Otherwise - A Christmas Story
Otherwise – A Christmas Story by Ghia Cooley
Transcript
Hello, Merry Christmas.
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:This is Ghia with the creative,
spiritual journey podcast.
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:And I am here with a second bonus episode.
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:This is not our usual content.
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:So if you are new here, please check
out one of our other episodes to
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:see what our podcast is all about.
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:Weeks ago, I put out a
podcast called where is CoLab?
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:You may recall that in this
episode I mentioned the Wiseman.
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:And I wondered if any of them
doubted their decision to
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:make the journey to Bethlehem.
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:The story I want to share with you today.
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:I came out of my musings on this question.
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:Otherwise.
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:Uh, by Ghia Cooley, the villagers
called my U-Mass the wise man,
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:because he caught the best fish by
watching the moon and the stars.
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:This I knew when I married him
and I was pleased with the match.
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:Think of my surprise when
I learned of his visions.
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:Um, uh, You should have told me,
your son saw messengers from God.
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:She only laughed.
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:You were the best of all the
girls at washing for gold.
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:I wanted you in my family.
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:This was true.
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:For generations, my women had
worked on the banks of the river.
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:And it was said we had the golden touch.
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:But just because I was part of
Alma's household didn't mean she
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:got all the fruits of my labor.
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:When I had a particularly good day, I
saved a pinch of gold for myself and put
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:it in a small pouch under my mattress.
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:When the pouch was plump.
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:Ooh, mash and I would build our
own home and fill it with babies.
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:Afraid U-Mass would be
distracted from our goals.
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:I begged him not to tell
a soul about his visions.
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:Where's your faith.
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:He asked, this is excellent.
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:Glorious news.
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:I must tell everyone.
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:And he did.
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:After that I watched alone
at the riverbank for weeks.
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:It was only because I found the
best black sand that the other
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:women sought me out once more.
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:Still I heard they're
mocking words behind my back.
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:Nisha's wise, man believes the new start
will announce their arrival of a king.
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:There were giggles.
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:Yes.
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:And he intends to follow the
star until he finds this king.
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:I rolled my eyes.
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:It didn't matter what they thought.
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:But they had said one
thing that troubled me.
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:It was the words he
intends to follow the star.
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:U-Mass was in the yard, mending his nets.
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:When I got home before
he could wish me welcome.
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:I threw down my gold
washing boards and blurted.
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:Tell me you don't intend
to follow that star.
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:I could see by the look on his face.
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:It was true.
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:But what about me and the babes?
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:I cried.
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:He reached for me, but I ran to our
room and threw myself on the bed.
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:I didn't come down for dinner.
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:When U-Mass came up, he stroked my head.
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:It will be, well, my love have no worries.
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:I wanted to believe him.
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:I wanted his faith.
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:So I said nothing more still.
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:I lamented what would
become of our family.
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:But as the moons came and went and the
pouch under my mattress got fatter.
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:My belly stayed flat.
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:Slowly with time.
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:My dreams of children's slipped away.
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:And I became resentful of the child.
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:U-Mass awaited.
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:He insisted I alone was
enough to fill his life.
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:But was I.
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:Every night he watched for the star.
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:And I wondered who was more
important me or his king.
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:Come in, I would tide your eyes
will grow dim with your searching.
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:You don't mind my watching the
heavens when I catch the best
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:fish, he said with a grin.
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:He was right, but I
wouldn't admit the truth.
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:The seasons began to pass more quickly.
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:My dark hair grade at the temples.
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:We performed the sky burial for
Arma and the house became mine,
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:but it was too quiet to enjoy.
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:It was during the moon of melting ice that
I heard a fervent call Nisha come quick.
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:Sure something was a miss.
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:I rushed to the yard.
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:The light was dazzling and I knew
instantly the star had arrived.
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:Not even my fist held before
my face could block it.
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:Silver light.
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:Ooh, mash hugged me in his excitement.
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:The king has come.
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:He said the baby has been born.
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:His eyes glittered with joy.
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:I was stunned.
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:The star had actually appeared.
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:It was true then had I
been a fool not to believe.
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:On impulse.
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:I grab U-Mass by his shoulders.
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:I'm going with you.
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:I said some of the joy
left his face, Nisha.
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:I always believed I would have
the rupee to make the journey.
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:He held out his hands.
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:The day has come and I am
still a poor fishermen.
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:Ooh, Matt.
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:I want to see that baby.
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:I made the next decision quickly.
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:We will sell the house.
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:And we did.
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:It was easy.
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:Some of the village women
thought I was crazy.
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:Others gave me pinches of gold.
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:For the king, they would say.
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:I sowed their gold along with my own, into
a strip of red fabric and slipped it into
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:the embroidered waistband of my skirt.
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:U-Mass bought two mules and
loaded them with supplies.
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:He wanted to leave immediately
navigating by the star.
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:But I convinced him to wait for
the yearly Trek of the rug traders.
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:When they arrived, we
joined their caravan.
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:As was tradition, the village women
place a dot of butter between my brows.
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:And tied a white scarf around
my neck for safe travels.
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:I walked with a sack on my back, held
in place with a band across my forehead.
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:I was the only female in the group and
Stoli missed the chatter of other women.
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:In my loneliness.
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:I began to question my decision.
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:Could I make this journey?
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:Was there truly a king?
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:Eventually we reached a Reddit and muddy
road where we joined other merchants.
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:There were different eyes, different
languages, different clothing, as well as
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:trains of mules, donkeys, and even yaks.
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:Overwhelmed.
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:I hid behind U-Mass and barely
spoke until I noticed him.
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:I rang the appalling form of a camel.
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:We will not have one.
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:I declared our mules are good.
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:They will make the journey.
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:But my love Ooma SJ.
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:I said gently.
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:If we want to follow the star,
we must trade for a camel.
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:This was the same day.
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:Our fellow rug travelers made
their trades and headed home.
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:I cried as they left.
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:What had I done?
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:I stood despondent as we traded my lapis
ring and necklace for more supplies
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:and strap them to our new camel.
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:He was kneeling.
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:When I whispered in his
ear, please be agreeable.
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:The camel blinked his long lashes
and continued to, to his cud.
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:But I think he understood because he
never spit when I was close and he seemed
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:to enjoy my padding, his soft nose.
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:U-Mass learned just enough Turkic
to speak to the other traders.
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:I could only gesture.
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:The road was long and the travel hard.
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:There were days with little
food or water and nights
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:fraught with bandits and tigers.
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:On occasion, we stayed in caravan series.
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:Which hosted the safety of wild
courtyards and the luxury of
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:easy water for our animals.
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:Here.
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:There was lots of talk.
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:And of course, everyone noted the star.
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:Especially U-Mass.
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:One night.
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:He woke me.
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:Nisha.
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:There are more of us, others
who have been watching the star
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:and are now seeking the king.
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:I was astonished.
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:More Wiseman.
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:Was it true then?
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:Would we actually find a king?
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:Ooh, mesh and I joined in a
caravan with these wise travelers.
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:The comradery bolstered my faith.
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:Slowly.
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:I began to understand.
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:The king wasn't here to rule over us.
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:He was here to reclaim us, to redeem us.
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:To change our hearts and
to one day, take us home.
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:In time, we followed the star
to the strange country of Judea.
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:Ooh, mash was certain.
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:We were close.
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:It seemed reasonable to inquire
at the palace of king Herod.
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:Feeling my clothes to travel
warranty to be presentable.
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:I chose to wait outside.
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:For U-Mass.
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:I found a bizarre and purchased a
silk shirt and great blooming pants.
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:I thought him handsome as he went
off to inquire after our young king.
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:Uh, last art king was not to be found.
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:What was found was a prediction that
the king of Kings would be born in
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:a small village called Bethlehem.
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:We resolved to visit this
village the following day.
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:That night U-Mass.
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:Woke distressed.
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:I knew the look.
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:He had seen another vision.
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:Visiting the palace was a mistake.
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:He lamented Harriet has no
desire to worship our king.
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:He only wishes to protect his throne.
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:Then it's symbol.
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:I said, you will tell Herod
nothing of what we find.
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:Ooh, mash side in relief.
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:When did you become so wise?
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:I snorted.
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:I'm not wise.
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:I have doubted this whole venture.
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:U-Mass chuckled.
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:Than perhaps my love.
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:You are otherwise.
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:Long after U-Mass had
drifted back to sleep.
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:I lay awake thinking about this term.
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:Otherwise.
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:Was it true?
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:Was my wisdom merely different than that.
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:Of U-Mass.
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:I was here wasn't I.
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:I wanted to worship the king.
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:I had become more confident,
more faith-filled.
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:Despite my weakness would this king sense?
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:My desire to believe.
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:It was nightfall before we reached
the outskirts of Bethlehem.
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:Here U-Mass was able to inquire
of a shepherd about the babe.
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:The separate eagerly directed
us to a simple stone cottage.
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:At the door, a lovely, bright eyed
woman appeared as if expecting us.
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:I thought her the age of
my great-granddaughter.
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:If I had had one.
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:Ooh, mash explained our search.
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:The woman smiled and
motion for us to wait.
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:Ooh, mash winked at my nervousness as
our band gathered in the courtyard.
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:Soon, the woman returned with a
child and set him on the ground.
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:We all kneeled.
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:The young boy look shyly at the
Intrepid travelers before him.
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:Then his eyes landed on me.
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:I held my breath as he tottered
forward, holding up his arms.
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:I glanced at his mother for
approval before standing and
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:scooping him into my arms.
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:I have held many, a niece and nephew.
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:I have sung to them
and rock them to sleep.
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:But this, this was different.
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:My heart saying to have him in my
arms and I felt my doubts slip away.
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:This was my king.
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:I brushed my cheek across the top of
his head and struggled not to cry.
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:After a moment.
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:I dropped to the ground, my old
skirt billowing out around me.
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:With the child still on my lap,
I loosened my waistband and
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:drew out the strip of red cloth.
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:After tying the two ends together.
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:I slipped the cloth, like a
necklace over his little head.
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:He touched it gently with that
fingers and gave me a sweet smile.
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:I was flooded with relief.
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:He had accepted my gift.
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:And more importantly, he had accepted me.
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:We stayed in the village for three days.
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:It was a short visit considering
the length of the journey.
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:But U-Mass insisted it wasn't safe.
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:And perhaps we had
stayed too long already.
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:When we left, I could still
feel the soft hair on my cheek.
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:And I knew.
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:I knew as foretold by the profits that
my little king would fulfill his mission.
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:He would sacrifice his life for all the
inhabitants of this earth and beyond.
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:And because of him, I would live again.
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:And one eternal day.
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:Even, I would become an Alma.
