NEZABORAVNOM DOMU SVOM (DOMOVINI)

Rano je jutro. Zora me budi, a kapi rose pokrivaju moje srce. U boli, mraku i strahu, kao preplasena ptica lastavica tesko sam napustio svoje gnijezdo, svoj rodni dom. Duge su godine u tudini prosle, ali sni o tebi, Domovino, nikad proci nece. Sjecam se tvog izlaska sunca, brda, dolina i lijepog Jadranskog, plavog mora. Sjecam se starca, njegovih vinograda i maslinskih polja. Domovino, godine su prosle daleko od tebe, a ostale mi bolne uspomene. Rosno mi je srce, a vinogradi i masline sada suhi.
Kao dijete pitao sam baku sta pise na platnu iznad naseg kuhinjskog stola.

Procitala mi je ove rijeci: “Svagdje moze biti lijepo, ali srcu mom najljepsi je ipak moj rodeni dom.” Kroz to platno igla je prosla i zarezala konac u njegovo srce. Stoljecima po cijelom nas svijetu Hrvata ima. Igla je prosla kroz nase tijelo i zarezala konac u nasa srca. Platno na zidu bez rijeci, a nasa srca u jednoj bolnoj pjesmi, pjesmi bez rijeci. Rodna grudo, ljubav je teska bol koja rijeci nema. Ptice lastavice, recite, zasto ste napustile svoja gnijezda, svoj rodni dom?
Domovino, kao dijete na tvom sam tlu nasao ono sto svakog dana u svom srcu nosim – miris tvog cvijeca, izvor suza u oku i jednu staru stazu po kojoj jos uvijek hodim. Na svom putu promatrao sam cetiri godisnja doba koja svjedoce – Bozja su, zdrava su, lijepa su. Ljepota je zdravlje, a zdravlje je ljepota. Svjedoce ono sto i postenog covjeka lice u ogledalu svjedoci. Ogledalo koje ne moze lagati.

Pratio sam kazaljku na uri i slusao otkucaje svog srca. Promatrao sam staro kolo koje se okrece naokolo. Sve to covjeka uci i pita: Uci svoje dijete i uzmi samo ono sto ti je dano. U mladom 21. stoljecu covjek dize nogu a ne misli i ne zna kamo je polaze. Promatrao sam zivot mravi i pcela – zivot im je sretan. Sluze se samo Bozjim darom.

Ostao mi je zivot usaden u mom srcu bogatog siromaha, koji nije imao dovoljno kruha a ni dobrih gaca. Bio je vrijedan covjek, smijao se od srca, znao drugom covjeku u nevolji pomoci i za njega zaplakati. Samo je jedan izvor zivota, u jednoj boji ljepote i slasti. Priroda je Bozja i jako je lijepa i zdrava. Stvorena je, izgradena je od ljubavnih kocaka. Gdje ljubavi nema sve se raspada, srece nestaje. Zivot, kao cvijet, bez vode i sunca mora uvenuti. Domovino, u tebi sam nasao sve sto danas u svom srcu nosim.

Rano je jutro, zora se budi, a moje misli oko otoka Krka i Rijeke lete. Jos par minuta i brod “Rovinj” ce krenuti od Malinske za Rijeku.Glas crkvenih zvona daleko se cuje. Zvone – novina “Borba” umrla je. O plavi Jadrane moj, hrvatsko more, zaboravit te nece. Domovino, kao i ti, uvijek u Bozjoj nadi zivim, zelim ti ostaviti ono sto u svom srcu nosim, ono sto si mi dala. Po istoj stazi jos uvijek hodim, sa vijencem u srcu procvalog hrvatskog cvijeca. Samo uz Bozju pomoc na ovoj cu stazi u svakoj svojoj knjizi u sirokom svijetu, za tebe, Domovino, ostavit svoje hrvatsko ime.

My First Seven Fortunate Years
God, thank you for giving us daytime, but more importantly, thank you even more for the essential and powerful nighttime. Who and what is time? Very often God, time and love come to my mind, and I ask myself, what would happen and why if, love time and God did not have a secret? We are well aware that time is the best teacher and healer, and each one of us in our everyday personal life can be a sound, healthy leader. It is one of the most vital freedoms each of us should have, but somehow, we are unable to find. Our thirsty minds should feed off this spring. Time is nothing more or less than God’s gift for a beautiful, healthy life. This is the only one good, healthy system and all of us would be fortunate, if we could learn and recognize what luck is. Time knocks on our door daily, at its proper time, but are we aware of it?

What happened to the chicks? They are big chickens, and they chirp like chicks. Do you know, can you see what time has done to the poor chicks? Parents, young children need to have their childhood time, just like nature at the proper time, to be able to sleep peacefully, play, think and rest over and over again – think, play, sleep and rest at their right time.

Playing is learning. I was very fortunate during my first seven childhood years. I played, slept and rested from sunrise to sunset and then I thought and played some more. It was during those important early years of my life when my parents slowly began to teach me how to work and how I should help my mind and my body. It was during those first seven years of my life when I was able to sleep very peacefully through the deep nights. I was not awakened in the mornings by my Mother or Father. It was life’s beautiful dream, the sunrise, who woke me up.

I believe the word PLAY has an extremely essential part in a young developing child’s life that it should be written on the first and the last page of the Book of Life. PLAY and PLAYTIME leave a deep mark in every young, tender child’s heart, body and mind. It is a mark which the child will carry with him/her life. These are the unbreakable roots we daily drag behind us. I am very fond of my early childhood days, the days which molded me into who I am now. I can be soft as butter, or when necessary, I can be hard as a rock. I have a deep trust in myself as I hold the “steering wheel” of life in my hands, and I can truly say that as a human being I am an integral small branch of nature’s large tree. When I observe and compare nature’s life to ours, I have concluded that I am still unable to place my trust or belief in the word SMART. What I do know is that no matter what we think, do, eat, and every single step we take, every finger we move, every time we blink an eye, everything is closely tied to and connected to our lives, time and our health. Our hands are capable of moving the hands of a clock, but nature’s time cannot be touched or changed without harming ourselves and nature. Some books are full of pages of good words and earth is full of good, naïve people. It seems to me that for years, SMART is lying on the backs of the naïve people. There are two significant words which must be put to their proper use in order that nature and we, the world’s inhabitants, can have healthy lives. These are the words EARLY and LATE. The important factor is the proper use of time between them when our young children are growing up.

I often hear people say, “It’s early, or it’s too late.” This expression is used on a daily basis by most of us. Past time is telling us that we failed to utilize time at the right time, to enable the development of the young minds. Present time is telling us that it is too late. I am addressing my questions to all thinkers, healers and teachers. Are you capable of seeing a clear picture of the 21st century’s new days through the present foggy days, which will tell us that too early was and is too late? Throughout my life I have always had my ups and my downs, but frankly, nothing has ever worried me more than the existence of some human minds whose deeds have had, and continue to have, an ill negative effect on us and nature’s life.

Our earth is covered by a blanket carrying many truths. The truth which would be able to hold the balance of man-made creations is missing. Please, let’s close our eyes and open our minds. I am deeply saddened when I must think, talk and write about the ONE TRUTH, our health and the well being of nature.

I cannot ever forget my Mother’s words she once told me, “My child, don’t ask me for something that I do not have.” We live in the modern times of the 21st century, and although we are walking on this road, it is sad but true, my child, children of the world, please do not ask us for that which we do not have.

It is only fair that before I go any further, I tell you a little about myself, who I am, and what my beliefs and feelings are. I believe I feel somewhat similar to what a tiny ant and a honey bee might feel when they are rushing to reach their homes before the arrival of frost or an onset of heavy rains. It gives me satisfaction and self respect to know that I am not better, or worse, than any other human being. I am my own best doctor, and nature as well as living from day to day, are both revealing to me that each one of us is meant to be a teacher and a healer. How else could we raise our children and help our grandchildren to lead healthy lives? How else would we be able to help one another have healthy lives and nourish nature, which in turn nourishes us? As I am writing, Pope John Paul the II comes to my mind so very often. He was an incredible human being and I must stop for a moment to recollect my thoughts and say, “Pope John Paul the II, the world will not forget you.” I have always felt very concerned and rather disappointed with those segments of our history and philosophy which are treated as normal, but yet, you and I know they are not. I only which that I could send my grandchildren to Pope John Paul the II school.

It is very difficult for me to look through the foggy days and see the fog. I hear someone calling me. Through the deep dark nights, someone is telling me to write. It is at this very time that nature rests, all is quiet, the wooden floors are still, the old door’s squeak is silent and most important of all, the children are sleeping peacefully as they dream. I continue to write through the deep dark nights and I pray, “God, please help our children walk through their dreams, just one more hour, one more day and one more year.” Parents, let your children sleep peacefully.

The subtitle of my work, MY FIRST SEVEN FORTUNATE YEARS, is taking me on a long journey, so please bear with me. This young generation, our naïve, innocent children and their future days need our help. As I write, I will try to save time, paper and trees and I will make an attempt to combine a thousand words into one – ONE TRUTH.
I was born in a lonely town during lonely times. As I began to grow older, my Mother always told me how she held me by my hand until the very day when I was able to walk on my own. She stood close and never went too far from me. I remember I was always able to call her, “Mom”, and she never failed to be there when I needed her help. I lived during the time of WW II when everything around me reflected loneliness and gloom. There were no friends nearby with whom I could play and I was unaware of the existence of toys. Still, I spent many hours, from sunrise to sunset, playing with my unique toys. There were the live nature’s toys of grass, water, flowers, sand, mud, fish, birds and other domestic animals. I remember the days when I attempted to fly, I climbed the trees and I fell down. I was not easily discouraged, so I climbed over and over again. I tried to swim and touch the bottom of the sea. I tasted the sweet and the sour fruits that I myself picked from various cherry, apple, fig, peach and plum trees. It was during those beautiful, early, seven lucky childhood years of my life when I made the discovery of how my life could be sour and sweet, and how the taste of sweet and sour could be combined. That is just the right taste of what normal, long lasting beautiful life has and is.

I remember when I was a very young boy I asked my Mother an important question. My question was, “Mom, what was the first food you feed me when I was born?” Her instant reply was, “Your first food was a breath of fresh air. Then I fed you love from my heart and milk from my breast.” What a beautiful woman, a beautiful Mother! Her strength was no more or less powerful than the morning sunrise. Whenever my family and I sat down to eat our daily meals, we talked and we laughed. When, now, I look back on those early years of my life, I see the beauty that lies within simplicity of life. I was brought up by my parents’ love and the basic, natural nourishment provided by nature. Wild berries, mulberries, figs, whole wheat bread, homemade cheese, raw goat’s milk and eggs were my everyday foods. My toys, my life, were so important to me that I rarely remembered I was hungry. However, this fat did not go unnoticed by my Mother. Till this very day I have an image in my mind how my Mother chased after me with a spoonful of food in her hand. I now realize and, therefore, have come to believe that what my Mother did then, was a very healthy step, a step nature also takes. It is nature’s and mother’s natural instinct. I believe, however, and I regret to say, that at our present time there are some mothers who either are unaware, or who do not know the value of these early essential steps of life. They are the primary, vital steps and the true voice. They are like an echo between the two high mountains. They are the balance, the life support and the truth which is suffering like the wilting grass. I strongly believe that no one was yet born and will not be born, who can better replace a mother’s healthy instinct and help the child more than his own mother. I cannot say slowly, but I can say, we surely are allowing ourselves to drift away from nature, God’s creation, and, therefore, we are losing our healthy, sound instinct and the healthy base of nature. It is one we must hold onto in order that we may have life support for survival. I believe, too often adopted, unnatural ways of life supercede the natural ways. I fear that soon we will be unable to help ourselves, and tell or teach our children what pure, healthy life is and what is should be.

We are living in the year 2005, the 21st century. We are a broken branch of nature’s tree; we are just hanging there. It is very easy for some of us to say, “Our children are bad.” I ask myself, how sad and shameless are we, not to be able to recognize and say why, they are bad. There is a law of life which simply states, “If we do not have, we are unable to give.” Parents, teachers, healers and writers, it’s simply that some of us just do not have, to give, to offer, what young children need and what their daily healthy lives require now and in their future. Please remember, and do not forget, that every child was born good and innocent, but it is easy to mold an impressionable child into something that he/she originally was not. I believe that this is what is happening to our innocent children. Some of us make our children into what they were not. I have never, yet, seen a bad child, a child who did not have a reason for being bad. I also have never discovered or seen a young plant that could not be bent at the proper time of its life, or a young animal that could not learn, all at its proper time. Although we are climbing up the steps of life rather quickly, I see there is one very weak step there, which will not be able to hold our weight. We forgot about the very first step. It is broken. Before we continue going any further, we must find the proper match and reinstall that first step. If you are able to draw a circle and come back to its original starting point, that same point will tell you why. I am amazed and I often wonder, has the world lost concern and love for itself, not to be able to see where we are sitting and resting. Is this the truth of what is it? I think the world doesn’t see, it doesn’t know at the present time, what time and money can do and what time and money will not be able to buy in our future days.

Ever since I can remember, I was always inquisitive to find out answers to simple questions. I remember asking my Mother when I was a young boy, “Why are you unlike some other mothers, or should I say some other parents?” Some parents do not seem to worry about where their child is, what their child is doing, what and when there child is eating. Some of them do not worry about the time, the essential time, when the child needs to rest and sleep.

My heart goes out to some of these poor planners, poor parents and to their advisors who truly worry and have much to do, but accomplish far worse than nothing. They, for some time, please themselves and not their children, or their children’s future days. They are preoccupied with lots of money, fancy clothes, toys and video games. They run to drive their children to as many after school activities as they can fit into their schedules. They worry and suffer from anxiety stemming from their child’s academic progress. They must keep up with the Jones’.

I find this to be above and below the simple, healthy daily life’s requirement and most certainly above and below the power of God’s creation and nature. I feel a deep sadness in my heart when I stop to think how some parents make poor, unwise use of time. They continue to spread an “infection” which travels rapidly like a plague, and is not only carried into future generations, but continues to interfere with the balance of nature’s life, and our life. I believe there is a medicine that could cure this problem but the question remains, are we strong and wise enough to reach for it over the high wall? Do you want to know the simple name of this medicine? It is called LIFE’S EDUCATION.
When I asked my Mother the specific question previously mentioned, she gave me her heartfelt reply, “Son, my life and my time is just for you.” There wasn’t anything in this world that was more important for my Mother, than my time and her time which she gave to me daily. Parents, that was, is, and always will be, the healthiest and the best investment you will ever make in your life for you and the whole world. Parents, your children need time at their proper time, just as you need that exact second when you must inhale your next breath of air. Mother’s, this is that one special instant in love, which you cannot forget and you cannot forgive.

I remember well the words my Mother said when I was fifteen years old. Times were tough and our lives were poor and difficult. My Mother was always in search of finding a better life for me, so one day she sat me down and said, “My son, although I love you very much and I do not want to lose you, you must try to find a better future for yourself. Run away, like the others are doing, cross the border and get yourself to America.” I am unable to step over the first step and not to be able to say, one beautiful America. My Mother’s voice went on, “You will find a better life there.” God, she did love me! My life’s experiences showed me that my Mother’s love was just for me. It was, and it still is my beautiful feeling which cannot ever dry up or leave me.

I am most certain that there will be some soft hearted readers who might be touched by my message and have a cause to shed a tear. I believe it’s simply a sign that you were also loved and in turn you are capable to have and give love to others. I also believe that just at that very moment when we may feel like no one cares or loves us, there is a God above who has never stopped loving us.
The fact, which I am realizing more each day of my life is that my life as I knew it was poor, but happy. I became a soldier at an early age of 18 when the word FEAR had no existence in my mind or heart. Army life was difficult and I often wrote home. I especially remember how happy I was when I knew I would be going home to visit for a few days. I wrote a letter saying, “Dear Mom. The food in the army is horrible. Most of the time I am unable to eat it. I am coming home in a few days to see you.” When the day came and I got home I’ll never forget the look on my Mother’s face as she greeting me. When I sat down to eat my favorite meal, served on that exact plate I used when I was a young boy, my Mother sat next to me. With a smile on her pretty face I could hear her saying, “Son, are you proud of your Mother?” I will remember those exact words and that special moment for as long as I live. My early memories, my parents’ warm sweet words and their touch, the little fork and spoon, the home cooked meals are unforgettable and will always be cherished. My good Mother was my good friend. She was my first teacher, my helper and my healer. She was the kind of Mother who always gave me so much from the very little piece she had on her plate. That piece was her very best one and when she departed with it, it was given with her whole heart. She spent her time for me and with me, and that is something I have never forgotten.

I have some fond, but extremely sad memories of the hours, days, weeks, months and years when my Mother and I waited for my Father to return home after fighting in the treacherous WW II. It was a war which left deep scars in my mind and heart. It was a war that left behind more than most of us can feel, think or see. It left behind a world whose wounds have not yet been healed and the world will not heal them. One truth and time between the words TOO EARLY and TOO LATE is not very far. The truth which has been suffering and waiting for too long will be helped. My family and I were poor and we worked very hard, but God rewarded us. Although we had little, it had a sweet taste and, therefore, life gave us daily much more for less. We were fortunate, because we lived with a huge hope, a hope that made our hearts feel rich. Although we ate five small daily meals, they were home cooked and prepared with organic foods which grew in our own garden. I remember, we did not have soap, so we basically washed ourselves with the rainwater from our well. At that time I was too young to know that dirt could not be washed off without the use of clean water.

It is now the year 2005 and we are commencing life in the 21st century. Just like the spring, a new history of an unknown color has bloomed. We now have an ample supply of soap, but I fear that our supply of pure, clean water is lacking. I keep wondering, if there is perhaps a logical explanation, why. Maybe someone is trying to tell us that pure fertilizers and clean air can help us and our minds and bodies discover what we have lost. Our modern, technologically advanced world is inhabited by good, naïve people. I am sad to say, however, that when I search for the word SMART in some homes, in some schools, in foods and in the air, and in rain, I am unable to find it. SMART seems to be reclining on the backs of some good, naïve people.

My Mother explained to me about the time when I was born and how I took my first deep breath of fresh air. When I think back, correct me if I am wrong, I believe that the clean fresh air, my first breath, my first food for which my poor Mother did not have to pay were all my first big gift from God. Isn’t it sad that if someone predicted we would not have what money could buy, it fell on deaf ears? Almighty Father, I am thinking, how will I be able to give back to you my dirty breath. Please help me learn what I do not need to learn. What is philosophy if it cannot mold and decompose and what is less than nothing? Children of the world, do not ask us yet for what we do not have. World took a large step away and far from its home.

When I think back I am unable to forget my early childhood days when out of need and necessity I slept in the same bed where my parents slept. I recall the warmth of the words and the embraces of, my early years and, even though, I’m a grandfather, I still find myself cherishing those very memories and holding them close to my heart. When I go to sleep I take them all to bed with me and I sleep like a baby with the dreams and hopes for another beautiful day that will come tomorrow.
I must not and will not forget the nature’s beauty. Nature was my friend, my teacher and my healer. I call them all my healthy leaders who helped and taught me over and over again the same words, the same truth, never ignoring or disappointing me. They taught me what human mind cannot and is not able. This is not a secret. It is a healthy truth, a truth that made my mind just like the tip of the needle. I strongly believe that too many of us are drifting away from nature, God’s creation, and are therefore, losing our healthy base of life. In my eyes and mind, human life, health and healthy education is falling in the arms of the last word of my book. I believe pure life is life, and it is a beautiful one.

Oh God, there are so many things flying through my mind. I almost forgot to tell you about my old friend, Anton, and what he expressed to my parents about me. He was my neighbor, and he often watched me as I played. One day he visited my Mother and simply said to her, “Your son is playing too much. He will never grow up.” Anton was a man who loved to read and he stared for hours at the written words, yet he failed to learn what could be the difference between LIE and TRUTH and who could possibly write those words. He was a man who ignored nature and he had little or no belief in God and his powers. He lay down his own road and consequently walked on it. He died hungry and poor, but continued to hold onto his big hopes with an empty heart. He died with his new study underneath his arm, a study which he took with him to the grave. I was there when he died. I was also there when the four people buried him into a deep grave. I whispered, “Anton, don’t come back.” I think he is back with his same new study underneath his arm, a study which Anton could not sell. It makes me think, “Who sent Anton back and why?”

Ever sine my childhood days I’ve walked on the unpaved road, the road that has a large sign. When I became ten I was able to clearly read what the sign said, “DON’T RUSH. ENJOY THE JOURNEY, YOU WILL NOT BE LATE.” Throughout my life, I have walked on the border of the old and the new days. On that forked road, a new road, new days and a new sign appeared. The sign asks ‘WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” I took a few steps and looked at the sign from the other side. It reads, ‘IT YOU RETURN, PLEASE WASH ME. TAKE THE DIRT OFF WITH CLEAN WATER.” The sign is still standing there and it reads, “WASH ME.” World, can you do it? Can you look back and tell our children where their home as before some man’s destructive creations dispossess us and in turn inform us, “This is our land, this is now our home.” Time, like true love possesses a deep secret. In our lifetime, TOO LATE could be TOO EARLY!

I, Radenko Fanuka, the author of Reflections: Personalizing Life, Nature, Man and God, was born on March 19, 1939, during the unspeakable days of World War II. The whole wide world woke up too late.

World, wake up. You are knocking on the wrong door. I ask myself, “Has the world learned anything yet?” The word “smart” advanced it-self too far and left wounded nature behind. World, place your hand on the Bible and tell your innocent children the truth. Whom haven’t you yet opposed? For a brief period of time, you laughed, and then with a full belly, you quickly fell asleep.

World, you won. There is no one from the entire field of nature who can directly fight back against the human race. But can nature help us? How? Yesterday, when the sun reached its highest peak in the sky, the cold lizard barely crawled out from his hole. My friend warned me, “Don’t take your shirt off.” The lizard overheard this and began to cry and so did I. World, please tell me, “Where can I stand underneath the sky free and without fear?” World, with one foot you did not move and with the other you slipped far. ONE exists against all nature, ONE against WHOM? The door of the 21st century is open. Future days are predictable but not impossible.

There are two hungry words on the run from the dictionary. The world must gather together and stop one word from running and the other word will not move. Just like always, it will wait for the last big bite. We humans around the world, always had and still have the power, which we don’t often use, to help ourselves. Let’s start praying for one another. Soldiers around this world will come home. For every woman and mother, an early morning sun will rise. Peace between humans, just like wild grass in the early spring, will begin to grow. God is good. His creation doesn’t ask for a better word. The word GOOD will work. It will not put anyone down. It will truly help all children around the world, in their homes and in their schools. It will help the rich and the poor.

World, always keep in mind that humans, and the rest of nature’s creatures, are made and connected, just like a spider’s web. No matter where and how it is touched, the entire web will shake. My message to the whole world is:

GOD WILL HELP US.DON’T EMPOWER THE WORD “NOTHING”.

What would this world be like without women? It would be an empty, dry place without a voice. However, the earth is green and filled with beautiful roses/beautiful women. Who brought women into this world and why? There is no planet more fortunate than earth, because women’s presence enhances and enriches the world. Without a woman/mother, who else would be able to utter God’s name? Deep in my heart, I strongly believe that God has the highest regard for women, and so do I.

Throughout life, I was fortunate enough, to be able to observe God’s creations. After many years, I have come to a realization that our soil, sun, day and night, and a woman are all closely connected and are a part of one healthy, strong chain. Unfortunately, I, as a human being, am unable to tell you that this chain cannot be broken.

The earth’s soil needs to be fed with pure, healthy food, which can be found within one truth, respect and love. A beautiful rose/a beautiful woman, essentially requires the same. Then, the soil can hold the key for a healthy, blooming spring, a spring which is connected to the other seasons which never cease to be repeated on a yearly basis.
 
A woman/a mother, when given an appropriate kind of assistance, will do the same. She will keep her family close together year after year for generations to come. The rest of nature will benefit from this. Why? It is because our earth is like one big, shaky spider’s web.

God’s creations don’t require much except to follow the given steps which stem from truth, respect and love. To give and help anyone is in itself a positive investment in one’s life. Be assured, sooner, or later, you will receive in return.

God’s creations, beautiful roses/beautiful women, exist. They do not have more or less power than early morning’s sunrise. Grass, flowers, trees and everything else breathing, follows the one path of the sun from sunrise to sunset, and finally ends in a dark, sad night.

Do you remember that first hour when you were born? No, that is not possible. A woman/mother, took us into her arms and brought our bodies close to hers. Like the sun’s rays, this closeness touched our innate instinct. How long have we been following this woman’s path? How long have we called her Mom? We have followed a woman/mother for many years from sunrise to sunset, just as the young trees, flowers and grass have followed the warmth of the sun. Eventually, we took a step into the deep, dark, everlasting, sad night. A woman, who is now resting in peace, told me I was born a few minutes before sunrise. When she took me into her arms, I stopped crying.

Throughout my life, I sense, and I see two forms of light. One is the sunlight of the day, and the other is the light of a woman. This light of a woman shines constantly day and night. A woman is a beautiful, powerful creation of God. She is born, and she lives with a true reflection, just like a mirror which was created by human minds and hands. It is a mirror which cannot lie. Our earth’s soil needs help. It is green and full of beautiful roses/beautiful women. Their lives require just one truth; respect and love. I would like to conclude by stating what it is that life asks of me. In its most simple terms, my deepest wish is for a better world. Along with this wish I hope and pray that one day, when I finally reach the end of my journey, I will be able to hold my head up high and meet someone who is more powerful than I am.

Grandpa, who ate it? These are the words of an echo I often hear. I also hear the whispers of nature. It’s attempting to tell me, and all of us, that our unresolved questions have already been answered before nature has ever been created. I am fascinated by human mind and God’s creations, and I have been observing both, ever since I can remember. Word smart causes me to ponder and it continuously brings me unrest. I find only one truth in all of God’s creations. Truth is truth, just as the word good is good. Good has not, and will not, alter its well known “taste” and its reputable value. Need I say more than, “God is good?” A good word can have the power to enable an ill person to get out of bed and walk. A good word can help preserve our health, and it can aid our mind and body in many different ways. A good word, in my opinion, is the best medicine we can find. There is no one who can change a simple good word. You might ask, “Is there another life that could be better than a simple life?” No, I don’t think there is. Our life requires goodness and simplicity. Our life, our health, comes from somewhere, and I believe if we want to be healthy, we should know what that source is.

I often compare my life to the life of the green plants that grow in my garden. Their life and health comes through the tiny tips at the end of the roots, which must be nourished daily by healthy food. Our bodies and minds essentially require the same healthy nutrients. We must evaluate and be able to recognize the healthy foods.

When earth was created, our life and health were planned within the same confinement of a vase, as that of nature. It was planned and nourished with love, and then watered with one truth. That truth came from pure air, water and food. THIS IS IT. It is one end of the TRUTH. Who will search for more or less? No one, except for the word, NOTHING. Pure air, pure water, and pure food. What now? Whose boat will carry us over to the other side?

I hear those same words again, “Grandpa, where is it? Who ate it? It’s not here.” These are heart-breaking words for me to hear. Why do bad things happen to good people? Who should we ask, why did bad things happen to our good nature?

I have always loved working in my little garden, in my spare time. I plant various kinds of flowers, vegetables and fruit trees. It gives me an enormously satisfying feeling to know that my family and some of my closest friends will be eating my organically grown food. A few days ago I sat in my kitchen, staring at my garden. Suddenly, the thought of having some leftover food, popped into my mind. My five year old grandson happened to be with me, so I asked him “Can you get me some food?” He ran quickly to where the refrigerator stood, opened the door and began to search for the leftovers on all four shelves. When he didn’t find any he said, “Grandpa, where is it? It’s not here. Who ate it?” I could clearly see a picture of our earth being held in God’s hands as one big plate filled with pure organic foods, as it once was. I, then, envisioned the four seasons as my four refrigerator shelves. They are loaded with food, but the organic food is lacking. My final image was of technology. It appeared to me as a rusty nail without a head. Once again, I heard, “Grandpa, where is it? It’s not here. Who ate it?”

It’s extremely sad. Whose power brought us and left us standing up against a high wall, a wall too high to climb?

I left out a tiny detail that I meant to tell you earlier. It was my wife who ate the leftover food from our refrigerator. When I asked her why she ate it, she simply replied, “What are we planting in our garden this spring?” Her choice of good, smart words had an immediate calming effect on me. I asked myself, “Can I go on?” Within the same breath I answered myself, “Sure I can, but only if I can follow the unpaved road, nature’s steps, and God’s good name.

Whether we like to hear it or not, all decision making was done without our consent, and before the creations were created. It’s a sad philosophy. Nature is good, but for some of us, however, good seems not to be good enough. Some of us like to be called SMART. I often think about what could happen if someone from nature decided to bring his name up to the pedestal and wanted to be called SMART.

God is good. He can forgive. His nature, on the other hand, cannot. If nature is unable to help us, the question WHY could be the very last question posed by mother nature to us.

My wife asked me what we were planning to plant in our garden this coming spring. I strongly believe it is essential that we learn how to be good “farmers” and how to treat our four colorful seasons of the year. I also believe God would be smiling down on us and HE would be content to hear that the four seasons, the four colorful seasons of our future days, could be called black, white, yellow and red.

Our earth is truly beautiful and rich. However, we, its inhabitants, have never fully unwrapped the package, or the gift given to us by God. We continue searching for more. We are attempting to look for something that will enable us to live a healthy, peaceful life on earth, and our search, I believe, cannot be fulfilled. We must first walk back, find God’s package given to us long ago, and reexamine it very slowly and carefully. It is in this package, in this gift, that we may perhaps, find the smallest living thing which directly or indirectly destroys life on earth. In this package we may also find a certain scent, use it and work with it, so that our lives, our health, and many lives of the rest of nature can be helped and restored to good health, without any harm done to anyone.

I am certain that God has not abandoned us. He put us on this earth. It was his touch that enabled us to have the power to have everything that is essential to our life and health. The question remains, “Will we be smart enough to search for it?”

I, Radenko Fanuka, was born in 1939 and lived through the unforgettable, unbearable days of WWII. During my early childhood years, I remember, I was often bitten by flies. They woke me up and motivated me to think and so did the human mind. It made me think, cry and suffer. Many flies were present during the atrocities of the war and they witnessed the unbearable truth. In fact, a large fly population existed at that time.

It is now the year 2005 and not too many flies are flying around. What has happened to them and why? They were simply flies. The new remarkable history was made very quickly and its traces of some old answers will be left behind. Why?

Entire nature has been hurt and badly wounded. Our life and the life of healthy nature require clean air, clean water and pure organic food. Is this the only truth? If it is not the truth, then it is whatever it is. Yes, entire nature is badly wounded, but does anyone have an answer bearing the truth? Is it possible that there could be anything worse from what has happened to us, than this truth?

Nature’s healthy philosophy stems from two ends, like a dormant seed that’s attempting to grow. One end anchors itself and the other end grows to the extended healthy point.
I often wonder what has happened somewhere down the line to life’s purposeful, healthy source of education? Where have we been all this time, and with what were we preoccupying ourselves? We began to beat an empty straw and we continue this futile task.

I am asking you to please help me find the proper word which I am unable to find. It is the word which could fulfill the daily lives of our children. For quite a few years I have observed one clear image of our nature and I have come to a realization that someone has used philosophy in a similar way as if a tree were planted without roots. Nature’s rightful responsibility was ignored and overtaken by man. Without nature’s help are we able to control our lives and health? My simple answer is No.

Life on earth has always been a priority to me. Man has left his footprints on the moon and we are in constant search of other planets and other forms of life. If we do find what we are looking for, and if someone happens to ask us one question and for one truth, would we be able to give it to them? What are we looking for and why? What is it that we still have not found on earth? My belief is that life most likely does exist on some other planet, but not without a fly.

You must forgive me, because although it is the 21st century, I am still occupying myself with the simple fly. I do believe that people and flies have certain things in common. Directly, or indirectly in the past and in the present man has destroyed lives, senselessly. The fly has two reasons for its destructions. It’s obvious that no matter where we go, we find some flies. Flies can touch anything that we are able to touch with our fingers or our tongues. If pungent odor were to be placed by our food we would be repulsed, and so would a fly.

Directly or indirectly, flies have harmed or destroyed some plants, the fruit and the trees they grew on, especially the peach trees and its peaches. I have reached a conclusion that there are herbs which possess a pungent odor. It is this strong smell which helps to chase away the flies and save the fruit trees, as well as the unripened fruit, from long suffering and an early death. These harmless herbs can improve our health and save many lives. God created herbs which will not destroy anyone’s life.

The best way to find peace, love and live a beautiful healthy life on earth is to be close to one another and help each other. Plants, too, can help each other and they will tell us one truth.
My belief is that life without balance is similar to a tree whose roots are rotting away. Balance is powered by the almighty, and not by evil. My hope and prayers are that God will allow us to walk into his hands, and that he will help us to understand the meaning of balance. It seems to be somewhat misunderstood or lost. We must not allow the control of the birds, other animals and human lives to be possessed by the flies, and leave them with the question – why?

Our earth is in desperate need of help, respect and love. There is no time to be wasted. Nature’s powers enable it to heal rapidly. Let us start planting dandelions, herbs and anything green, and let’s stop destroying what can enable us to have food, fresh air and medicine. The time to start is now, otherwise, we may witness a day when human tears water our soil.

When nature was first created by God, it was given love and everything else to sustain itself and life of man on earth. Time has come for us to find what was given to us. Then we must use it and share it among ourselves. God’s small creations had a big purpose in mind. Small things can tell us what real love is.
When you read my writing, you might be curious about who I am, so I will tell you a bit about myself. My early life was simple and humble. I was born in Croatia on the island of KRK. It’s a beautiful island surrounded by the clear, blue Adriatic Sea. I walked barefoot and wore mended clothes for most of my early years, and I can still remember the taste of dry bread crumbs. I completed four years of grammar school which were followed by three years of apprenticing at the cabinetry school.

Nature was something I began to love and admire at an early age. I spent most of my young days on my parents’ farm where I was able to appreciate nature and observe its abundant gifts to man. Although today I am a family man and living in the suburbs of New York City, nature has remained my best friend who heals my wounds. It is my basic interest in life, besides my family and friends. I loved writing ever since I can remember and in 2004 I was fortunate enough to publish my first book, Reflections: Personalizing Life, Nature, Man and God.

My writing contains one purpose, one hope and one wish. I would like to help someone, somewhere, somehow. I hope other established writers, as well as those who will be born with this great gift to write, will feed all our children with their healthy words.

Children need to be taught how to think and what to think. Writers, teachers, healers and parents, this job is ours.

I wish to leave you with my words the same way the last fallen rain left its raindrops hanging off the tips of the green leaves, so that the wind would shake them down. May they both fall where they must.