A story is told of a wise old sage in Thailand that had the power to heal simply by laying his hands on someone that was ill.  No matter the illness.  The old sage was not content to stay in one place for long though and was difficult to find as he liked to travel around the country on foot hoping to find as many people in need of his help as he possibly could.

It was on just such a day that he happened upon a distraught mother crying in a field nearby the next village he had intended to visit.  Gently, he looked into her eyes and asked her why she was so upset.  Sadly, yet honestly, she replied that she was beside herself with worry as her only child was desperately ill and that it seemed nothing could be done for her as the doctors had all but given up hope in the child.

"But you haven't" asked the kind old sage.  "Never" said the mother vehemently in return; "The power of the universe is divine and knows no bounds."

"Indeed" said the sage with a smile.  "Take me to your child and I shall  make her whole again."   Upon hearing these words the mother rushed to her feet, dried the tears from her eyes and did as she was asked, sensing all the while a strong sense of calm about her person as she did so.

Within a short time the sage and the mother entered her lowly home in the village where the child lay in much pain, yet with a smile of love on her face at the sight of her mother's return.  "This is indeed a child worth healing" said the sage in a quiet whisper as a crowd gathered around him eager to know what his intentions were.

The old sage calmly hobbled over to where the child lay and gently placed his old, ragged and tired hands upon the child's face before closing his eyes in quiet contemplation and muttering a short prayer.

As he did so, the local village busy-body shouted out in disgust:  "Who do you think you are?  You are nothing but a tramp wondering from town to town looking for handouts from all you meet.  You and your words can do nothing here.  Get away from that child you smelly creature."

The old sage looked at the woman with eyes of fire and utter disgust before giving off a thunderous roar:  "Watch your words you old goat.  Your stupidity knows no bounds.  And I shall have none of it!"

The woman's face turned bright red with anger as a look of hatred fell upon it.  Shocked and a little surprised at the fearlessness of the old sage she moved a few paces back.  But as she did so; the old sage moved deliberately towards her before asking her with a smile: "If my words have such power to anger you, may they not also have the power to heal?"

The old sage left the village's shadow behind him a few hours later, having healed two people that day.  The sick child and the village busy-body.  We would all do well to remember that our words have both the power to hurt and to heal.  We should, therefore, choose carefully our intentions behind each one before it even leaves our lips.

(C) Charles Anthony McFaulds