| The Gold Coin Story Written By Alaya Chadwick (condensed version for Applaud Women) |
Once in a time long ago, there was a young girl, named Dia, who lived in a small village high up in the mountains. Generosity was the foundation for their way of
life, and the villagers were known around the world for their generous hearts.
One day a deadly plague swept through the village. Everyone fell ill except for Dia. The healers in the village had no cure, and the villagers began to die.
Each day Dia worked hard to care for those she loved, and each night she prayed for “something” to save her village.
One day the village elder called Dia to his bedside. “Dia, you are the only one not sick. Although you are young, you are also pure of heart and generous of spirit.
You must go up to the top of the mountain to find a wise woman named Chandar. Go to her and tell her what has happened. Ask her what we must do to save the
village.”
Dia felt afraid. Taking a deep breath, she spoke, “Elder, I have never traveled alone or even outside this village, but I am willing to try. I love all of you so much!”
The elder sighed with relief. He had hoped she would go, but it was so much to ask of one so young.
Dia quickly gathered some food and water to take with her. Saying goodbye to the elder, she took a deep breath and began to walk up the mountain. She kept
walking until it grew dark and she was forced to stop when she could no longer see her way.
She slept out under the sky. She saw stars she had never noticed before and heard sounds that gave her the shivers. She was always glad when the sun rose.
The light brought her a little bit of confidence.
Day after day she walked. It seemed to be never ending. She worried she was taking too long and the villagers would all die before she found Chandar, so she
pushed herself very hard.
Finally, one day she saw a small shack. “That must Chandar’s!” she thought. Dia ran.
As she was about to knock, the door opened. Before her was an old woman with long, gray hair, leaning on a thick walking stick. With bright, piercing blue eyes
she looked at Dia and said, “Come in, my dear. We have much to discuss.”
Dia was so relieved to have found Chandar that she didn’t notice the woman’s odd greeting. She walked into the shack and sat down. “I am so glad I found you. I
have walked and walked for days. My village is sick with the plague, and I was the only one who could come for help. You will help them, right? We must hurry
because my journey has taken a long time, even though I walked as fast as I could. Let’s go right now. I will show you the way.” Dia’s words spilled out of her, so
much depended upon her. Chandar listened with patient compassion.
“First, dear child, you must eat. Then we will talk of what you must do to save your village.” Chandar said this as she handed Dia some bread and cheese.
Dia froze. “What do you mean? I was to come get you to help us. What more can I do?”
Chandar smiled. “You are the only one who can heal your village. I will tell you what you need to know for your journey.” Dia was too shocked to speak.
Chandar continued, “You get some Water of Life, found only in the darkness of the Underworld. You must travel alone and face many dangers. Once you reach
the river, the ferryman will take you to the island where a fountain stands. There you will fill your container with the Water of Life. This water is the only cure for this
plague.”
“Here is a gold coin,” said Chandar. “You must hold onto it until you come to the ferryman. Give him this gold coin in order to reach the island. Whatever you do,
HANG ONTO YOUR GOLD COIN!” As she said this, Chandar placed a gold coin in Dia’s hand.
Chandar told Dia how to find the Underworld. Dia was trying hard to remember all that Chandar was saying. She was also trying not to panic.
“Remember, Dia,” said Chandar, “you must hang onto your gold coin – no matter what –without it, you will be unable to save your village.” And with a hug and a
kiss, Chandar pushed her out the door. With her gold coin clenched in her hand, Dia turned and started walking again.
She traveled from the top of the mountain to the gate of the Underworld. At the gate to the Underworld, Dia took a deep breath. She was terrified but determined to
go on and save her village.
She walked down into the dark Underworld and managed to face all the obstacles with creativity and a growing confidence. But then, far off in the distance she
began to hear, “Please, help me. I am in great pain. Please, oh please, help me.”
As she grew closer, she began to see the huddled shape of a woman by the side of the road. The woman’s voice grew more pleading and insistent. “I have been
here in the Underworld for eons of time. Please, help me. All I need is one gold coin, and I will be set free. Please, don’t let me suffer like this any longer.”
Dia was deeply troubled. Her generous heart longed to give her the gold coin. Yet, Chandar had said, “No matter what, do not give up your gold coin.”
“Please, I am in terrible pain. I know you have a gold coin. If you have any generosity in your heart, you will help me,” cried the woman. “Those you seek to save
are most likely dead anyway. You have taken too long. Help me instead.”
“Maybe,” wondered Dia, “she is right. Maybe they are already dead. Maybe I ought to give up now. If they are dead, I don’t need my gold coin.”
Yet Dia clung to her fierceness of purpose. “I do not know for sure they are dead. It is difficult to not be generous, but I must be true to myself first. I have to go
on.”
She pushed herself to walk past the beggar woman, clutching her gold coin in her pocket.
She felt awful. She felt guilty. Yet, she walked on. She could still hear the beggar woman pleading, “Please help me. Please don’t leave me here suffering and
all alone.”
She arrived at the River of Life, where she met the ferryman, just as Chandar had described. He said, “Give me your gold coin, and I will carry you across.” She
reached into her pocket for the gold coin and handed it to him.
She was taken to the island where she filled her container with the Water of Life. The ferryman carried her back across the river and then gave her back the gold
coin.
Dia was confused. “Why are you returning the gold coin?”
“I asked for your coin only to see if you had managed to pass the beggar woman. You were not seduced into giving up your gold coin. This is a great challenge to
have overcome, one that those with big hearts have the greatest difficulty in overcoming. Every one of us has but one gold coin. Your coin is not for me to keep.
No matter what, hang onto your gold coin.”
Dia took the coin and placed it back in her pocket.
As she ascended from the Underworld, once again, she could hear the beggar woman crying out. Her heart felt sick with guilt.
“I know you still have your gold coin. Please, give it to me. You now have no more use for it. Where is your generosity?”
Standing before the beggar woman, she felt her heart tearing in two. She knew herself to be generous, but she remembered the warning of the ferryman.
“I cannot give you my gold coin, but I could give you some Water of Life.” Dia said. “I do not know what it will do, but I am sure it will do no harm.”
After much pleading and crying, the beggar woman agreed.
Dia pulled out the container and carefully spilled three drops of the Water of Life into the woman’s mouth. The beggar woman swallowed. Suddenly, there was a
flash of brilliant light. The beggar woman had disappeared, and a young boy now stood before Dia. The boy reached out and threw his arms around Dia.
“Thank you. You have saved my life. You did not try to slay me from fear or anger. You held to your purpose and still stayed generous of heart. You were not
tricked into giving away your life to save mine, for then we both would have been trapped here in the Underworld forever.”
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his own gold coin. As she looked at the boy, she could feel her heart open with joy and love. Together they left the
Underworld and returned to Dia’s village. The Water of Life saved the villagers. In time, Dia and the young boy named Claud were married.
The villagers came to know a greater wisdom all because Dia dared to say, “No,” and then, “Yes.” All came to know that the greatest help can only be offered by
those who HANG ONTO THEIR GOLD COIN.
Alaya Chadwick M.Div.,M.S.W., founder of The (W)hole Point Institute, LLC and author of Wake UP to your (W)hole Life and currently writing her next book Alaya’s
Fables: Tales that transform. This is an original fable written by Alaya in a condensed format exclusively for Applaud magazine.
Copyrights held by The (W)hole Point Insitute, LLC. contact information: www.wholepoint.us or www.sanctuarynh.com
Alaya would love to hear from Applaud readers.
Lisa Scally is the Marketing Director for The (W)hole Point Institute as well as a trained Interior Designer and a teacher at The (W)hole Point Institute,LLC. Lisa
Scally is a natural artist in all arenas in which she engages.
life, and the villagers were known around the world for their generous hearts.
One day a deadly plague swept through the village. Everyone fell ill except for Dia. The healers in the village had no cure, and the villagers began to die.
Each day Dia worked hard to care for those she loved, and each night she prayed for “something” to save her village.
One day the village elder called Dia to his bedside. “Dia, you are the only one not sick. Although you are young, you are also pure of heart and generous of spirit.
You must go up to the top of the mountain to find a wise woman named Chandar. Go to her and tell her what has happened. Ask her what we must do to save the
village.”
Dia felt afraid. Taking a deep breath, she spoke, “Elder, I have never traveled alone or even outside this village, but I am willing to try. I love all of you so much!”
The elder sighed with relief. He had hoped she would go, but it was so much to ask of one so young.
Dia quickly gathered some food and water to take with her. Saying goodbye to the elder, she took a deep breath and began to walk up the mountain. She kept
walking until it grew dark and she was forced to stop when she could no longer see her way.
She slept out under the sky. She saw stars she had never noticed before and heard sounds that gave her the shivers. She was always glad when the sun rose.
The light brought her a little bit of confidence.
Day after day she walked. It seemed to be never ending. She worried she was taking too long and the villagers would all die before she found Chandar, so she
pushed herself very hard.
Finally, one day she saw a small shack. “That must Chandar’s!” she thought. Dia ran.
As she was about to knock, the door opened. Before her was an old woman with long, gray hair, leaning on a thick walking stick. With bright, piercing blue eyes
she looked at Dia and said, “Come in, my dear. We have much to discuss.”
Dia was so relieved to have found Chandar that she didn’t notice the woman’s odd greeting. She walked into the shack and sat down. “I am so glad I found you. I
have walked and walked for days. My village is sick with the plague, and I was the only one who could come for help. You will help them, right? We must hurry
because my journey has taken a long time, even though I walked as fast as I could. Let’s go right now. I will show you the way.” Dia’s words spilled out of her, so
much depended upon her. Chandar listened with patient compassion.
“First, dear child, you must eat. Then we will talk of what you must do to save your village.” Chandar said this as she handed Dia some bread and cheese.
Dia froze. “What do you mean? I was to come get you to help us. What more can I do?”
Chandar smiled. “You are the only one who can heal your village. I will tell you what you need to know for your journey.” Dia was too shocked to speak.
Chandar continued, “You get some Water of Life, found only in the darkness of the Underworld. You must travel alone and face many dangers. Once you reach
the river, the ferryman will take you to the island where a fountain stands. There you will fill your container with the Water of Life. This water is the only cure for this
plague.”
“Here is a gold coin,” said Chandar. “You must hold onto it until you come to the ferryman. Give him this gold coin in order to reach the island. Whatever you do,
HANG ONTO YOUR GOLD COIN!” As she said this, Chandar placed a gold coin in Dia’s hand.
Chandar told Dia how to find the Underworld. Dia was trying hard to remember all that Chandar was saying. She was also trying not to panic.
“Remember, Dia,” said Chandar, “you must hang onto your gold coin – no matter what –without it, you will be unable to save your village.” And with a hug and a
kiss, Chandar pushed her out the door. With her gold coin clenched in her hand, Dia turned and started walking again.
She traveled from the top of the mountain to the gate of the Underworld. At the gate to the Underworld, Dia took a deep breath. She was terrified but determined to
go on and save her village.
She walked down into the dark Underworld and managed to face all the obstacles with creativity and a growing confidence. But then, far off in the distance she
began to hear, “Please, help me. I am in great pain. Please, oh please, help me.”
As she grew closer, she began to see the huddled shape of a woman by the side of the road. The woman’s voice grew more pleading and insistent. “I have been
here in the Underworld for eons of time. Please, help me. All I need is one gold coin, and I will be set free. Please, don’t let me suffer like this any longer.”
Dia was deeply troubled. Her generous heart longed to give her the gold coin. Yet, Chandar had said, “No matter what, do not give up your gold coin.”
“Please, I am in terrible pain. I know you have a gold coin. If you have any generosity in your heart, you will help me,” cried the woman. “Those you seek to save
are most likely dead anyway. You have taken too long. Help me instead.”
“Maybe,” wondered Dia, “she is right. Maybe they are already dead. Maybe I ought to give up now. If they are dead, I don’t need my gold coin.”
Yet Dia clung to her fierceness of purpose. “I do not know for sure they are dead. It is difficult to not be generous, but I must be true to myself first. I have to go
on.”
She pushed herself to walk past the beggar woman, clutching her gold coin in her pocket.
She felt awful. She felt guilty. Yet, she walked on. She could still hear the beggar woman pleading, “Please help me. Please don’t leave me here suffering and
all alone.”
She arrived at the River of Life, where she met the ferryman, just as Chandar had described. He said, “Give me your gold coin, and I will carry you across.” She
reached into her pocket for the gold coin and handed it to him.
She was taken to the island where she filled her container with the Water of Life. The ferryman carried her back across the river and then gave her back the gold
coin.
Dia was confused. “Why are you returning the gold coin?”
“I asked for your coin only to see if you had managed to pass the beggar woman. You were not seduced into giving up your gold coin. This is a great challenge to
have overcome, one that those with big hearts have the greatest difficulty in overcoming. Every one of us has but one gold coin. Your coin is not for me to keep.
No matter what, hang onto your gold coin.”
Dia took the coin and placed it back in her pocket.
As she ascended from the Underworld, once again, she could hear the beggar woman crying out. Her heart felt sick with guilt.
“I know you still have your gold coin. Please, give it to me. You now have no more use for it. Where is your generosity?”
Standing before the beggar woman, she felt her heart tearing in two. She knew herself to be generous, but she remembered the warning of the ferryman.
“I cannot give you my gold coin, but I could give you some Water of Life.” Dia said. “I do not know what it will do, but I am sure it will do no harm.”
After much pleading and crying, the beggar woman agreed.
Dia pulled out the container and carefully spilled three drops of the Water of Life into the woman’s mouth. The beggar woman swallowed. Suddenly, there was a
flash of brilliant light. The beggar woman had disappeared, and a young boy now stood before Dia. The boy reached out and threw his arms around Dia.
“Thank you. You have saved my life. You did not try to slay me from fear or anger. You held to your purpose and still stayed generous of heart. You were not
tricked into giving away your life to save mine, for then we both would have been trapped here in the Underworld forever.”
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his own gold coin. As she looked at the boy, she could feel her heart open with joy and love. Together they left the
Underworld and returned to Dia’s village. The Water of Life saved the villagers. In time, Dia and the young boy named Claud were married.
The villagers came to know a greater wisdom all because Dia dared to say, “No,” and then, “Yes.” All came to know that the greatest help can only be offered by
those who HANG ONTO THEIR GOLD COIN.
Alaya Chadwick M.Div.,M.S.W., founder of The (W)hole Point Institute, LLC and author of Wake UP to your (W)hole Life and currently writing her next book Alaya’s
Fables: Tales that transform. This is an original fable written by Alaya in a condensed format exclusively for Applaud magazine.
Copyrights held by The (W)hole Point Insitute, LLC. contact information: www.wholepoint.us or www.sanctuarynh.com
Alaya would love to hear from Applaud readers.
Lisa Scally is the Marketing Director for The (W)hole Point Institute as well as a trained Interior Designer and a teacher at The (W)hole Point Institute,LLC. Lisa
Scally is a natural artist in all arenas in which she engages.
The Applaud Women publication is dedicated to women in New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. It's purpose is to inspire, inform, and
applaud local women. The core of the magazine is our inspirational women's articles, most of which feature local women but occasionally we are
able to interview national women who we feel provide a unique inspiration for our readers. Our other articles cover topics of interest such as food
recipes, home, garden, beauty, health, fashion, dating, parenting, seniors, finance, business, hair care, skin care, advice, real estate, insurance,
weddings etc. Each issue has a feature section as well. Many of our articles are written by local business people who provide information
relevant to their business expertise. The Applaud Women website is also a resource center for local women including the most comprehensive
listings of Restaurants, Weddings, Female doctors and Hotels. It also includes a number of informational pages with links, articles and RSS feeds
to both local and national websites of interest to women in NH & n. MA.
applaud local women. The core of the magazine is our inspirational women's articles, most of which feature local women but occasionally we are
able to interview national women who we feel provide a unique inspiration for our readers. Our other articles cover topics of interest such as food
recipes, home, garden, beauty, health, fashion, dating, parenting, seniors, finance, business, hair care, skin care, advice, real estate, insurance,
weddings etc. Each issue has a feature section as well. Many of our articles are written by local business people who provide information
relevant to their business expertise. The Applaud Women website is also a resource center for local women including the most comprehensive
listings of Restaurants, Weddings, Female doctors and Hotels. It also includes a number of informational pages with links, articles and RSS feeds
to both local and national websites of interest to women in NH & n. MA.
The opinions and information provided within the Applaud Women publication or on the Applaud Women website are not necessarily those of Applaud Women, it's officers, staff or
contributing writers. Nor does inclusion on ApplaudWomen.com constitute endorsement of the views, products, services or informational content contained within the publication, advertising
on found anywhere on the website. Applaud Women values accuracy; however, Applaud Women does not warranty the accuracy of material provided by it's writers, advertisers or any
information provided by other sources included on the website.
No reproduction of any part of this page or any other page on the website is permitted without the express permission of Applaud Women.
contributing writers. Nor does inclusion on ApplaudWomen.com constitute endorsement of the views, products, services or informational content contained within the publication, advertising
on found anywhere on the website. Applaud Women values accuracy; however, Applaud Women does not warranty the accuracy of material provided by it's writers, advertisers or any
information provided by other sources included on the website.
No reproduction of any part of this page or any other page on the website is permitted without the express permission of Applaud Women.
The Applaud Women publication is dedicated to women in New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. It's purpose is to inspire, inform, and
applaud local women. The core of the magazine is our inspirational women's articles, most of which feature local women but occasionally we are
able to interview national women who we feel provide a unique inspiration for our readers. Our other articles cover topics of interest such as food
recipes, home, garden, beauty, health, fashion, dating, parenting, seniors, finance, business, hair care, skin care, advice, real estate, insurance,
weddings etc. Each issue has a feature section as well. Many of our articles are written by local business people who provide information
relevant to their business expertise. The Applaud Women website is also a resource center for local women including the most comprehensive
listings of Restaurants, Weddings, Female doctors and Hotels. It also includes a number of informational pages with links, articles and RSS feeds
to both local and national websites of interest to women in NH & n. MA.
applaud local women. The core of the magazine is our inspirational women's articles, most of which feature local women but occasionally we are
able to interview national women who we feel provide a unique inspiration for our readers. Our other articles cover topics of interest such as food
recipes, home, garden, beauty, health, fashion, dating, parenting, seniors, finance, business, hair care, skin care, advice, real estate, insurance,
weddings etc. Each issue has a feature section as well. Many of our articles are written by local business people who provide information
relevant to their business expertise. The Applaud Women website is also a resource center for local women including the most comprehensive
listings of Restaurants, Weddings, Female doctors and Hotels. It also includes a number of informational pages with links, articles and RSS feeds
to both local and national websites of interest to women in NH & n. MA.
The opinions and information provided within the Applaud Women publication or on the Applaud Women website are not necessarily those of Applaud Women, it's officers, staff or
contributing writers. Nor does inclusion on ApplaudWomen.com constitute endorsement of the views, products, services or informational content contained within the publication, advertising
on found anywhere on the website. Applaud Women values accuracy; however, Applaud Women does not warranty the accuracy of material provided by it's writers, advertisers or any
information provided by other sources included on the website.
No reproduction of any part of this page or any other page on the website is permitted without the express permission of Applaud Women.
contributing writers. Nor does inclusion on ApplaudWomen.com constitute endorsement of the views, products, services or informational content contained within the publication, advertising
on found anywhere on the website. Applaud Women values accuracy; however, Applaud Women does not warranty the accuracy of material provided by it's writers, advertisers or any
information provided by other sources included on the website.
No reproduction of any part of this page or any other page on the website is permitted without the express permission of Applaud Women.