Ghost Talk



  Ghost Talk

  Conversations with the Spirit of Wisdom

  Copyright 2015 John Usher

  ISBN: 9781311072399

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgements

  A Crystal Ball Offers No Lesson

  A Map Is Just a Map

  Poor Eye

  Apples of Gold

  Dried Bones

  Action vs. Intention

  High Gloss

  Adulthood

  High Price

  Change vs. Martyrdom

  Company is Praise

  Communication Is Interpretation

  Rudders & Words

  Martyr

  Selfishly Unconditional

  Are You Like Your Mother?

  As One Ends, Another Begins

  Player or Drone

  Ambition vs. Expectation

  Beliefs are Objects

  Count My Joy

  Anger is a Good Substitute

  Breath of God

  Consider the Cabbage

  Don’t Think it, Live it

  Buy My Day

  Birds of a Feather

  Destiny's Timing

  Fact vs. Television

  Easily Accessible

  Guard the Mind

  Erase Communication

  Even Change is Changing

  Expensive at a Penny

  Eye of the Storm has Many Forms

  Disease of Choice

  Called to Reflect

  Desire Conceals Truth

  First Meeting

  Gravity is a joke

  Greatest Enemy is Greatest Friend

  Guaranteed Answered Prayer

  Heart to Understand

  Hindsight is not Foresight

  Hungry Ego

  I was Ready to Go

  If You Want the Rainbow

  Judge Well

  Judge by Intention

  Labels

  Limited Vision, Limited World

  Love Leads

  Measure of Generosity

  Mind and Body are One

  My Spot under the Sun

  Nipped in the Budget

  No Fire Without Wood

  Occupational Honesty

  One for the Price of Two

  Only Feedback

  Power of Words

  Reality of What is Not Said

  Risk It

  Road Less Travelled

  A Little Like Me

  Slave to What?

  Snoring Wisdom

  Something New

  Spirit of Death

  Success is His

  Super Positioning

  Teach Me to Prophesy

  Beauty Remembered

  Singing Hammerhead

  Second Meeting

  Success of One

  Wealth Within

  Time Travel

  Travelling Reveals Truth

  True Freedom

  Universal Magnet

  Vanished

  Weeping Planet

  What do you Own

  What Manner of Man

  Wishing Won't Make it So

  Smell of Smoke

  Your Soul has a Home in my Heart

  Wisdom is Sorrow

  About the Author

  Other Books by John Usher

  Connect with John Usher

  Acknowledgements

  Ghost Talk is the result of many years of work. These stories are short accounts of interactions between a man and a Ghost by the name of spirit of Wisdom. The spirit of Wisdom is actually genderless which I labeled as him. The ghost's name is Wisdom, which I have written with a capital W. This capital does not imply that I consider the spirit of Wisdom to be God. I don’t. The capital W is to denote his name, just as if it was someone called Peter or Jack or Simon. His name is a noun, and I treat it accordingly.

  Ghost Talk was born in love; in love with life and the world in which life happens. I originally wrote these bits to fit onto an SMS format. I wrote the stories once in a while, when the notion took me. Often I wrote them in the dead of night and for my eyes only. Over the years I have shown the bits to a limited number of people. It is their comments that encouraged me to publish this collection of Ghost Talk stories. I would like to thank each of you for the words of encouragement. I would like to especially thank friends that have now moved away and are now profile pictures on my Facebook page. Special thanks to Julie, Charlene, Vicky, Mark and Floris for always liking the posts and commenting. Your interest, comments and encouragement made grey days seems brighter.

  I would like to thank every person and every situation that inspired a story or that sparked a train of thought that resulted in a story. Sometimes it was a person sitting behind me in a restaurant, or a strange in the park. A facial expression, an odd word, or a beautiful smile could spark a single story or several at once. As a result it is difficult to pick out names of people to thank personally and specifically, but Thank You!

  A broken relationship left me hopeless and feeling like I was invisible to the world. A caring soul picked me up, dusted me off and set me on my feet again. Adri, I am publishing this book because you saw me. Thank you for believing in me even when I did not. Thank you for letting me into your life. I dedicate this book to you.

  A Crystal Ball Offers No Lesson

  "Please!" I was prepared to crawl on the ground on all fours for an answer. I was set to launch a new business venture. While talking to the spirit of Wisdom, he shared the fact that he knew the outcome of my business dealings. "No!" he snapped, as he turned into a no entry sign in the middle of my office. "It would make life so much easier for me!" I insisted.

  "You will learn nothing about life peering into a crystal ball all day." The no-entry sign flashed brightly.

  A Map Is Just a Map

  "I thought I had her all worked out!" The loved one in my life had moved out – an event I had not foreseen. The spirit of Wisdom and I sat eating ice cream in the dark wee hours of the morning. "I had all her vices, likes and dislikes mapped out. I thought it would be easy to navigate this relationship." I sat sulking, while the spirit of Wisdom enjoyed sampling as much of the ice cream as he could get onto the spoon in one scoop. "Then, you realized that the map was not the territory," his voice was muffled by a mouthful of rum and raisin, "but that it was just a map!"

  A Poor Eye

  One night I shared a meal with the spirit of Wisdom. I sipped wine as I leaned back in my chair. "I have been poor most of my life," I began as the spirit of Wisdom refilled his glass. "I refuse to be pulled in by quick schemes and illegal dealings." I watched in vain for the spirit's reaction. "What would you say if you could give me one tip to develop and maintain wealth?"

  "Your eye is poor," said the spirit.

  "A poor eye? What exactly does that mean?"

  "Have you ever noticed when, buying a car for example, that you thought was new and unique? Yet, when you get out on the road you suddenly notice many of the same models. It even seems to be injected into television programs and adverts, where previously you never noticed?"

  "Yes, I have. It is strange. So, a poor eye would spot poverty everywhere?" The spirit nodded his yes. I reviewed my own life and noted how much poverty and bad luck I observed. "What should I do to counteract that?"

  "Develop a rich eye."

  Apples of Gold

  The spirit of Wisdom nudged me, urging me to share my thoughts. A friend was experiencing hardship, and sought my comfort. I had told the spirit of wisdom that I had nothing to share with them in their time of need. "They seek not materialistic comfort," he said before the friend arrived. "They seek the peace of your wisdom in counsel." I downplayed the usefulness of words to console broken heart. "If that's all they
want, I will go and get them a sympathy card at the gift store." I blurted. The spirit slapped me across the shoulder, "A word fitly spoken and in due season" his stern voice boomed. "Is like apples of gold in settings of silver to the one who gives it, and to the one who receives it!"

  Dried Bones

  Urgency crept into our walk as the spirit of Wisdom pointed down a path in the park. We had been meandering through the park, engaged in casual conversation, when the spirit sensed something, and he began to move like an animal on a hunt. We found the man sitting alone on a bench. His hands covering his face muffled his sobbing. "In times of illness the human soul will feed life to the bone marrow," the spirit said as we exchanged farewells, "But who can survive a broken spirit."

  It is true - a broken spirit will dry out bones and turn them to dust.

  Action vs. Intention

  "Did you judge him on the basis of his actions or on his intentions?" The spirit of Wisdom molded himself into the dashboard of my car, and took ownership of all the meters and dials. We were discussing the science of forgiveness, driving along the highway, using my anger towards a friend as an example. "I do not understand what you are asking." I looked down at the odometer. A signal, "TOO FAST" flashed in red across the instrument panel. "Humans judge other people by their actions and the results thereof," the spirit said as he drifted in fog form to the passenger seat. "But they like to judge themselves by the intention of their actions." He took shape in the seat next to me.

  "Slow down!" he barked. I chuckled. A friend's action had offended me, but I had never inquired about his original intentions. Just then, a traffic officer jumped into the road. "I did warn you," said the spirit. The speed dial indicated I was travelling above the legal speed limit. The spirit smiled sweetly as the officer came alongside the car. "The choice of judging my action or forgiving my intention - is yours!"

  High Gloss

  "I really like this one." I pointed to the shiny stereo on the top shelf. The spirit of Wisdom just shook his head. "This one is of superior quality" he said pointing to one along the isle.

  "But that one is so dull and simple." I stuck to my opinion, "I really like this one, and it has all the bells and whistles I would need." The spirit just shook his head in disapproval. "Why don't you like this one?"

  "The higher the gloss is on the outside the cheaper the merchandise is on the inside." The spirit headed for the exit. I watched him go. "Something I can help with?" The shop assistant had crept up behind me unnoticed.

  "I would like that stereo, please" I pointed to the one just up the isle a bit.

  Adulthood

  "I give up fighting off adulthood." I stormed into the house and threw my briefcase across the room. "Finally," I moaned as I threw myself onto the couch and reached for the television remote, "I bitterly embrace all life's bitter responsibilities!"

  The spirit of Wisdom oozed into the room through the wall. "We all surrender sooner or later.," he said as he hovered above me. "For most," he smiled at me from his lofty position, "it's sooner and with a lot less struggle." I shot him a dirty look. As much as I appreciated the spirit's company, I was not in the mood for his insights, I thought to myself.

  "How do you know you have crossed over the threshold from youthfulness to adult maturity?" He folded his arms as he looked down from his spot on the ceiling.

  "Easy!" I spat. "Becoming an adult is the direct result of losing hope in all the dreams and fantasies that fuel my zeal and passion for life!"

  "Ah," said the spirit, drifting towards the window, "you now chant the adulthood chant!"

  "What chant would that be?" The window opened itself as the spirit readied to leave. "Kay se rah se rah," he sang the familiar song as he drifted out of the window and out of sight, "whatever will be, will be!"

  High Price

  "The real world is a lot scarier!" The spirit of Wisdom moaned as he waved his hand and the television returned to the Cartoon Network channel. I pressed the button on the remote – no effect! I wanted to watch the news, but the spirit had frozen the satellite onto the Cartoon Network. He sat watching three Ed boys" shenanigans as I hurled insults. "Scary!" I bellowed.

  "And there is a high price to pay for reality!" He continued, "A scary real world with at a price, and you are moaning about cartoons."

  "Yeah, just nobody said how high the price would be, nor did they ask if I had the money." I flopped down to watch the drawings. "Hey Ed, here's a quarter!" blurted the TV. If only that was enough, I thought.

  Change vs. Martyrdom

  "I don't think I believe in anything strong enough to sacrifice my life." I thought aloud. The spirit of Wisdom just shrugged his shoulders. "The rumors of war make it seem like a time of unrest, but really this is the time of greatest peace in the world. No place for martyr's in times of peace." The spirit looked at me with an unsettling smile.

  "That's not the end of the speech." I could sense the spirit had an ominous conclusion. "The seed for real change has been planted."

  "More farming tips?" I interrupted. The spirit nodded.

  "The seedlings bring revolution, and revolution will challenge everything you thought you believed."

  "I thought I believed?" I tried to make light of the seriousness, "Hey, I know what I believe."

  "That certainty will bring you the opportunity to become a martyr!" The spirit stared past my eyes and into my heart. He saw the truth.

  Company Is Praise

  "Please don't leave now!" I lunged forward in an attempt to grab hold of the solid-less spirit of Wisdom. He paused for a moment and looked through my eyes deep into my soul. "You do so love company. Not just mine" he noted as he halted his departure. "It seems as if you avoid loneliness at all costs." The spirit moved to float directly in front of me. "Why?" His question was blunt and without intent or judgment. "I avoid loneliness at all costs because…" I had no real reason. "Well…. Who would give me praise for all the great ideas I get?"

  Communication Is Interpretation

  "How is it that you are able to communicate with animals?" Watching the spirit of Wisdom and the cat play intrigued me. "Do you speak animal languages?"

  "Well, sort of!" The spirit said as he stood up from where he had been playing.

  "Can you teach me?"

  "I will try. Do you understand that energy is molecules vibrating?" I nodded. "Emotions also vibrate. They vibrate at a certain frequency. Each emotion vibrates at its own unique frequency."

  "And by identifying the frequency you can understand what the animals feel and think! That is amazing." The ability to identify each unique frequency seemed simple enough, even for humans to comprehend. "There are complications, just as with humans communicating with words." The spirit warned me as he sat down on the couch.

  "What kind of complications?"

  "Even with specific vibrations for each emotion, the intention of the other creature is still open to my own interpretation." The spirit called the cat to sit on his lap. The cat paused to look in the spirits direction, and then continued to walk towards the kitchen and her food bowl. "Sometimes I still get it wrong!"

  Rudders and Words

  "It's amazing!" I said as the spirit of Wisdom sat down next to me on the beach.

  "The sea?"

  "How words, even of a stranger, can affect one's opinions and alter emotions."

  We sat in silence watching a ship pass us by, headed for the great open oceans. "Our tongue is like the rudder of a ship," the spirit said breaking the silence. "It steers the course of our life!"

  Martyr

  "They believed in something so strongly, they were willing to sacrifice life itself, for victory!" The spirit of Wisdom's voice was earnest and serious. "Was the cause worth dying for?" I asked. The spirit's head flicked as he turned to glare at me… silence. "Of course it was worth dying for!" he uttered slowly.

  "It's just that, well, I know none of the martyr
's or their plights. So, it would seem they died in anonymity and thus in vain." It seemed as if my statement sucked the very life from the spirit of Wisdom. He turned grey as he flopped back into the leather reading chair. His face became sullen and sour as he recalled the ghosts of the past. "There was a time for martyrs." The words barely made it past his lips. The grey washed over the spirit, making him look like a statue of ash. "In this world there is a time for those that plough, a time for those that plant, and a time for the harvesters to collect from the lands." His eyes seemed dark and sunken as he looked at me, "You live in a time of gross freedom and privilege compared to certain phases in history. Be glad you live now in the time of the harvester, and not in the time of the plough!" His form disintegrated and he vanished.

  Selfishly Unconditional

  "You don't value anything I do," the spirit of Wisdom glared at me as I spoke on the telephone. "So, maybe if I do nothing you will then value me!" The telephonic conversation was intense. The spirit did not help as he pulled faces and cringed every time I spoke. "What?" I barked as I put the receiver down. The spirit just shook his head and walked to the door. "I thought by know you would have learned something." The spirit stopped and turned to face me, "I had hoped that you would start to figure it out for yourself."

  "I have learned from you! I do get it!"

  "Ah, then your unconditional love has some very selfish intentions attached to it." He stepped backwards as he spoke and melted through the door, and was gone.

  Are You Like Your Mother

  "Which parent do you take after more?" The question rolled around in my head. A peer had questioned me about my heritage, and I could not answer him immediately. I pondered the question alone.