The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Koran: be not of those who say the signs of God are lies, or thou wilt be
of those who lose! Verily, those against whom God's word is pronounced
will not believe, even though there come to them every sign, until
they see the grievous woe. Were it not so, a city would have
believed and its faith would have profited it. But (none did) except
the people of Jonas; when they believed we removed from them the
torment of disgrace in this world, and we gave them provision for a
while. But had thy Lord pleased, all who are in the earth would have
believed altogether; as for thee, wilt thou force men to become
believers?
It is not for any person to believe save by the permission of God;
 The Koran |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from In the South Seas by Robert Louis Stevenson: part of a martello. Even upon this first and distant view, the
place had scarce the air of what it truly was, a village; rather of
that which it was also, a petty metropolis, a city rustic and yet
royal.
The lagoon is shoal. The tide being out, we waded for some quarter
of a mile in tepid shallows, and stepped ashore at last into a
flagrant stagnancy of sun and heat. The lee side of a line island
after noon is indeed a breathless place; on the ocean beach the
trade will be still blowing, boisterous and cool; out in the lagoon
it will be blowing also, speeding the canoes; but the screen of
bush completely intercepts it from the shore, and sleep and silence
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: "Triple ass!" said Athos, rising; but he sank down again
immediately. He had tried his strength to the utmost.
D'Artagnan came to his relief with his whip in his hand.
The host drew back and burst into tears.
"This will teach you," said D'Artagnan, "to treat the guests God
sends you in a more courteous fashion."
"God? Say the devil!"
"My dear friend," said D'Artagnan, "if you annoy us in this
manner we will all four go and shut ourselves up in your cellar,
and we will see if the mischief is as great as you say."
"Oh, gentlemen," said the host, "I have been wrong. I confess
 The Three Musketeers |