Gianni

This is a romance. It's a mystery ...and a dilemma. And, in a way, it's a funny story; yet, ...well, it is also very sad and unfortunate.

It's filled with the unknown ...and secret meanings. It's, ...ohhh, but wait, we're getting ahead of ourselves.

These events took place in France and Russia ...and all lands in between. Gianni, ...well, let's call him our hero, ...and Anna, his wife, traveled many roads, to many towns, most of their married life, because, being impatient with things, Gianni continually rushed about from place to place. He felt that a glorious variety of experiences and travels gave him prominence and honor. And he enjoyed being envied and respected by others for the wisdom he gained through extensive travels. This was a time, ...ohhh, many years ago, when most individuals of those lands stayed in one town or village all their lives, so Gianni was listened to and admired ...and praised for the great and mysterious adventurous tales he told. And he reveled in the attention.

Dear Anna, on the other hand, only ventured about with him because it was expected of her to do so, for women, ...in those times, were required to follow the dictates of their husbands, ...and Anna was a loyal and loving wife. She never really questioned their continuously traveling all about, even though she dearly longed to settle down, have a secure and steady life, and live quietly in her own house with her beloved husband, ...if that were possible. She wanted to give up their "rushing-about" form of life.

But Gianni would have none of that. He always wanted to continue traveling, ...maybe to another town he'd just heard about; but soon after arriving there, he then wanted to be somewhere else, ...in still another town. He would do a thing passionately, ...and suddenly quit that for something else. He constantly moved from one situation, one relationship, one interest, or one country to another. He wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop. He was driven. And dear Anna dutifully trailed along. And that was quite all right ...for a while; ...but, one day, she finally decided to quit journeying about. She wanted to make her home in the northern part of Italy, ...in a quiet little village.

She spoke gently and lovingly to Gianni, saying, "Dearest husband, you do the things you must do in your life, but I can not continue moving all about like this. I can't live this way any longer. I must settle down. And I want to have a family before it's too late."

It was a sad and difficult decision for Anna, ...and she was so discouraged, but she continued speaking to Gianni, "I can no longer be a part of you in this way, dearest, ...but you go about and do whatever it is you want to do, ...or whatever you must do in life." She sighed from the very depths of her soul; ...mournfully. "And when you're ready......" Oh, she began weeping ever so softly. "When you're ready, dear husband, come back to me ...and I'll be more a part of you." And again sighing deeply and forlornly, she turned away from Gianni to hide her tears. She was heartbroken, for she knew he would travel on. He couldn't help himself. He was like a man possessed.

And so, Gianni went away ...and left dear Anna to establish herself in that little Italian village, while he traveled to other towns and other countries, ...constantly looking for delights and pleasures. He journeyed from one place to another searching for wonderful experiences and achievements. He was seeking newer and greater ways to create an excitement ...or an interest ...or a fulfillment in his life. At first he thought that just traveling would be enough, but, soon, it wasn't enough, ...and new places blended into old faces, ...and new things became just as the old ones.

Well, there were many times when Gianni decided that all he really needed was to try something different ...or, maybe, just do things in some new off-hand way, ...and all would be well. But each time he did that, it was..., well, it was just more of the same. And even Gianni tired of constantly traveling about from one place to another, ...over and over again, ...all alone, so every time he was in the northern part of Italy, he would just, ...sort of, ...well, he'd drop in to say, "hello," to Anna. And each time he did that, he had an intimate relationship with her. And each time he went away, without knowing it, he left her pregnant.

And when Gianni came back for his next visit, he often discovered a new youngster, ...a different child. And Anna would say, "But dearest husband, ...this is your child. Here, look at her beautiful eyes; ...and she has your mouth ...and your hair. She's yours. Truly she is! Just look at her."

And he usually protested, saying, "But I wasn't here long enough..." And though he would then count back, he could never be certain, for his visits were often very short, ...and the absences too long. And his doubts and uncertainties, ...and problems, were too pressing and overwhelming. He just couldn't be sure.

Well, after three times of this, Gianni was convinced that, truly so, his wife must be doing something behind his back. And he was determined to discover just what that might be, ...though he was certain as to what that was. "Obviously, she's seeing other men while I'm not there, ...and she's doing things I wish she wouldn't do," he declared angrily.

Soon, ...after one short visit, Gianni bid Anna adieu, saying, "I'll return in five or six months, for I have a long journey ahead;" and he pretended to go on his way. He was certain that if he were absent for about, ...well, just two days, surely, that would set her at ease, ...and he could then rush back home and triumphantly expose all the things she was doing. He would confront her. And that would end that relationship. It would all be over.

Well, Gianni confidently left the village and hid out in the nearby forest. And after about two days, he sneaked back to the house at night, sure of what he would see through the window. But even after two days, he discovered that Anna was doing the same things she always did, ...and there was no man around, ...there were no problems ...and no difficulties, so he skulked away, muttering, "Well, I didn't give her enough time! I'll let it be another week. That'll surely do it! Yes, that's certainly long enough."

And so, Gianni again went away, ...and again he hid in the forest. And after a week he returned. And again, Anna was doing only the things she was supposed to do; and she was not involving herself with anyone else. There was no secret relationship.

Well, with this evidence, Gianni was no longer suspicious, ...now he was angrily determined, ...for, truly so, he knew, ...ohhh, yes, he knew, ...oh, there was no doubt about it in his mind, ...she was having affairs. "Probably several different men," he muttered; for though there was no evidence of that, it didn't matter, ...ohhh, he knew. Well, he just knew it was true.

And so Gianni decided to wait another week. He hid out again. But having very little food ...and sleeping in the bushes without a fire--for he dared not expose himself--was making him tired and hungry, ...and angrier, ...and surer. And everyday, ...well, it rained ...and rained. Oh, how he hated being rained on.

Well, at the end of the week, Gianni again returned home, ...tired and dirty ...and soaked, ...and shivering violently. And now, ...ohhh, this time, he was more furious than ever, because, ...well, not only was she not doing anything wrong, ...she seemed to be very happy, ...and that really displeased and angered him ...more than ever, because, as he figured it, "Certainly, she must be happy about something." Gianni was now livid, ...enraged, ...almost hysterical at this situation. He was fast becoming irrational and uncontrollable.

Well, ...Gianni's sneaking around spying on Anna continued for quite some time, ...but he never discovered the individual, ...or individuals, coming to her that, in his mind, ...well, he just knew were doing this to him. Gianni would not believe the facts being shown to him, ...nor would he believe the words of others that she was being true, ...even though, that's exactly what he saw was happening. He wouldn't believe it, because he had determined and was completely convinced that something else was going on, so, "Well, it has to be so!" he declared self-righteously. And he was relentless and unyielding in his efforts to prove it.

Gianni decided, ...once more, ...that, this time, without fail, he would prove it. So he got an individual he just knew would certainly appeal to Anna, ...and he asked him to make love to her. He was convinced she would give herself away this time. "No doubt about it! I've planned things just right this time. She won't be able to continue hiding her evil ways from me," he boasted. Gianni was willing to pay the man well enough, ...and the man, ...well, certainly, the man was willing to take him up on his offer.

The deal was made ...and the man went to Anna's house to make love to her, ...but she resisted him, saying, "No! I'll have none of that, for I am true to my dearest husband."

Well! Now! That made Gianni even more convinced than ever that something was going on; for not allowing the man to make love to her undoubtedly meant that she was being "satisfied" by someone else. Gianni was confident he was right. "How could she do this to me," he wailed as he rushed home and confronted Anna with the evidence he had.

But she was dumbfounded by his accusations. "What evidence do you think you have? What would ever make you believe such a thing of me? What can I do to show you it isn't true? What?"

In response to her distraught questioning, Gianni told her of all the things he'd done, ...and that, in doing these things, he was convinced, ...undoubtedly so, ...that she was being unfaithful to him.

Anna was astounded, ...almost in shock. She couldn't understand how he could possibly draw such foolish conclusions, ...or even feel that this was true of her; ...though she wept and pleaded. But even that made Gianni more certain than ever that he was right. He bullied her ...and pushed her. He screamed and threatened to beat her; and promised to do even worse things to her if she didn't confess her sins. Oh, Anna was afraid that would happen, and now, for the first time, she was terrified of Gianni. She'd never seen him like this before, ...so when he went into the kitchen to get a knife, she ran home to her brother, who had moved nearby.

"Aha! Aha! Aha! Aha!" Gianni shouted triumphantly. "I should've known. It's an incestuous relationship. Even that's occurring. I should have known it all along."

Well, ...you're beginning to see that, no matter what happened in this relationship, and no matter what poor Anna did, Gianni was certain that what he thought was right, was actually occurring; ...that it was truly happening. He would have it his way no matter what, ...and regardless of what he would lose.

So, dearest one, be ever cautious in your endeavors and relationships today that you do not act as Gianni did. In all things, understand the reality of what is truly happening, ...and accept the truth of that. Never set your mind upon certain matters in life and then use everything only to convince yourself that what you already believe is true, ...is actually right and true, ...despite what is being shown to you. Be wiser and greater than that.

In the months ahead, as we present many new ideas and beliefs, or we offer different views of old beliefs, don't be like Gianni and destroy everything merely to hold on to those old beliefs. See what's truly happening all around you.

HOME