Heart Tales is a monthly newsletter for people who want to live life with character, wisdom, and faith.

Heart Tales is published by Jim Cyr, storyteller, crisis intervention specialist, and minister.

I have adapted this story from the version by Liz Mangual found on the Healing Story Alliance website listed below.

Once there was a woman who went to visit her friend. Her friend was a glassblower and had been blowing beautiful and brightly colored glass ornaments. There were several glass balls of many different sizes, shapes and colors sitting on her work bench. When the glassblower saw her friend she exclaimed, “Friend! I am so happy to see you! Let’s celebrate! Please come in and make yourself comfortable, and I will get you something to drink”.

The glassblower went into the kitchen to get a cup of tea. Her friend looked around and noticed the lovely ornaments shining in the early afternoon light. They were so beautiful! And she was tempted. She couldn’t resist herself. Quickly, she reached over and took one of the glass balls and stuck it underneath her arm.

When the glassblower returned she noticed that an ornament was missing, and knew that her friend had taken it. She thought for a moment, and came up with a plan to get it back. Putting down the cup of tea she said; “Friend, what a joyful day it is today! Please, get up and let’s dance.” In a tentative voice her friend responded, “Yes, let us dance”.

The glassblower raised both her arms high and began to dance. She smiled as she turned in slow circular motions dancing with joy. Her friend got up, but instead danced with both her arms pressed close to her sides, holding the glass ball tightly underneath one of her arms.

When the glassblower saw this she said, “It is a day for celebration, friend! How is it that you dance with your arms that way? Look, dance like me with both your arms raised!” The friend then raised one of her arms, but kept the other pressed tightly against her side.

The glassblower seeing this insisted and said, “It is such a joyful day, please dance with both arms raised. Look at me. Like this!” The glassblower continued to dance, spinning, turning and swaying with joy. The friend looked down and quietly said; “But sister, I am sorry, this is all that I know of dancing.”

…Always be ready to dance with both hands free.

What keeps you from dancing with both hands free?

“Clean out, O God, the inner stream of my life: all the duplicity, all the avarice, all the falsity. Search out, O Lord, the hidden motives of my life: all the conceit, all the anger, all the fear. Root out, divine Master, the destructive actions of my life: all the manipulation, all the scheming, all the guile. May the operations of faith, hope, and love increase in everything I am and in everything I do. Amen.”
From Prayers from the Heart, by Richard J. Foster

I work with organizations that want to equip people to handle life with character, wisdom, and faith.

I offer performances of folk and fairy tales, sacred stories, and personal stories that will produce laughter, coach character, expand horizons, heal damaged emotions, grow faith, offer hope, teach love, and build community.

“Jim’s storytelling spoke to many of the problems our women face on the road to recovery from addiction and gave them options for handling those problems they had not considered before.”
   Helen Raytek, Program Director, Crawford House

I teach people to till their lives for their own stories to tell.

“…Jim has the rare ability of creating an atmosphere of acceptance and freedom…which permits the participants to risk first time storytelling—with joyful results!”
   Dr. Mary R. Carter, Ed.D.

Check out the Healing Story Alliance website: http://www.healingstory.org/home.html  for stories that promote healing and wholeness.

“Tilling My Life/Telling My Story.” Learn how to till the wisdom of you life experiences and tell your story. Using storytelling cards, journaling,and storytelling, you will learn how to put a life experience into oral storytelling form. Call Jim at (908) 294-1822 or email him at jim@hearttales.net  for more details.

Jim is booking performances for 2006-2007. Call today so you don’t miss
out!

“…your newsletter is a wonderful resource, and I hope that many will subscribe to it.”
   Dr. Robert Béla Wilhelm, Storyfest Ministry

“…Thank you once again, Jim, for sharing your stories/your story and influencing my healing.”
   Eileen

Have comments or questions about this issue? Your comments and suggestions are always welcome! Send them to me at jim@hearttales.net