Harry and Halwai's Day in the Woods
Writing a story with elements of a religion that is not my own is intimidating to say the least. However, I find Hinduism to be such a rich and beautiful religion that I am not surprised I had a dream about it which I just had to write it down. I named my characters Harry (as in the devotional chant "Hare Krishna") and Halwai (as in the common man caste). Harry is meant to represent Krishna, who is so loving and compassionate a God, he reminds me of Jesus. He is sometimes portrayed as a child, usually blue-the color of Heaven, and has multiple arms. I love to think of Jesus as my most faithful childhood friend.
The best childhoods are made up of sunny afternoons of earned playtime. Harry and Halvay met on one such afternoon. Halvay had spent the morning completing the arduous task of sitting still and learning against his will, and then helping his mama with so many chores he was sure he would collapse of sheer exhaustion. Halwai was thinking he, and his overworked little arms and legs could not possibly go on washing clothes one moment longer. Then suddenly in miraculous answer to silent prayer his mother began to say "Thank you Halwai that's good, if you want to-" and he dashed off to play with such speed, it was as if he was racing time itself to the best part of the woods to play. "Stay in the safest part!" she cried after him, and laughed to see just how fast his little legs could go. When he arrived panting and grinning at his sanctioned escape he met a strange and adorable little blue boy.
"Hi! My name is Harry!" he said joyfully waving one of his four arms at Halwai. One arm was busy holding a fish, in another arm held a book, the third arm held a blanket, and the fourth arm was waving so ecstatically at Halwai, Halwai was worried the boy would drop everything.
"Oh hi!" said Halwai "have you come to play in this safe place too?"
"Yes!" Harry grinned "I am really good at playing! What would you like to play first?"
"Well it looks like you know how to catch fish" Halwai nodded "let's play that first!"
They caught many fish together in the little creek that ran through the woods. Harry caught such a great multitude of fish with his arm and taught Halwai to as well. Their fishy pile grew so large, as Halwai pondered it he mused to himself thinking "wow, with this new skill I could become a rich fisherman when I grow up and never want for food!"
When they grew tired of collecting the silvery creatures, Harry read wonderful stories to Halwai out of the book in his other arm, they were beautiful some made him cry some made him laugh and they all brought him joy. They acted out the silliest and some of the most daring tales Halwai had ever heard. Halwai was so amazed by the stories he thought "if I could remember these tales and tell them even half as well as Harry I could become a famous when I grow up! I would be so beloved and I would never feel alone!"
Now feeling truly tired Halwai began to miss his mama and his bed. Harry noticing Halwai's weariness said "Dear friend you look so sleepy! Here use my special and precious blanket, rest your head in my lap and take a nap! While you are covered in my blanket absolutely nothing can harm you!" Halwai gratefully did so. Harry sang Halwai a sweet song his mother had always sung to him, but it sounded more beautiful and perfect than he had ever heard it from her lips, and before Halwai could tell Harry so, he had cried himself into the most restful nap he had ever taken.
When he woke up he was worried that Harry might have left, but as he opened his eyes Halvay saw his friend's kind smile and comforting blanket were still there. "If I had that blanket" Halvay thought to himself "I don't think I would ever be too tired or scared ever again. I could wrap myself in it and go to war and there is nothing in the world I could not conquer. As the greatest king in the land, I would never want for power!"
Halwai had played so long in the forest his childhood was over, and his mother called him for dinner. Harry sweetly and tearfully said "Go Halwai, but take one of these gifts with you for I love you so!I would give you anything-even my life!"
Halwai looked at the fish, and the book and the blanket and said with determination "Very well then!" He grabbed and tugged at his friend's empty hand and ran so hard, Harry dropped all his things all the way. They were left behind to be enjoyed by others in the world, while from then onto forever Harry and Halwai always had each other.
JST Luke 9:25 "For what doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and yet he receive him not whom God hath ordained, and he lose his own soul, and he himself be a castaway?"
ReplyForward |
Comments
Post a Comment