The following blog entry is a story based on how I would imagine myself if I lived in the world of the E-Games hit MMORPG, Runes Of Magic. Read on…

My name is Daelin and I’m a scout. My life in Taborea isn’t what you would necessarily call ordinary. I lived in Silverfall Village all my life. But in some twist of fate, I found myself walking the paths of Logar, with a gash in my arm and a bloody nose. I wasn’t always like this. When I was a teenager, I had such promise. At an early young age, I was able to master the bow and arrow. My friends and fellow scouts who I grew up with could not reach the level of my intelligence, strength, and dexterity. With the help of Anon, my mentor, I was able to hone my skills to perfection. But with each skill I mastered, the more conceited I became. Until I got to the point where I abused my abilities.

I’ve always been a natural wanderer, always thirsty for adventure. I have traveled through the most dangerous regions of Taborea, even places where no one would ever dare enter. I’ve always loved the feeling of being faced with the unknown, always testing my abilities, and challenging myself to be the best. My parents didn’t always approve of my adventures. But they couldn’t stop me. I did things my way. I’ve been to the mythical Muttering Forest, where I spent night after night trying to improve my stealth and passing through clan territories without being detected. I’ve crossed paths with Mages, Druids, Knights, you name it. I’ve endured the sounds and creatures of the Savage Lands, traveled through the Jungle Marsh, and explored the Ystra-Highland in all its glory. I went on dangerous quests and fought monsters along the way. I always got what I needed and knew how to use them for my own benefit. You see, FEAR was never an issue for me. I was confident in my abilities and I knew I could take care of myself. I was such a proud scout. I never had any real friends because I refused to hang out with those who weren’t good enough. Needless to say, I was obnoxious. Unstoppable. But like everything in this world, there comes a time when life just stops you in your tracks and leads you somewhere else, and then you’re changed for life. That’s what happened to me. Let me tell you about that fateful event that changed my life.

One night, when I was in one of my reckless adventures, I encountered 2 rogues talking in hushed tones near the Hidden Valley Mine. I couldn’t hear clearly what they were saying, but it sounded as if they were arguing about something. So with all the stealth techniques I’ve learned, I crept slowly behind the bushes and tried to listen to their conversation. I could hear the other rogue saying, “This is mine. I don’t care what you say.” He was pointing to a large bag just a few steps away from where they were standing. The other rogue replied, “You don’t know what you’re talking about. This is not our property. If someone finds out we’re here, we’re dead. Listen to me…”

But I didn’t hear what he was going to say next because right at that moment, there was a rustle of leaves near my hiding place. I turned and saw a squirrel trying to scurry away. In the second it took me to look at the culprit, the rogues were gone. And in another blink of an eye, I received a huge blow in my back, a sharp knife grazed my arm, and something made of steel hit me on the head. And then everything went dark. When I woke up, I was near the streets of Logar. I got up and started walking. My arm hurt, my head felt heavy and my nose was bleeding. I kept walking. I didn’t stop walking until I reached the outskirts of the settlement. Then I collapsed.

I woke up to the wonderful smell of fried eggs and the yummy aroma of soup cooking. I realized how hungry I was. I tried to get up, but a woman stopped me. She was a kind looking woman, she said “Don’t stand up just yet. You’ve suffered a huge blow. You’re lucky they left you alive. Here, have some eggs, a bowl of chicken soup and milk. You’ll feel better after.”

I asked her who she was, and how I got here. She told me her name’s Helen, and that she brought me in her farm when she saw me collapse on her way home last night. It took me a few minutes to replay the night’s event in my head, and a few more minutes to relay to Helen what really happened. After I told her my story, I felt ashamed. I was so proud of myself, thinking I was a superior scout, and yet I couldn’t even defend myself last night. And now here’s a pleasant lady who willingly took me in her home and took care of me though I was a complete stranger.

After I downed the soup and milk and finished my eggs, I thanked Helen. And for the first time in my life, I can think clearly. I thought of what happened to me, and I asked myself. Is this really the life I want? Taborea is a place of magic, mystery, and wonder. It’s a world where different classes exist, each with their own gifts and abilities. There are monsters and heroes here that make the realm diverse and interesting. It’s a vast world full of adventure, but it’s also a world where you can get killed if you’re not careful. It’s a world of FRIENDS and FOES… GOOD and EVIL… but ultimately, it’s a world of FANTASY and LORE. In my years of adventure, I never lost to anyone. I was always a winner. I never encountered being beaten like this. I was so full of myself that I thought no one was above me. And then my life was changed overnight.

Now, I live in peace, in my own home in Logar. I am still learning and honing my craft, but slowly, with my change of attitude, I gained friends. Life is really more interesting and fun with friends to share it with. I still go on adventures, and quests, but this time, I’m no longer reckless. I come prepared and well-equipped. And with a little FEAR, just to keep me in check. Apparently, fear can actually help sometimes. I learned that the hard way. Well, I guess that’s life. Even in a world like Taborea, you also get to experience LIFE’s ups and downs. But one thing I know for sure, I love Taborea. It’s a wonderful place to learn, play, live, and explore. I invite you to come into our world, and experience all the wonder. But don’t try to be like what I was before. Don’t use your skills and abilities carelessly. If you live well and fight well, you can level up to the best of your ability and enjoy Taborea in all it’s glory. Good luck!

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating picture of God’s wings.

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.

She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

Author Unknown

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge…” (Psalm 91:4)

(I saw this story circulating around in the Internet and I was deeply moved by it. This Christmas season, hope this story will remind you of the true spirit of Christmas, which is “giving”. Let’s not forget, it’s Christ’s birthday and we should honor him and give him glory through our actions towards others.)

Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn’t wear boots; he didn’t own any and he didn’t like them anyway. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother’s Christmas gift.He shook his head as he thought, “This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea, I don’t have any money to spend,”

Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family of five had struggled. It wasn’t because his mother didn’t care, or try, there just never seemed to be enough. She worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning could only be stretched so far. What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older sisters and one younger sister, who ran the house hold in their mother’s absence. All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother.

Somehow it just wasn’t fair. Here it was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing. Wiping a tear from his eye, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to the street where the shops and stores were. It wasn’t easy being six without a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to.

Bobby walked from shop to shop, looking into each decorated window. Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun’s rays reflecting off of something along the curb. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime. Never before has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment.

As he held his new found treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store he saw. His excitement quickly turned cold when the salesperson told him that he couldn’t buy anything with only a dime.

He saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother’s Christmas gift.

The shop owner looked at Bobby and his ten cent offering. Then he put his hand on Bobby’s shoulder and said to him, “You just wait here and I’ll see what I can do for you.”

As Bobby waited he looked at the beautiful flowers and even though he was a boy, he could see why mothers and girls liked flowers.

The sound of the door closing as the last customer left jolted Bobby back to reality. All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid. Suddenly the shop owner came out and moved to the counter. There, before Bobby’s eyes, lay twelve long stem, red roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby’s heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them gently into a long white box.

“That will be ten cents young man,” the shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime.

Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime. Could this be true? No one else would give him a thing for his dime!

Sensing the boy’s reluctance, the shop owner added, “I just happened to have some roses on sale for ten cents a dozen. Would you like them?”

This time Bobby did not hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into his hands, he knew it was true. Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the shop keeper say, “Merry Christmas, son,”

As he returned inside, the shop keeper’s wife walked out. “Who were you talking to back there and where are the roses you were fixing?”

Staring out the window, and blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied, “A strange thing happened to me this morning. While I was setting up things to open the shop, I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn’t sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway. Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop and wanted to buy a flower for his mother with one small dime.

“When I looked at him, I saw myself, many years ago. I too, was a poor boy with nothing to buy my mother a Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never knew, stopped me on the street and told me that he wanted to give me ten dollars.

“When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best roses.” The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly, and as they stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow didn’t feel cold at all.

Author Unknown

Since it’s Halloween, I thought to myself I should have a post here that pays tribute to the popular holiday. Ghosts and the dead… hmmm… not really related to the theme of this blog, huh? But what the heck, it’s part of life too, right? Actually, to be honest, I’m an easily frightened person. I get easily scared of ghosts, spirits, even the dark! But now that it’s Halloween, I’m gonna set aside my fears for a while and share with you scary stories that will curl your toes and give you a pounding heartbeat.

• In a classroom, all students were asked to share their most memorable place. After all were done, one silent pale girl stood up and said: “My most memorable place is this classroom, were I killed myself.”

• One day, this guy went on their college batch reunion. On his way to the function hall he saw his ex-girlfriend… she smiled at him and said… “How are you?! It’s been 10 years seen we’ve last seen each other! You look great! I missed you.” Then she hugged him very tight and ran away without any last words… he didn’t even get a chance to talk because he was very surprised. Then, a few minutes after the incident… he asked his old friends about his ex-girlfriend “How is she?” Upon hearing his question… all of his friends were shocked and one of them said… “Dude, she committed suicide a year after you left her. She’s already been dead for 9 years.”

• There was a couple who prayed for a child and they had a girl. She was the ugliest child they had ever seen. Two years later, the family decided to go on a camping trip. During the trip, the child asked if she could pee. So, they stopped near the bridge of the mountain. Then there was an accident. The little girl fell off the bridge and died. A few years later… they were blessed with another child. She was the prettiest child ever. They loved her and gave her everything. One day, they went on a camping trip. On the way, the child asked if she could pee. So they stopped. The little girl looked at her mother and said “Mom, please don’t push me again.”

I also came across this beautifully written blog by Jowell called Spoon Lagoon and he published some really scary stories that you will enjoy too and will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Read his posts here: Pinoy Urban Legends 1.0 and Pinoy Urban Legends 2.0

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked “NO ADMITTANCE.”

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.

Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy was sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized they couldn’t recall what else the great master played. Only the classic “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

That’s the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren’t exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life’s work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.”

Author Unknown

My brother gave me a YouTube link this morning, saying I have to watch it because it’s the best video he’s ever seen. I was intrigued by his intro, so I watched the clip. Guess what, it sent goosebumps all over my body! This story has become so popular and is all over the Internet so I’m sure most of you might have come across this months ago, but it only just reached me now, and I felt compelled to post it here to share it with those who haven’t seen it yet.

It’s a story about an exceptional lion raised by two young Australian men, John Rendall and Ace Berg. They bought the lion cub from a store, they saw it was cramped and lonely in his cage, so they decided to bring the poor little guy home. They raised him as a pet, named him Christian, and it was the start of an amazing friendship and loyalty among the three. But when Christian grew bigger, they didn’t have a choice but to release him back into the wild. So they enlisted the help of George Adamson, the known “Father Of Lions“ and after some time, though it wasn’t easy, they were able to release Christian successfully into the wild.

After a year, Christian got accustomed to life in the wild and was even leader of their pride. John and Ace decided to visit him again, and despite warnings from George, that Christian might not recognize them anymore, they went ahead and sought their beloved lion. So what happened, you ask? Well, if you don’t know… you go find out for yourself by watching the video.

It’s such a heartwarming story about friendship, and how even a vicious animal like a lion is capable of love and affection. I have to admit, I was nearly moved to tears when I watched the video. If you haven’t heard of Christian, The Lion… you have to watch the video, and while you’re at it, you can watch the whole documentary dedicated to him too. It’s definitely worth the watch.

Copyright©2008angel

At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane’s departure and standing near the door, he said to his daughter, “I love you, I wish you enough.”She said, “Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy.” They kissed good-bye and she left.He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?” “Yes, I have,” I replied.

Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing.

“Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?” I asked.

“I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral, ” he said.

“When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, ‘I wish you enough.’ May I ask what that means?”

He began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.” He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more.

“When we said ‘I wish you enough,’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them,” he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Good-bye.”

He then began to sob and walked away.

Author Unknown