The Voice of One Laughing in the Wilderness

Synopsis:   A tale of a young Tibetan monk who feels she is the reincarnation of Isaiah the prophet.   She takes a quest to bring her message to those who will hear it only to find herself laughing all the more when an unexpected love comes into her life.   

          ‘Birds don’t fly, they are flown.   Fish don’t swim, they are carried.’—Taoist principal, tenet of Feng Shui

          ‘He must increase.  I must decrease.’—John the Baptist, Book of John

          ‘Laughter is the language of the gods.’—Buddhist Proverb 

          ‘Make an effort to be.’—Mooji 

Chapter 1—Norbu’s Awakening

            Norbu was like any other Tibetan in the convent from the time she had been born.  She was lavished with love, affection and knowledge from around the globe.   However, since she could open her mouth, she always felt that she had a mission from the Divine.   She called him Abba, after the Abrahamic understanding of just how intimate God was with His creation.   She didn’t think it blasphemous or apostasy to do so, but many of the monks were beginning to question their teachings and wondering what she was going on about.   Thus, they took her to the highest llama in their order and had him look her over. 

            ‘She keeps saying she’s the prophet Isaiah.   She knows the Bible inside and out.  As far as I know, Norbu has never read the Bible.   She can quote many other eschatological volumes by memory.   I honestly don’t know how she’s doing it.  I think she is the real McCoy.’, one of the monks said, clearly perplexed by what he was witnessing.  

            The high monk examined Norbu and asked her if she could give him an example of Isaiah’s best work. 

            ‘I know it, I wrote it thousands of years ago.’, Norbu said, matter-of-factly, and began to recite.  There wasn’t anything pretentious or bombastic about her.  She was humble and kind, gentle and magnanimous.   She was completely selfless.  All she wished to do was to spread the good news wherever she went and help others to realize that fate wasn’t predestined.  Human beings did have control over many aspects of their lives.   She also knew that people needed to reassess what living on our fragile planet really meant.   With all the wisdom in her mind, she knew the answers to most questions others asked of her, but she knew she didn’t know everything.  Only the Sacred Intelligence was the truest Source of all things, including all the knowledge of the Universe.   

Chapter 2—Branching Out

            When Norbu reached her adolescence, she asked the monks if she could travel on her own to fulfill her purpose. 

            ‘I can’t just stay here with such an important message.   Something like this must be shared.   It’s a tale of grace, mercy and most importantly, love.’, Norbu said, sagely.   The monks didn’t want her to leave the sanctuary and comfort of her home, but knew it would be selfish to keep her wisdom behind lock and key.   Reluctantly, tearfully, but with light hearts, they let her go and gave her a passport to travel the world.   Granted, she would have to scrimp by and eke out a living to make her dream a reality, but she didn’t seem to mind that.  

            Norbu began to survive due to the kindness of strangers and the instant rapport she formed with nearly everyone she met.   She had not met anyone that she couldn’t make into a friend, especially when she told them about manifest destiny and intention.  Once people learned they were co-creators, they felt more empowered and therefore passed on the spirit of giving, love and greatness to others.  It was a positive contagion.   

            Before long, Norbu found herself in Israel.   Granted it wasn’t the safest place to share pertinent news about the planet’s fate, but as she has said before, her mouth could not be closed.  Sometimes, she went about her prophesying by singing and dancing.   No one seemed to mind.  In fact, they found the change of pace and the music rather entrancing, hypnotic and catchy.   It was enlightening, uplifting and serene.   Her presence was beginning to help people realize just how petty they had been, especially in letting themselves become so hardened, jaded and fundamental.   The freer they were, the more they could coexist, learn and grow together.   They needed each other, and it took a prophet to show them the way.   An unlikely prophet from Tibet !  

Chapter 3—Zachariah

            Zachariah had been raised in the temple his whole life, but he was agnostic.   He didn’t form himself around the tenets or dogma of the Jewish belief but he did know that there was a creative Force in the Universe that was responsible for all things and was integral in his arrival in the world.  He held nothing more dear to his heart than empiricism and what he called the ‘Divine Matrix’.   

            One hot August day, Zachariah had been wandering in the holy city.  He was picking up some fresh fruits and vegetables in the open marketplace and accidentally bumped into someone behind him.    The minute he turned around, he saw the loveliest woman he had ever beheld.

            ‘Excuse me ! I got lost in what I was doing.’, Zach apologized, bowing his head respectfully, not really knowing why he was being so formal.   His whole face had turned red in the instant he had seen her.  It felt like his heart was in his throat and all he could get to emit from his lips were mere squeaks.  

            ‘Don’t worry.  No one was harmed.  I’m Norbu.  Originally I am from Tibet, but this feels more like home.’, she said, bowing in response.   The name sent shivers through his whole being.  It was a wind whisper, a cool refreshing breeze, stirring him from sleep. 

            ‘Lovely name.  I’m Zachariah.’, Zach retorted.   The two formed an instant bond that day in the marketplace.   Zach even gave her a lily from a florist who happened to be conveniently located in a booth nearby. 

            ‘Something beautiful for someone beautiful.’, he said, poetically.   Zach had never had a penchant for being schmaltzy or overly lyrical, but around Norbu, he couldn’t help himself.  He wanted to go out of his way just to see her precious smile, hear her laugh and simply bask in the radiance that surrounded her.  

Chapter 4—Modern Day Prophetess

            Zachariah was impressed with the wealth of information Norbu had.  For a prophetess, she was very humble and not at all tainted by fundamentalist mentality.  She gave out facts without blinking, but she was so cautious, astute, tactful and assertive when doing so.   No one minded hearing the truth from her.   There were some though, that thought she was affected and perhaps a little loopy. 

            ‘The same was told of Joan of Arc.  I just hope I don’t meet the same end as she !’, Norbu said, chuckling.   Zachariah was surprised at her black and self-deprecating humor, but sometimes, it came with the vocation.  

            The two of them hardly ever separated.  The only time Norbu and Zach didn’t see each other was when they were in their prospective jobs.   Norbu had nowhere to stay at the time, but Zachariah didn’t find it taboo to have her stay at his house.  He wanted to care for her, shelter her and feed her.   He loved her more than anything else in life could provide him.  He then knew that the Sacred Mind of the Universe had given him this beautiful treasure and he would cherish her for the rest of his life.  

Chapter 5—The Jewel in His Crown

            Many people in the community had come to Norbu for advice as well as healing.  She seemed to have many supernatural gifts and it made her extremely popular.  Many of the modern-day Levites believed she was right about her title, ‘Isaiah in female form’, but she was extremely down-to-earth about it.   Even though she was surrounded by a throng of people most of the time and had become affluent, it didn’t affect her personality.   She was still able to give of her time and resources freely, especially to her newlywed husband. 

            Before long, the newlyweds had become parents and they had another mouth to feed.  It was a little girl named Rachel, after Zachariah’s mother.   His parents were tickled pink that they had a granddaughter to spoil.  She had most of his features and shared his penchant for inquisitiveness at an early age.   Zachariah couldn’t believe how happy he was.  He had never planned on becoming a parent, but he was blessed twice over when seven years passed and he had a son named Solomon, after his great grandpa.   Meetings with his family were more frequent since he had grandchildren.   He never really understood why that was, but he never questioned it.   All he knew was that Norbu had brought all this positive change into his life and she was transforming everything around her.   People were becoming so much freer, non-judgmental and accepting.   Still, there were those who weren’t keen on her marriage to Zachariah, but neither one of the lovers, parents, or friends even let their negativity touch them.

Epilogue

            As the years passed rapidly by, Rachel and Solomon grew taller, handsomer and wiser.  They far exceeded Zachariah and Norbu’s hopes and dreams.   Certainly they had their flaws, but they were miniscule compared to the good they had done for the community.   Norbu couldn’t believe how quickly the two of them had grown.  One day she and Zach had been changing their diapers and the next, they were graduating from high school and heading off to college.  The two parents couldn’t have been prouder of their children.   They knew they would do great things but still enjoy the fruits and blessings of being children at heart.   Not everyone knew being youthful was the secret of living a good, full, enjoyable life; humor, music and love were at the root of that.   Norbu often had to teach people how to be childlike, but she didn’t mind.  It made life so much more enjoyable.   Even in her middle-age, she was still learning and still teaching, just like Zach was.   So long as they could reach others in this way, they knew that they were living exceptional, extraordinary lives, even though others would say they were ‘common’.  They didn’t mind, because they knew the secret existed through unconditional love, and so long as they had breath in their lungs, they shared it with all around them, no matter their background.   It transformed the community and renewed their sense of well-being.  People became healed just because of compassion.  It proves that agape can and still does work miracles.  All it takes is a gentle touch or a sweet smile, and the seed grows plentifully in the recipient’s heart, ready to pass on to others the recipient touches.   That is the power of the ripple effect.  

The End