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.

An adaptation of a Japanese folktale.

Once there was a humble stonecutter whose name was Osamu. Each day the sound of his hammer and chisel rang out as he chipped away at the foot of the mountain. He hewed blocks of stone used for temples, and palaces, and other important buildings. He asked for nothing more than the ability to labor each day to provide food for his family.

One day, as the stonecutter toiled, a prince paraded by proceeded by soldiers and followed by musicians and dancers. He was clothed in a silk robe of many beautiful colors and carried on the shoulders of his servants. The stonecutter watched until the magnificent procession had passed out of sight.

Osamu cut no more stone that day. He returned to his hut, lay on his straw mat and began to think about the prince. He prayed that he might have such great wealth. Then he fell asleep.

God answered his prayer and that night transformed the humble stonecutter into a prince. When Osamu awoke the next morning he was overjoyed. He lived in a palace and wore robes of the finest silk. Musicians played for him and servants bowed low. He commanded great armies and ruled over all the people.

Every afternoon Osamu walked in his garden. He loved the fragrant petals and graceful vines. But the sun burned his flowers. He picked up the withered blossoms in his hand and saw the power of the sun.

Osamu wanted to be as powerful as the sun so he asked God to change him into the sun. God answered his prayer. Osamu became the sun, and he was happy for a while. To show his power he burned the fields and parched the lands. People begged for water.

Then a large, dark cloud came and covered him. The bright rays of the sun were blocked out. Osamu then knew that the cloud was even more powerful than the sun. He prayed to be more powerful than the sun. He asked to be changed into a cloud.

God heard and answered his prayer and Osamu became a cloud. With his new power he made violent storms. Thunder rolled across the sky, rivers overran their banks, fields were flooded, huts and palaces were washed away. But the mountain remained.

Osamu became angry because the mountain was more powerful than the cloud. “Make me into the mountain!” Osamu screamed to heaven.

God answered Osamu’s prayer. Osamu became the mountain. He was more powerful than the prince, stronger than the sun, mightier than the cloud.

Osamu felt the sharp sting of a chisel. It was a humble stonecutter, chipping away at his feet.

Deep inside, he trembled.

Osamu asked God to give him back his humble life. God answered his prayer. Each day the sound of his hammer and chisel rang out as he chipped away at the foot of the mountain.

Osamu asked for nothing more. And Osamu, the humble stonecutter, lived happily all the days of his life.

Am I thankful for the life I have this moment?

“Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.” –Estonian proverb

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.

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“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

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Your comments and feedback on this newsletter and my new webpage are welcome!

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“…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

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