Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen..."

The Story – from "Frog and Toad Are Friends" by Arnold Lobel

One day in summer Frog was not feeling well.

Toad said, “Frog, you are looking quite green.”

“But I always look green” said Frog. “I am a frog.”

“Today you look very green, even for a frog”, said Toad. “Get into my bed and rest.”

Toad made Frog a cup of hot tea. Frog drank the tea then he said “Tell me a story while I am resting.”

“All right,” said Toad. “Let me think of a story to tell you.”

Toad thought and thought. But be could not think of a story to tell Frog.

“I will go out on the front porch and walk up and down,” said Toad. “Perhaps that will help me to think of a story.” Toad walked up and down on the porch for a long time. But he could not think of a story to tell Frog.

Then Toad went in the house and stood on his head.

“Why are you standing on your head?” asked Frog.

“I hope that if I stand on my head, it will help me to think of a story,” said Toad.

Toad stood on his head for a long time. But he could not think of a story to tell Frog.

Then Toad poured a glass of water over his head.

“Why are you pouring water over your head?” asked Frog.

“I hope that if I pour water over my head, it will help me to think of a story,” said Toad.

Toad poured many glasses of water over his head. But he could not think of a story to tell Frog.

Then Toad began to bang his head again the wall.

“Why are you banging your head against the wall?” asked Frog.

“I hope that if I bang my head against the wall hard enough, it will help me think of a story,” said Toad.

“I’m feeling much better now, Toad,” said Frog. “I don’t think I need a story anymore.”

“Then you get out of my bed and let me get into it,” said Toad, “because now I feel terrible.”

Frog said, “Would you like me to tell you a story, Toad?”

“Yes,” said Toad, “if you know one.”

“Once upon a time,” said Frog, “there were two good friends, a frog and a toad. The frog was not feeling well. He asked his friend the toad to tell him a story.

The toad could not think of a story. He walked up and down on the porch, but he could not think of a story. He stood on his head, but he could not think of a story. He poured water over his head, but he could not think of a story. He banged his head against the wall, but he still could not think of a story.

Then the toad did not feel so well, and the frog was feeling better. So the toad went to bed and the frog got up and told him a story.

The End."

"So how was that, Toad?” said Frog.

But Toad did not answer. He had fallen asleep.

"Les plus coupables sont les moins genereaux" - Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumachais from "The Marriage of Figaro" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

A photograph by John K. McGuirk
Click to enlarge

From "Gibran on Love"

But if in your fear you would seek
only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you
cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor
into the seasonless world where you shall laugh,
but not all of your laughter,
and weep,
but not all of your tears. - Gibran Khalil Gibran