Last month I introduced you to a new-to-me author when she shared treasures with us so please welcome Laura-Dawn Moule back to our blog!
Take it away, Laura.......
A silence fills the ballroom as the audience waits
with nervous anticipation. Lovely, young hands hold a glittering tiara that
reflects a fiery, iridescent light, one that promises to change someone’s
destiny forever. The host’s deep voice finally speaks: “The winner is…” Another
unbearable pause. Then, he calls your name! Thunderous applause wells up like
tidal waves. As you step forward, a
beautiful woman who holds the stunning coronet walks towards you. With arms
upraised, only a few seconds pass before you feel the weight of the dazzling
crown on your head. You can’t see it, but there is an unfamiliar heaviness
you’ve never experienced before. The crowd responds with simultaneous weeping,
yelling, and cheering. You turn around to face the audience and take the
exhilarating walk, waving at people who can’t take their eyes off you as the
photographers snap away. The flashes of light seem to capture the immortality
of the moment __ one that transcends time and place. You’ve
fulfilled a fantasy for them. You are the fairy-tale princess of their
childhood.
An
already peaceful antechamber becomes even quieter as the much-anticipated meeting
is moments away. Then finally, the door begins to open. A small stooped figure
arrayed in a white sari meekly walks out. The deep lines of her face reflect a
life of deprivation and sacrifice, while her grey eyes mirror fantastical
stories of service. Her wimple is the whitest of white with three definitive
blue bands that frame her glorious countenance. Her thin lips speak with
authority in a distinct Albanian accent. She looks directly into your eyes and addresses
you. You feel chosen. The echoes of the conversation in the sacred vestibule
carry an eternal undertone that transcends time and place. She has fulfilled a
fantasy for you. She is the fairy godmother of your childhood.
Most
of us are fascinated by fairytales. The yearning to hear about them or perhaps to
even live them out ourselves stems from childhood when our parents read us the bedtime
classics. They are beguiling because every character plays a specific role in a
world where the battle between good and evil is an ever-present reality. At the
end, good prevails and any enemy is destroyed. In Reflections of India: The Spiritual Journey of a Beauty Queen, you
will read the moving story of my experience from the exciting world of beauty
pageants to the harsh realities of life seen during the time I spent working
with the desperately poor. From a crowning to a calling, my pursuit of the path
less traveled provides a unique glimpse into my quest to find God in the most
unexpected places. A chance meeting with one of the world’s greatest humanitarians
inspires me to travel to India to work in the Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta
(Kolkata) slums in an era during which my choice was considered unusual. To my
surprise, I find beauty in the midst of great suffering. May the words
contained in this book help you lift the veil so you can discover the fairytale
that exists for you as you discover how you can play out a unique role in a troubled
world that will one day come to its rightful conclusion (Revelation 20:1 –
22:21).
Laura-Dawn
Moule
Wow, so true. Thanks Laura-Dawn!
Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!
Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT
5 comments:
Thanks so much for sharing. What a wonderful experience!
Thanks Carol. It sure was!
What you did shows courage and concern for humanity.
This is a beautiful excerpt. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks everyone.
Post a Comment