James Pyles's Blog, page 119

The Liars

Loren Jackson stopped her Jeep Wrangler in front of Erwin’s rundown one-room shack located a ten miles south of Barstow. He said the isolation helped him keep his head clear. Time was running out, and the investigative reporter needed answers, whether corroborated or not. The Senate vote to confirm was only two days away. Over […]

Quoting: Remember Your Greatness

Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin used to say: “The worst fault a person can have is to forget his intrinsic greatness as a human being.” Sources: Dor Daiah, vol. 1, p.172; Rabbi Zelig “Pliskin’s Gateway to Happiness,” p.131

Natalie

Natalie had calculated the exact number of images and other objects suspended on the wall at a glance. She filed away that value, along with item categorizations, for later use. She did the same for the books, opened and closed, the number of light sources, active and inactive, brushes, pencils, liquid, semi-liquid, and solids containers. […]

This Milk Will Self Destruct In Ten Seconds

He was a tall man, stark white hair, about forty-five years old. He parked the Buick in front of the hotel, but he wouldn’t be staying long. Walking up to the front desk, he asked the petite brunette, “Do you have a key for Peter Aurness?” She smiled. “Just one moment, Sir.” The young woman […]

Quoting: The Effect of Kindness

There are minor acts of kindness and major acts of kindness. Every kind deed and word is precious and valuable. Every kind deed and word is eternal. And when your actions and words have a positive lifetime effect on someone, you have created something magnificent — whether or not the extent of its greatness is […]

Odd Bedfellows

Sex with Rafe was a cervical pain, even though she always cried out, “Deeper! Go deeper!” “I’m…going…as…deep…as…I…” “No, not yet! I’m not ready!” But it was too late. The callous putz had finished inside of her, sending countless tens of millions of sperm cells searching fruitlessly for a fertile home in which to invade. “Get […]

Quoting: True Acts of Kindness

The less gratitude you receive for doing a kind act, the greater the value of the act. True kindness is when we do not receive anything in return for what we do. Instead of feeling resentment towards the person who is ungrateful, take pleasure in doing a more elevated good deed. Focus on how your […]

No Evidence

“It happened in there.” Fifteen-year-old Christina Stevens pointed at the opening of the tiny, twisted cottage sitting in the park. “I’ll have a look.” Senior Officer Angela Conner nodded at the teen then turned to her partner. “Watch him.” “You bet.” Rookie Officer Jordan Beck grabbed handcuffed seventeen-year-old Sam Kelly by the shoulder. “Why are […]

Quoting: Humility with Greatness

The type of humility the Torah advocates comes only after one realizes how elevated he really is. Then there is value to humility. A lack of this awareness is not a virtue, but a major fault. Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman was asked if his teacher the Chafetz Chaim, who was an extremely humble person, was aware […]

Quoting: Recognize Your Greatness

A person is obligated to say: “The world was created for me” (Talmud – Sanhedrin 37a), and “When will my deeds reach the level of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?” The Torah attitude is that we are obligated to be aware of our greatness. Feel proud that you are created in the image of the Almighty. […]