Shortly before he died, my father-in-law summoned his family.
‘I know that death is only a passageway into the next world. When I have gone through it, I will send you a sign that it really is worthwhile helping others in this life.’ He wanted to be cremated and for his ashes to be scattered over Arpoador Beach while a tape recorder played his favourite music.
He died two days later. A friend arranged the cremation in São Paulo and – once back in Rio – we went straight to the beach armed with a tape recorder, tapes and the package containing the cremation urn. When we reached the sea, we got a surprise. The lid of the urn was firmly screwed down. We couldn’t open it.
The only person around was a beggar, and he came over to us and asked: ‘What’s the problem?’
My brother-in-law said:
‘We need a screwdriver so that we can get at my father’s ashes inside this urn.’
‘Well, he must have been a very good man, because I’ve just found this,’ said the beggar.
And he held out a screwdriver.
{ 172 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →
love your stories..its always a delight reading them…looking forward for more! God bless!!
hi paulo – greetings from eire/ireland. i read about 10 of your books in a row. just did camino in spain. i love your inpirational writing and your spirituality. i think christina was brilliant that she kept after you to use your gift – your writing. she too is a true artist.how wonderful that her dad sent a sign thru a humble man. god is good angels abound. siobhán
…cosas de la vida…
I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.
trés trés beau, on essaye de trouver dans la vie ce que vous ecrivez l’aide, l’adiration ,l’innocence ,d’un coin de rue qui peuvent devenir un paradis ,…c’est bon de vous lire félicitation.
I think this is a amazing story, this really provides the meaning of life and how to live to ones potential all in one…How ones word is bond and How we should never count our chickens before they’ve hatched…It allowed me to open my mind even to the simplest things in my life and look deeper into the complicated things I dont have a screw driver to pry them open with!!!!
A singeleza.
Deux amis se sont mis d accord que celui qui meurt le 1er donnera a tt prix qd il peut un signe a l autre .et voila qu un des deux vient de mourir et le 2nd commence a guetter le signe promis ,un an 2 ans meme 5 ans ont passe et tjs pas de signe et hop durant la 5eme annee voila que second voit son ami en reve il lui dit tt de suite il parait que tu as oublie ta promesse puisque ca fait 5 ans que j attends en vain un signe de toi ,alors le 1er lui repond mais comment ?n as tu pas recu ma lettre ?non repliqua l autre je n ai rien recu du tt .alors l homme mort lui dit attends j ai ds ma poche de chemise une copie de ce que je t ai envoye et je veux te la donner .et qd il a voulu tirer cette copie le second s est reveille subitement avant de la recevoir !!! et ainsi le secret ou l explication de la vie de l au dela restent cachees et personne ne sait ce qui l attend apres sa mort ???
Dear Paulo,
It is amazing how there is a meaning in every single one of our actions, even if we just think it all happened by chance… I find it beautiful how you manage to find and understand those meanings, you really are a person of true insprition and your books have helped me and still help me along my own journey of life. Thank you very much !
Muy bello, como el destino se encarga de ordenar lo que esta establecido. Y como todo lo que comparte con sus fans en su blog incluyendome a mi. Muchas gracias Señor Coelho.
Bien, to tambien pienso asi de coelho
Good story…..but did that actually happen?
What a thought!!!
Such type of things really exist and if someone har any doubts,they can contact me. .. .
My friend, who just recently passed away, had a beautiful three year old son who has been waiting for a liver transplant since he was 1 year old. She was an organ donor, and suddenly the doctors realize she could be the match for her own son. Saddly it wasn’t, but I think she made out a deal somewhere up there because that same day they found the perfect match for the little one and went for surgery right away giving him the gift of life. My friend, on the other hand, helped 11 persons to have a better life…
WOW, god bless her soul
I got goosebumps all over when I finish the story. It was lovely!!!
tomemos en cuenta siempre los designios divinos que vienen en momentos inessperados dcomo nos muentra tu lectura el padre llegò a sus hijos por medio del mendigo esa es la señal, escucha a tus padres en vida por sus experiencias siempre nos dejaràn un enseñanza y cuando el ser humano desea algo con toda su alma segun tus libros y mi propia experiencia todo el universo conspira a tu favor para que se te realice gracias paulo por que siempre me enseñas y me muestras con tus vivencias el camino para con paciencia alcanzar, antes la verdad era muy impaciente y vivia muy ansiosa hoy casi he podido controlarlo
“Si naciste para martillo, del cielo te caen los clavos”
Hoy en la mañana no estaba de muy buen ánimo, parece que buscaba el destornillador para mi vida!. Entonces puse toda mi fe en unas reflexiones que recibo diariamente y el mensaje fue contundente. Si yo cargo con mi vida, tiene un valor, pero si se la dejo a Dios, adquiere un valor sobrenatural.
Thank you for sharing it with us. Awesome!!
Amazing stories here… My condolences Mr. Coleho!
I have a story for you, which is equally touching: My next door neigbors lost a 5 year old grandchild a couple of years ago. The boy got drowned in the swimming pool of their apartment complex while both parents were present, talking to their friends. You can imagine the guilt complex the parents must still be suffering from. Anyways, shortly after the incident, the late boy’s mom and her mother in law (my neighbor) are at a bus station, waiting for a bus to come. The distraught mom looks up and says with all her heart and soul: “My god, please give me a sign!” At that moment a little baby bird flies towards her and lands on her lap.
I knew the little boy, and was so moved by their story that my only reponse could be silence…I do believe in signs sent from beyond, especially when you ask for them, and are willing to meet them halfway between this world and the next :)
Quanto mais leio as suas histórias,mais maravilhada fico.Como o Paulo consegue transmitir sentimentos tão profundos, de uma forma tão apelativa e simultâneamente simples.Devemos viver esta vida com alegria e lutar para sermos felizes, mas também com a interrogação do que se segue quando ela terminar.Assim vamos reflectir e escolher a forma como queremos viver este tempo, tão limitado,tão passageiro. Este tempo tão curto,mas que determina a forma como seremos recebidos e como viveremos a eternidade ,o SEMPRE!O Paulo diz-nos com tanta serenidade,pelas palavras do mendigo«Well,he must have been a very good man,becauseI’ve found this(a screwdriver).O sinal foi tão claro: ali estava a prova de que valia a pena fazer as escolhas certas.Pois, o Homem tem que repensar esta Vida terrena.Cada vez existe mais egoísmo,mais òdio,mais falsidade,mais perseguições aos mais fracos…Como pode o Homem aspirar a uma vida além-morte de paz e felicidade? Está tudo em causa!Na sociedade em que vivemos é chocante o alheamento destes problemas .É a alienação mais absurda…Temos que estar muito gratos,porque Mestres como o Paulo fazem-nos pensar o CAMINHO.Obrigada.Nunca me cansarei de agradecer por ter escrito os livros que escreveu e agora este contacto com os seus leitores.Sinto-me muito feliz porque sei que conto com um amigo que me faz pensar…
God Bless the Wonderful Soul.
This is a very lovely story that fits the reality of life when it comes to an end. No matter what, we do have the cord of love between those who passed over to the other side and ourselves if we are alert enough to understand and listen.
I guess that would be the sign from your father in law. Thank you for sharing that.
Some people are lucky to have what they like or wish. the way you told the story is nothing lesser than the way you told us the other grand stories. i like your expressions and language, but i read them in English. i wonder why the begger kept a screwdriver with him! thank you for telling us yet another beautiful story
if everything we need be it a screw driver could be drawn out from around us…in some way what each of us need is actually around us…we just need to see it for what it is. no one else on that beach could possibly had a screwdriver handy at that time..every one has a purpose..
It was not coincident. I believe it. He was there !
Mi primera pregunta es si esto se trataba de un koan. Mi segunda reaación fué rabia. Creo que inconscientemente le reclamaba hace unos minutos a Dios (al leer esto), por que si va a hablar a tráves de coincidencias no las hacia más a menudo y más claras. Más a menudo. Si abundancia. ¿el no es abundante?.. entonces por que algo tan sutil (y que podría ser ambiguo) como lo del destornillador?. Mi rabia gritaba más contundencia, más veces!.
Pero si reuno todas las veces que he experimentado coincidencias puede que exista ya un poco de evidencia en mi. Por algún motivo pareciera que se trata de que el no puede gritar más duro si no de que tengo yo que afinar mis oidos. Manejare esta hipotesis. Recordaré este escrito y me propondré gentilmente a mi mismo calma hasta que la hipotesis deje de serlo… ..he sentido magia de Dios, pero como un cambalache, tambien la soledad y el sinsentido… puede que se resuma en aumentar mi experiencia de Dios.
so keep doing the good, someday, it will pay off, but tht someday bettr be while we are still alive.. It would things a even sweeter..
This is from LIKE THE FLOWING RIVER ONE OF THE great inspiring book by COELHO
THANK YOU, that was beautiful. xo Love & light.
You didn’t mention it was written by your wife Christina :p
it was written by me
Your father-inlaw was right, the screwdriver was the sign—he had a sense of humor, didn’t he? :)
Such a wonderful story. In the few days before my mom died, I sat with her as she was in her bed. One day she asked me to gather all of the white doves that were flying in her room. The next day, she asked for her mother and her sister to come to her bed. Since her sister had died 11 years previously and her mother had died 1 month previously, I asked if she saw them. She answered as if I were blind, “of course, they are in the doorway” as she pointed to a doorway opening in the room. She died a few days later, but I knew that she was in a good place and in good hands, as we all are.
how beautiful!
thanks Vita
Thanks for the beautiful sharing, Vita. As you have said; yes, I believe our loved ones are in very good place and in good hands… and yes, as we all are..
I like poetry myself. In a sense for you it is like writing poetry, isn’t it?
Best wishes for your next book
ES INCREIBLE!! HE LEIDO MUCHOS LIBROS Y MUCHOS TEXTOS DE PAULO COELHO,,Y TODOS ME DEJAN MARAVILLADA,COMO SI ESTUVIERA ESCRITO ESPECIALMENTE PARA MI,O COMO SI YA LO HABIA VIVIDO DE ANTES.
NO CABE DUDA QUE ESTE ES OTRO DE LOS CORTOS PERO HERMOSOS TEXTOS QUE TE DEJAN PENSANDO EN QUE LA VIDA NO SOLO CONSISTE EN RESPIRAR,TRABAJAR,COMER Y DORMIR;SINO QUE EXITE ALGO MAS MARAVILLOSO EN EL CORAZON, EN EL AIRE,EN EL UNIVERSO,QUE NO LOGRAREMOS EXPLICAR CIENTIFICAMENTE NUNCA, POR QUE SON SENTIMIENTOS,Y LOS SENTIMIENTOS NO SE VEN,SOLO SE PUEDEN SENTIR. UN ABRAZO SEÑOR COELHO.QUE DIOS LE BENDIGA.
When my mom die, my sisiters and brother were in hospital and said she good-bye… Not me. I was in work… I had to, becouse many others people were waiting for my work…
I don’t stop to cry, that I don’t say Good-bye last time…
Halina
Do not cry no more, your mom loved you anyhow and said goodbye to you even if you did not so rest in piece and believe that she is a good place. Pray for her and live your life without any guilt. Sincerely.
Exactly what i was talking with some frineds on Tuesday, If somebody has a wished and if you could help to make it real, the whole universe provides you the tools to do it!!
thanks a lot
Experienced the same with my father who passed away late December in South-America. He was cremated in the open air at seaside. at night we went back to the crematory. His body was still burning to ashes. My cousin asked me to talk to him. I talked out loud and the smoke was make shapes like a dragon. I mentioned my mother and my siblings’names. And several beautiful shapes were made of the smoke. But when I mentioned the name of Parvati, the apple of his eye, the smoke centered and went up like a straight pillar to the stars. It was amazing. My cousin ‘when I said talk to your father I did not expect you to speak out loud, but this experience I will never forget, even after death your father knows how to show off’
The next day my brothers and sister went to the river to give his ashes back to mother earth, a rainbow and dolphins appeared where his ashes were thrown. Life after death must be amazing ;-)
Beautifull!!! Thanks for sharing. Blessings,
a very beautiful piece!heart of heart believe in itand also help as much as possible but some days get a doubt is it really worth it especially when u see really selfish people making it so big in this maddening world!
i am not getting word to comment…..
amazing!!!
If everybody knows what comes next, nobody try to be a litle better in this world. God knows what ti do !!!
Tearful … this is so beautiful – I can imagine how moved and in awe you were in that moment – you got the proof you were promised. What an amazing story. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I have had a very similar experience.
just wanted to add that helping others always come back but never in the form you really expect it to. Be kind and when you will get those essential subtle needs and gestures life will grace you with them.
Thankyou for sharing this Mr Paulo Coelho, it make me think of my mum the last words before she fall asleep and die. She want to go home(China). She die on the day when dad got back to UK to see her. Dad don’t want to be back when we told mum she was very ill, mum die but the doc save her and bring her back to life for few more days, she die the same day dad got back and he make it to see her for the last time, she finally make it and she die peaceful in her sleep. Her last word just after she closed her eye and went for her long sleep is: I want to go home, she born in china and never been back snice she came over to Hong Kong and UK when she only 17, we don’t know why she never come with us when we go back. And i don’t know why i writing in here about this rubbish, got to go now late for work. Mei
Rather then Mr Paulo, your sadness made my eyes wet.
I Can’t even feel your feeling on your mom’s last sleep. Its such a deep pain :’
I recently went through some stuff (medically) and my life was threatened. I realized how scared I have been of dying and never really knew it, until then. I have recovered but my mind is still wondering and flirting with thoughts of death, of why God gives us this life to then take it away.
I have always said that the dead are just behind a thin film, in another dimension and we cannot see it because we havent been there. They can see us, they have been here.
They say the mind sees hundreds of thousands of things, but is incapable of recognizing the things it has not seen yet more than a few times, it will not register what it cannot recognize. Death is like that, I think. Still, I have not finished my life here and am not ready to go to a more wise and good place. I still do not have a clue of what I want in life and I sure am not ready to leave the ones I truly love like my kids, family members,my lover, my friends, the ones that shares my heart and love.
Stories like this give me hope that there is something after this and its not all a cruel joke.
we give everything for granted, is our human nature, so i believe god made this life have an expiration date so that we try to live it to the fullest, to experience as much as possible to fall in love as many times as possible with a lot a things and to apreciate it because we know it could all be over soon. I have a fear of time passing by too fast, but it made me realize every day is a gift, everyday can be a miracle, I really like what you wrote,im glad you are better :)
Your teachings are always thought provoking. And when i read peoples comments… i got tears in my eyes. Awesome!
thats …the truth which no one can deny…
All very appropriate responses to a wonderful story….It is always a mystery how these events in our lives happen….it is our faith within ourselves and others that will help us when trying to find the answers we seek….
truly inspiring..tnx for sharing it..
Dear Paulo,
Thank you for this story. I lost both my mom & dad one after another, in the space of 2 years when I was just turned 20. At that time, I didnt think I could carry on living as the grief is just too deep. During that time, my family just moved into our new place and as I was bathing, I was thinking how lovely it is if my mom could at least have 1 day of living in the new house which she has prepared for us.. at least she dont have to boil water anymore since the new house has a water heater. & I was regretting all that I didnt do for both of them .. When all of a sudden, I heard them saying to me, you have been a good daughter and we love you. That was what got to me and I cried so hard. It gave me the strength to continue living and not do anything silly.
Our parents (wether they say it out or not) always have/had that thought in their minds.
They love. … and only want the best for all.
Its what stops us from doing That silly thing and remind us of what’s good in them…for us.
Thanks for your beautiful sharing, June… I lost my dad two years ago and my mum this year in April. I still grieve over them and know I will always miss them. I am thankful for the gift of their lives and am ever grateful too for the gift of my faith.
← Previous Comments
Next Comments →