspiration.
Because this blog claims to require thought, let's reflect upon the immensity of tales of courage and heroism there may be from the beginnings of time. Taken a step further, we can fairly assume that our brief lives here on earth don't allow us to know them all. My gut feeling leads me to the premise that many acts of bravery are only known to God.
Wouldn't it follow then, that in our spare time in heaven, we get to hear these great deeds? (I'm not intentionally thinking home-theatre with popcorn and ju-ju fruits. I'll leave the venue and its details up to the Supreme Director.) But the Hull Home-School Academy just wrapped up the reading of the story of Joseph, and I gotta say: our good God is one amazing story-teller.
Methinks that earth's tales of History-Makers and Destiny-Shapers are merely appetizers for what lies in store for us in eternity.
Kinda makes me want to accomplish something while I'm here.
Sir Richard Francis Burton was a gifted linguist, daring explorer, prolific author and one of the most flamboyant celebrities of his day. Forced to leave Oxford for unruly behavior, he joined the British Army in India, where he gained a remarkable knowledge of Arabic, Hindustani, and Persian, eventually acquiring 29 languages and many dialects.
He led the famed expedition to discover the source of the Nile and, disguised as a Moslem, made a pilgrimage tp the then-forbidden city of Mecca and penetrated the sacred city of Harar in unexplored East Africa. Burton translated the unexpurged versions of many Oriental texts, including the Kama Sutra (1883) and Arabian Nights (1885-88), which is perhaps his most celebrated achievement.
This is the type of guy you want at your next dinner-party. (Although I must admit, I wouldn't envy the souls who tried teaching him at Oxford!) Just when one might think there are no adventures left to tell (after all, Star Wars and Indiana Jones have long been available on DVD), we learn anew that brilliant rascals like Sir Burton are there for our discovery and inspiration.
Because this blog claims to require thought, let's reflect upon the immensity of tales of courage and heroism there may be from the beginnings of time. Taken a step further, we can fairly assume that our brief lives here on earth don't allow us to know them all. My gut feeling leads me to the premise that many acts of bravery are only known to God.
Wouldn't it follow then, that in our spare time in heaven, we get to hear these great deeds? (I'm not intentionally thinking home-theatre with popcorn and ju-ju fruits. I'll leave the venue and its details up to the Supreme Director.) But the Hull Home-School Academy just wrapped up the reading of the story of Joseph, and I gotta say: our good God is one amazing story-teller.
Methinks that earth's tales of History-Makers and Destiny-Shapers are merely appetizers for what lies in store for us in eternity.
Kinda makes me want to accomplish something while I'm here.
posted by thisrequiresthought at 11:46 AM
1 Comments:
Believe me, daughter-in-law, you are!
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