Gold Coast, Australia
New stories update on 20 March 2010
New stories update on 20 March 2010
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A Work In Progress offers real life inspiring stories on
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Quick Links to Stories:
A Note for You from Graham and BevNEW About Sam live a life with no regrets
David's Story the life of a wealthy and famous man
Kirra Beach Dreamin' a day at the beach on Australia Day
Leave your Mark our enduring worth Living in the Present finding happiness each day with a promise of the future
Living Life connecting with life and seeing the magic around us
Love is Stronger than death how love is timeless and forever
Noel's Story - an Aussie Digger life works when we work it
David's Story
...the life of
a wealthy and famous man
This is about David, a person who's gone now and this is my snapshot (no offence intended) on what he wrote of his life.
David's story popped up when Graham and I were standing in his tomb and I know this guy's special 'cause everyone's whispering. I give Graham a nudge and mouth "Who's this David bloke?" Graham has no clue - its part of our Tour. Not wanting to miss out I ask: So, who's David? I get pained looks of disbelief. I guess on a trip through Jerusalem a few facts help so we don't look like total tourists. I was told get the book that tells his story. So I did. The more I read on his thoughts about life, love and problems and they were PROBLEMS - not challenges - the more curious I became.
I like David 'cause he didn't always get it "right". In fact, he did an awful lot wrong but was really sorry when he figured out he'd messed up and tried to right the wrongs, said sorry and asked to be forgiven. What's not to like about that?
I'll start in one fav spot - an extra big slip-up. He is rich and popular which in itself meant he had enemies.
The story starts with the words: In the spring, at the time when Kings go off to war, David ... well - he stayed home. His first mistake - he wasn't about his King business. He should have been out defending his lands from others wanting to take new ground - his ground. Land rights was a big issue back then - not much has changed!
Instead David decided to do some serious verandah time on the rooftop of his expensive house so he stayed home and minded his verandah instead of business. One night wandering around the rooftop he spots Bathsheba ("Bath") and thinks (I'm translating): Now there's a seriously interesting, good-looking woman. Bath is married and guess where her man is - off minding David's business defending the territory. So David invites Bath over for a chat and before you know it Bath "is with child". David's in trouble now 'cause if the husband, Uriah the Hittite ("Hit"), is away then he can't be the Dad. David plots: I'll get Hit back from the war zone and ask him over for a chat. So David asks Hit: How's your boss and your soldier mates? How's the war going? Usual chat stuff. Then David tells Hit to go home and put his feet up - along those lines. Next day David finds out Hit didn't go home but bunked in with David's servants instead. David asks: Why? Hit says all his mates are in tents camped out in open fields roughing it so he just couldn't go home and eat and drink and have fun with his wife.
David, resourceful and getting sneakier, sends Hit back to the war zone telling his boss to put him out in the thick of the fighting and then leave him there - hoping that'll be the end of him - and it was. No more Hit.
Now its full-time playtime with Bath and a new baby is born. From there it gets very messy. If only David had stayed on track everyone would've been better off but winding back the clock wasn't an option.
After lots of intense suffering and being genuinely sorry for a major stuff up, he picks himself up, dusts himself off and determines to get back on track again and he does. He writes of that time: I know how bad I've been; my offences are staring me down.
I like that David is not conquered by adversity but looks for what he needs to change about himself with an irrepressible freedom which won't quit. He asks: Make a fresh start in me ... from the chaos of my life ... put a fresh wind in my sails. He grumbles but gets on with it.
Maybe it comes from early years as a kid minding sheep when he'd sit under the stars at night watching out for bears and lions - that'd keep anyone awake - but David loved to sing and play his harp (kinda an acoustic guitar?) He would sing stuff like: I look at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewellery, moon and stars mounted in their settings ... birds flying, fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deep ... uuuhhh ...
Turns out this is the David - true story - who shot a stone from a slingshot and hit Goliath in the middle of the forehead and bumped him off which is another interesting tale but guess how he did it? As a shepherd kid he'd rescued sheep from lions and bears so I figure he had plenty of practice pitching stones with a slingshot and had to be a one shot wonder or get chewed up.
I like that David wrote what was in his heart - when he was angry he wrote what he felt. It's interesting to read of a boy shepherd becoming a wealthy man and leader of his country through great favour and crushing opposition and how he dealt with life along the way. He writes that we ... are like wildflowers that spring up and blossom ... and of impossible dreams - which come true - and of overwhelming failures. A life record to pass on to his son, Solomon, who was smart enough witnessing Dad's life to ask for wisdom - knowing the right path from wrong - handy.
David's life ends on the words: "He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honour." He made it through the bumps and bruises, triumphs and tragedies and still enjoyed himself. I like his open-heartedness, that he wasn't afraid to have a go and, succeed or fail, go again.
I haven't finished reading about David yet ... there's always a new page to turn...
I look at your macro-skies ... your handmade sky-jewellery... birds flying, fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deep.
We ... are like wildflowers that spring up and blossom
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Email contact address is:
bev@aworkinprogress.com.au.
© 2010 Copyright www.aworkinprogress.com.au. Stories by Bev D. Photos by Graham D. Website by Bev D. The Authors, Graham and Bev, assert the moral right to be identified as the Authors of this work. No part of this website may be reproduced and published without the prior written permission of the Authors. All rights reserved.
© 2010 Copyright www.aworkinprogress.com.au. Stories by Bev D. Photos by Graham D. Website by Bev D. The Authors, Graham and Bev, assert the moral right to be identified as the Authors of this work. No part of this website may be reproduced and published without the prior written permission of the Authors. All rights reserved.