Anything Goes

Decisions ...

2008-01-15T17:01:00.000-08:00

What's right may not be popular

What's popular may not be right.

Imagine that a bunch of children are playing on two railway tracks - one still in use while the other hasn't been used for a while.

Only one child plays on the unused track, while the rest of the kids are playing on the operational track.

You hear a train coming, and as being incharge of the interchange, you got to make a decision.

You can either change the course of the train to the unused track and save most of the kids, and let the lone kid playing on the unused track be sacrificed, or let the train go its way.

What would you do?

Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child.

Saving most of the children at the expense of just one child might seem rational, morally and emotionally.

But, the question here is, what wrong did the child choosing to play on the unused track do?

In fact he made the right decision to play at a safe place, isn't it?

Nevertheless, the lone child has to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger is.

This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday.

In our office, in our community, in politics and especially in a democratic society.

The minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority maybe, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are.

The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case that he is sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.

Personally, I would not try to change the course of the train because I believe that the kids playing on the operational track would know very well that the track was still in use and they would have made a run for safety, away from the tracks, the moment they heard the train coming.

But, if the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never could have thought that the train would ever come on that track!

Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe, and if a train was diverted to that track, that could have put the lives of all passengers onboard at stake!

In the attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing just one child, I might end up with blood on my hands of a hundred more people on board the train.

While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one.

The above scenario reminds me of a quote I heard sometime back:

"What's right isn't always popular... and what's popular isn't always right"

I guess, everybody is prone to making mistakes, that's why they put erasers on pencils. But life isn't such, and wouldn't it be better if instead of making a hasty decision, we took a little time to analyse it first, rather than regretting and cursing God for not giving us an eraser in real life?

Paradox ...

2008-01-02T09:17:00.000-08:00

So much of life is a paradox

So much of life is neither one thing nor the other

It's both things at the same time

David Hyde Pierce

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways but narrower viewpoints. We spend more but have less, we buy more but enjoy less. We have bigger houses but smaller families, more conveniences but lesser time. We have more degrees but little sense, more knowledge but fewer judgments, more experts but far more problems, more medicine but less wellness.

We drink too much drive too fast, smoke so much spend too recklessly, laugh too little get too angry, stay up late and get up too tired, read nothing and watch TV all day. We multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much and pray too seldom, love so rarely yet hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living but not how to live a life. We've added years to life but not life to years. We've been to the moon but not to a new neighbor next door. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things but not better things. We've cleaned up the air but polluted our soul. We've control the atom but not our pride. We write more but learnt less. We plan more but accomplish less. We've learned to rush but not to wait. We have higher incomes, but lower morals. We've built more computers but communicate with one another less & less. We long for quantity, but are short on quality.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, more kinds of food, but less nutrition. We see big men but small characters, steep profits but shallow relationships. These are days of two incomes and more divorces, fancier houses but broken homes. These are days of quick trips and disposable diapers, throwaway morality and one night stands, overweight bodies and pills to cheer to quiet to kill to make you sleep.

It's a time of fancy showrooms but nothing in stock. It's a time when technology brings you this message and you choose to hit close and not share your insight.

Remember

Spend some time with your loved ones - they aren't going to be around forever. Learn to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe 'cause that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Learn to give a warm hug to the one next to you 'cause that is the only treasure you can give that will never finish. Say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones and mean it too. Grandpa once said, 'A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.'

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moments for someday that person will not be there with you. Give time to love and give time to speak, share your precious thoughts before you go to sleep.

GooDNiGHT

Scars ...

2008-01-01T06:14:00.000-08:00

“True Love burns the brightest, And the brightest flames leave the deepest scars."

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.

In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His mother - in the house was looking out the window - saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could.

Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn't let go."

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic, but, the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you.

You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way but sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead.

The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

Are you proud of 'The Scars Of Love' on you?

Faith !!!

2007-12-09T20:07:00.000-08:00

“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to"

George Seaton

Hudson Taylor was a man of great faith in God as well as a great missionary. When he first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel.

Very close to the shore of a cannibal island the wind died down, and the ship was slowly drifting towards shore. The inhabitants of the island were eagerly anticipating a big feast. Unable to go about and make the vessel turn around, the captain came to Mr. Taylor and begged him to pray to God for help.

"I will," said Taylor, "provided you set your sail to catch the breeze."

The captain declined to make himself a laughing stock by unfurling sails in a dead calm.

Taylor said, "I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails."

And it was done. The missionary went to his stateroom to pray.

While engaged in prayer, there was a knock at his door.

"Whose there?"

The captain's voice responded, "Are you still praying for wind?"

"Yes."

"Well," said the captain, "you'd better stop praying, for we have more wind than we can well manage."

And, sure enough, when but a hundred yards from shore, a strong wind struck the sails of the boat, and took it deep into the sea. And so the inhabitants of the island were cheated out of their human prey.

Sails are made to catch the wind. The spreading of the sails, the sailors could do, but it belongs to God to send the wind.

Do you have faith in your prayer?

A prayer done without faith seem to goes unanswered, not because God didn't answer, but because we weren't prepared for it.

Just imagine what would have happened if the missionary had prayed and God had answered but the captain wasn't prepared with the sails?

Next time you pray to God to give you rain, keep an umbrella handy.

If you pray for good grades, don't forget to study and be on time for the exams.

If you pray to God for good health, don't forget to excerise and eat what's neccesary for the body.

And if by any chance you pray to God for the jackpot of a lottery, don't forget to buy one.

Well, you could discard the last example, for God wouldn't want to answer prayers which are unethical.

Blossoming !!!

2007-12-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

"The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty: not knowing what comes next."

Ursula LeGuin

The world around us changes constantly. Trees turn from green to beautiful shades of yellow, orange, and brown in the fall. Yet, even if we watched the trees carefully, every minute of the day, we could not actually see the colors change. Change requires time, preparation, and patience.

To make the changes we want, we need to let go of unhealthy but comfortable patterns that we're stuck in, the way the trees let their colors change and finally let go of their leaves altogether. We can't have total change right now, no matter how much we want it. It's important to accept both who we are now and who we are becoming. Just as the tree trusts without question that its leaves will grow and lets go of them when the time comes, we can believe in our own power to grow and let go of our accomplishments when the time is right.

When we do, we can be assured that our lives will blossom again, like trees in the spring coming to life after a cold winter.

Are you ready to blossom?

Life !!!

2007-12-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

“It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project."

Napoleon Hill

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck, but he wanted to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you."

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. If we build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely.

It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

Your attitudes and the choices you make today will be your life tomorrow, build it wisely.

Want !!!

2007-11-29T20:27:00.000-08:00

"There are two things to aim at in life:

First, to get what you want.

And after that, to enjoy it.

Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second."

Logan Pearsall Smith

"I 'want' to be happy," is an often repeated phrase.

People who say it, get exactly what they're asking for. They live in the 'want' of happiness.

Wanting a million dollars won't put money in your bank account. Wanting a Porsche won't turn your Neon into a lean mean driving machine. Wanting to be a bird won't give you wings or get you off the ground. The more you 'want' those things, the more 'want' you get. It comes in extraordinary amounts and becomes a physical ache, when you want something 'really bad'.

Instead of curling yourself into a tight little ball and remaining clutched in the 'want' of happiness, open yourself up to the opportunity of receiving it.

Fill the holes in your life with the joy of being alive. Work at happiness from the inside out. Remove the weight of 'want' off your heavily burdened shoulders and make yourself available to bliss.

When you achieve inner happiness, it shows. It seeps from your eyes and rolls off your words. Your peace of heart, supported by a solid foundation, is unflappable. You see external happiness for what it really is, a precarious source of self fulfillment. Your 'want' is gone, and without it, you stand in the wake of grand possibilities.

Your eyes see the positive in what you have, instead of the negative in what you lack. Happiness starts coming at you from a multitude of directions.

Live in the 'want' of being happy, or 'be' happy.

The choice is completely up to you.

(Sharon's Treasure)

Conscience !!!

2007-11-28T16:28:00.000-08:00

"The paradoxical and tragic situation of man is that his conscience is weakest when he needs it most."

Erich Fromm

My family and I had been sleeping peacefully when we were awakened by the clanging of a burglar alarm. We dashed to the windows to try to spot the thief who had succeeded in climbing over the eight-foot-high wall that surrounded my son's house in Lusaka, Zambia - a city noted for its thieves.

The top of the concrete-block wall was garnished with broken bottles imbedded in cement. Above the sharp glass were four electric wires ready to shock anyone who dared to climb over the wall. There were also floodlights, a night watchman and dogs, double locks on each door, burglar bars to alert and warn. Yet a thief got over the wall without triggering the alarm or exciting the dogs.

When the guard came around the corner of the house, he saw the thief scramble over the wall, taking with him the guard's clothes, which had been hanging on the clothesline. That's when the guard pushed the alarm button, which awoke not only us but also the neighbors.

The next day we tried to figure out how the thief got over the wall. We tested the wires, and they were alive, but the trigger system wasn't working. The thief had apparently used boards and a stick to separate the wires so he could get through. So our son, Mike, arranged for someone to repair the wires and the alarm system.

The incident reminded me that while in our small American community we need some protection for our homes and vehicles, thieving is not as prevalent in our country as it is much of Africa. I can feel reasonably safe in my house.

But then I reflected on the security of my heart and mind. There is an invisble thief waiting outside our heart and mind, ready to take over and making us steal, kill and destroy. Unless we are alert, the evil thoughts and its hooligans will succeed every day in gaining entrance into our minds and hearts.

So how can we beef up the security system in our minds and hearts?

God has given us the biggest 'burglar alarm' called the 'Conscience'.

He's placed a wall around us 'His Law'.

Most of the time deep within our minds and hearts, we know what is wrong and what is right. But when we choose to follow what is wrong, thinking no one else knows, we betray our conscience and let the hooligans to break in and take over willingly.

God's law are available in scriptures of every religion. These are our security system, and prayer is a direct link between us and God's security department that helps to protect our conscience. It takes only a second to make a call to God and His eveready angels will rush to protect us.

When we take advantage of these security devices, we are secure from all 'Evil' efforts to break into our hearts and steal them for himself.

John Stafford

Coveting !!!

2007-11-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house, your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Exodus 20:17

"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."

Sounds familiar?

My mother recently told me that when she was a teenager, she coveted a particular shirt that all the popular girls were wearing. She wanted one so badly that it was all she could think about. When she finally got her hands on the one, she proudly wore it to school - only to have the classmate who sat behind her get sick.

What she thought she absolutely had to have, ended up in the garbage.

What exactly is coveting?

Simply put, it is seeing something that belongs to someone else and feeling discontented and resentful that its not yours.

God knew that we would have a hard time being content with what we have. So for the last commandments, He chose:

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house, your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or his maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

This commandment stands out from the others in a unique way. While the other commandments are more behavior oriented (don't commit adultery, steal, lie, etc.), this commandment focuses on our motives - on why we do what we do. It's a commandment directed toward how we think - not how we act. And how we think shows us the condition of our hearts.

When you covet you hurt yourself.

Becoming envious of another's life can make your seem dreary by comparison. You begin to live your life in what I call the 'if only's'. If only we had a spacious house like theirs. If only my spouse was always that nice to me. If only our deserving child had won that award instead. Before you know it, your whole focus is on that you don't have, and you're unhappy with the life you do have.

Coveting can also hurt others.

Allowed to spin out of control, it can lead to getting what you covet through immoral or illegal ways. Coveting another's spouse can lead to adultery and the breakup of a family. Coveting a stereo in an empty car can lead to stealing. Coveting a friend's possessions can lead to the end of a friendship. But when we learn to be content with what we have, we stop covetous thoughts before they turn into harmful actions.

There was a time when I struggled with being content with our house. The problem was, it is small. Eight hundred-square-feet small. When it looked like we'd be living here for a while, I knew I had a choice to make. I could covet the newer, spacious house some of our friends lived in, or I could choose contentment and make this house a home.

What changed my view of our house was my husband's mission trip to Indonesia after the 2004 'Tsunami'. He brought back dozens of pictures of people who had lost their homes. Some pictures showed families standing outside on tile floors - the only thing left of their houses that hadn't been swept away. Others had placed flags on bare ground where they knew their homes had been, reclaiming only their land. Looking at the pictures, I felt guilty. Our cozy, cheerful little home looked pretty good by comparison.

So God helped me make the better choice - contentment. I didn't want to someday look back on our time here and find that I'd wasted years that could have built wonderful family memories.

In the last commandments, God is asking us to control our minds - that secret place where only we ourselves know our thoughts. You can covet something that belongs to your neighor, and no one has to know. Yet coveting is not merely a mind problem - it's a heart problem. Your heart has an emptiness that needs to be filled, so you try to fill it with things that you think will make you happy.

The remedy is to fill your heart with the right things - a friendship with God and His good people and striving to do all the good you can. Matthew says in the Bible:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven - for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be."

With God in your life, you'll find it easier to be content with what you have. I find that the more I trust God, the more content I am. Most of the things we covet are things we don't really need. They're things we want. Sometimes we confuse wants with needs. But God knows the difference, and we need to trust Him to take care of us. He doesn't promise to take care of our wants. But He does give a reassuring promise to take care of our needs.

A content life benefits everyone.

First, it benefits you. It allows you to be giving, not gasping. Covetous people don't know the joy of giving. Content people do.

Second, contentment benefits others. For once you are content you will not covet other's things and in return will start appreciating and be happy for what others have. There is another rule in the Bible:

"Love your neighbor as yourself"

Love does no harm to its neighbor. Neighbor here does not mean the person living next door but instead it's all that touch your life, be it daily, weekly, monthly or annually.

God gave the above commantment, but the choice is ours. We can choose to covet or be content. Let's choose contentment and not waste a single moment coveting.

Nancy Canwell

Listening !!!

2007-11-05T17:34:00.000-08:00

"A pair of good ears will drink dry a hundred tongues."

Benjamin Franklin

How many times have you ever heard someone say, "Nobody ever listens to me!"? And how many people go through life frustrated because there truly is nobody who will take the time to really listen to what they have to say? Everybody wants to talk, but so few want to listen!

There is a story which tells about the 32nd President of United States - Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said.

One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who came down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded with phrases like, "Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir."

It was not until the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Not quite knowing what to say, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, "I'm sure she had it coming."

Are we like the people above?
May I encourage you today to put down the newspaper, turn off the television set, stay away a while from your computers and take the time and effort to listen to those around you.

It will show that you care, and who knows, you might even learn something in the process!

Coincidence !!!

2007-11-04T04:56:00.001-08:00

“Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous”

It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through.

Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we didn't see some rain soon...we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes.

I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort ... trying to be as still as possible.

Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches; thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour: walk carefully to the woods, run back to the house.

Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen...as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him).

He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them ... maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face, but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose.

As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site. Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn laying on the ground, obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand.

When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree. I followed him back to the house to a spigot to which we had shut off the water. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. And it came clear to me: The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him. It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands.

When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him. His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job. I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life.

As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly joined by other drops...and more drops...and more. I looked up at the sky It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride. Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence. That miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that... I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another.

I don't know if anyone will read this...but I had to publish it out to honour the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon... But not before showing me the true face of God, in a little, sunburned body.

Do you believe in miracles, or do you just let them pass by, and put them in the coincidence category?

Leadership !!!

2007-11-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

“A leader is not an administrator who loves to run others, but someone who carries water for his people so that they can get on with their jobs"

Robert Townsend

There were about 70 scientists working on a very hectic project. All of them were really frustrated due to the pressure of work and the demands of their boss but everyone was loyal to him and did not think of quitting the job.

One day, one scientist came to his boss and told him – Sir, I have promised my children that I will take them to the exhibition going on in our township. So I want to leave the office at 5.30 pm.

His boss replied "OK, You're permitted to leave the office early today."

The Scientist started working. He continued his work after lunch. As usual he got involved to such an extent that he looked at his watch when he felt he was close to completion. The time was 8.30 pm. Suddenly he remembered the promise he had given to his children.

He closed everything and left for home. Deep within himself, he was feeling guilty for having disappointed his children. He reached home. The children were not there. His wife was sitting in the hall, alone and reading magazines. The situation was explosive, any talk would boomerang on him.

His wife asked him “Would you like to have coffee or should I serve dinner?”

The man replied “If you would like to have coffee, I too will have some but what about the children ?”

Wife replied “You don’t know? Your manager came here at 5.15 pm and has taken the children to the exhibition.”

What had really happened was... the boss, who granted him permission in the morning, was observing him working seriously at 5.00 pm. He thought to himself, this person will not leave the work, but if he has promised his children they should enjoy the visit to exhibition. So he took the lead in taking them to the exhibition!

The boss does not have to do it everytime. But once it is done, loyalty is established. That is why all the scientists at Thumba continued to work under their boss even though the stress was tremendous.

By the way, can you hazard a guess as to who the boss was..?

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Twelfth President of India

Confrontation !!!

2007-11-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

"Nine-tenths of wisdom consists in being wise in time."

...

Theodore Roosevelt

A wise old gentleman retired and purchased a modest home near a junior high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace and contentment. Then a new school year began. The very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his street, beating merrily on every trash can they encountered. The crashing percussion continued day after day, until finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some action.

The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. Stopping them, he said, "You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance like that. In fact, I used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I'll give you each a dollar if you'll promise to come around every day and do your thing." The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job on the trashcans.

After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. "This recession's really putting a big dent in my income," he told them. "From now on, I'll only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans."

The noisemakers were obviously displeased, but they accepted his offer and continued their afternoon ruckus. A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street.

"Look," he said, "I haven't received my Social Security check yet, so I'm not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents. Will that be okay?"

"A lousy quarter?" the drum leader exclaimed. "If you think we're going to waste our time, beating these cans around for a quarter, you're nuts! No way, mister. We quit!"

And the old man enjoyed peace and serenity for the rest of his days.

What do you think, could a direct confrontation with the kids have resulted in a favourable solution?

Nonsense !!!

2007-11-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

"It is a far, far better thing to have a firm anchor in nonsense than to put out on the troubled seas of thought."

John Kenneth Galbraith

How often do you let other people’s nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you’re the Terminator, you’re probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of your success is how quickly you can refocus on what’s important in your life.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. And I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here’s what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, the car skidded, the tires squealed, and at the very last moment our car stopped just one inch from the other car’s back-end.

I couldn’t believe it. But then I couldn’t believe what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. How do I know? Ask any New Yorker, some words in New York come with a special face. And for emphasis, he threw in a one finger salute, as if his words were not enough.

But then here’s what really blew me away. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, “Why did you just do that!? This guy could have killed us!” And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call,

“The Law of the Garbage Truck™.”

He said, "Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they look for a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you.

So when someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Believe me. You’ll be happier."

So I started thinking, how often do I let 'Garbage Trucks' run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the street? It was then that I said, “I don’t want their garbage and I’m not going to spread it anymore.”

I began to see Garbage Trucks. Like in the movie “The Sixth Sense,” the little boy said, “I see Dead People.” Well now “I see Garbage Trucks.” I see the load they’re carrying. I see them coming to dump it. And like my taxi driver, I don’t take it personally; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

Roy Baumeister, a psychology researcher from Florida State University, found in his extensive research that you remember bad things more often than good things in your life. You store the bad memories more easily, and you recall them more frequently.

So the odds are against you when a Garbage Truck comes your way. But when you follow The Law of the Garbage Truck™, you take back control of your life. You make room for the good by letting go of the bad.

The best leaders know that they have to be ready for their next meeting. The best sales people know that they have to be ready for their next client. And the best parents know that they have to be ready to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses, no matter how many garbage trucks they might have faced that day. All of us know that we have to be fully present, and at our best for the people we care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their lives.

What about you?

What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here’s my bet:

You’ll be happier.

David J. Pollay

Lies !!!

2007-10-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

“A truth that's told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent."

William Blake

Lies My Mother Told

"Eat this rice, son. I'm not hungry"

I was born in a very poor family. Even for eating, we often lacked food. Whenever it was time for meals, my mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she would put her rice into my bowl, she would say "Eat this rice, son. I'm not hungry".

That was Mother's First Lie

"Eat this fish, son. I don't really like fish."

When I was growing up, my persevering mother gave her spare time for fishing in a river near our house. She hoped that from the fish she caught, she could give me a little bit of extra nutrients for my growth. After fishing, she would cook the fish and make fresh fish soups to raise my appetite. While I drank the soup, my mother would sit besides me and eat the remaining flesh stuck to the bones of the fish I ate. My heart was touched when I saw that. I would use my chopstick and give the other fish to her. But she immediately refused it and would say "Eat this fish, son. I don't really like fish."

That was Mother's Second Lie

"Go to sleep, dear. I'm not tired."

When I was in Junior High School, to fund my studies, my mother worked in an economic enterprise and brought back boxes of used matches that still had some match-sticks stuck to them. This gave her some extra money to cover our daily needs. Even during the winters, whenever I woke up in the middle of the night, I would see my mother working, supported by a little candlelight, trying to gather as many match-sticks she could from match boxes she got. In a sleepish voice I would say, "Mother, go to sleep, it's late, tomorrow morning you still have to go for work." My mother would smile and say "Go to sleep, dear. I'm not tired."

That was Mother's Third Lie

"Drink, son. I'm not thirsty!"

For my final term examinations, mother asked for a leave from her work so she could accompany me and be my support. Morning turned to afternoon and with it, came the heat of the sun right above her head. The heat was so strong that it could burn a person's skin but my strong and persevering mother waited for me under the heat of the sun for several hours. When the bell rang, indicating that the final exam were finished, my mother immediately welcomed me and poured me a glass of cold tea which she had prepared and brought along in a cold bottle. The tea was thick but not as thick as my mother's love, which was much thicker. Seeing my mother covered with perspiration, I gave her the glass of tea and asked her to drink too. Mother said "Drink, son. I'm not thirsty!".

That was Mother's Fourth Lie

"I don't need love."

After my father's death, my poor mother had to play the role as a single parent. By holding on to her former job, she now had to fund our needs alone. Our family life became more complicated. There wasn't a day without suffering. Seeing our family's condition getting worse, a nice uncle, who lived near my house, came to our help. He would help us in all our problems big or small. Our neighbors, who saw that our family's life was so unfortunate, advised my mother to marry again. But my mother, who was stubborn, didn't care about their advice, she would say, "I don't need love."

That was Mother's Fifth Lie

"I have enough money."

After I finished my studies and got a job, I thought it was time for my old mother to retire, but she didn't want to. She would sincerely to go to the marketplace every morning, just to sell some vegetables to fulfill her daily needs. I started working in another city, and would accasionally send her some money to help her with her daily needs, but she was stubborn and would not accept the money I sent. She would send the money back to me saying "I have enough money."

That was Mother's Sixth Lie

"I'm not used to this place."

After getting a Bachelor Degree, I continued my studies to get the Masters. I earned my Masters' degree from a famous University in America, through a scholarship program funded by a company. I finally went to work in that company with a high salary. I wanted my mother to come and stay with me and enjoy the life in America, but my lovely mother didn't want to bother her son, she said to me "I'm not used to this place."

That was Mother's Seventh Lie.

"Don't cry, my dear. I'm not in pain."

My mother was now getting old, and to top that my mother got a flank cancer and had to be hospitalized. I, who lived miles away across the ocean, came home to visit my dearest mother. She lay in weakness on her bed after having an operation. Mother, who looked so old, stared into my eyes with all the love she had. She tried to spread a smile on her face even with the disease that tried to hold her back. I could see how the disease had broken my mother's body, but not her will or love. And though she had become weak and thin from outside, she was still very strong within. I stared at my mother with tears flowing down my cheeks. My heart was hurt, so hurt, seeing my mother in that condition, but mother, with her strength, said "Don't cry, my dear. I'm not in pain."

That was Mother's Eight Lie

That was the last lie my mother said to me and closed her eyes forever!

I read this article while surfing the net this morning and it touched my heart. I think this was written by someone from China or Korea. I have done a little editing with the spellings and the grammar of the original article, I hope the rightful owner will not hold it against me. I have also added the quote at the top of the article and would like to end it with another quote from a Spanish Proverb.

"An ounce of mother is worth a ton of priest."

Anger !!!

2007-10-28T17:53:00.000-07:00

"Being angered is the greatest defeat to a human being."

.Kazi Shams

My brother and I caused my mother a lot of grief while we were growing up. Our parents loved us, but when our mother became upset, she would lose her temper and yell at us in a high-pitched voice.

Eventually my brother and I grew up, married, and had familes of our own. My family visited our parents two or three times a year, and my mother was always patient and understanding. She never lost her temper or yelled at me anymore.

Then during one of our visits, when I bathed my two little daughters, quite a bit of water splashed on the floor. I dried the girls, dressed them for bed, and sent them out of the bathroom so I could clean up. Just as I was wiping up the floor with one of the towels I had used to dry the girls, my mom came into the bathroom and immediately lost her self-control.

"What are you doing?" she yelled. "You don't use my towels for wiping the floor! That's what the mop is for!"

I looked up at her in shocked surprise. She marched out, returned with a mop, and shooed me out of her way while she did things the right way.

Later she came to me with a sheepish look on her face. In a controlled, reflective tone she apologized, "I'm sorry, I thought I had gained the victory over my temper and yelling at you kids. But I learned something about myself tonight. I didn't really gain the victory. When you kids left, the irritant just went away. Because there was no one around to upset me, I had no one to lose my temper with or to yell at, so I thought I had gained the victory."

That was a good lesson for me, too.

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

Because of my sinful nature, I'll always have to be on guard, or the devil will catch me when I least expect it.

.Sanita Booth

Do you have control over your anger, or are you one, who is easily angered, just like me?

Wisdom !!!

2007-10-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

"Sow a thought reap an action, Sow an action reap a habit, Sow a habit reap a character, Sow a character reap a destiny."

Charles Reade

Wisdom is the ability to perceive or determine what is good, true or sound. It is manifested through common sense or sound judgement. To be wise is to have that ability.

There are specific components of character, which collectively can be called the seven pillars of wisdom, and these are necessary to make one complete and well-balanced. These seven components come out the basic attributes that mould or shape character. They come out of the attributes of confidence, self-control, patience, diligence, steadfastness, kindness, humility, gentleness, peacefulness, compassion and love.

Through constant practice we can actually reprogramme the mind. We begins with the re-engineering of the thought processes by first becoming conscious of our own thoughts. We can then consciously accept or reject a particular thought process. By constantly accepting or rejecting particular thought processes we can alter our behaviour, we can acquire new habits and we can therefore change our character.

To achieve success in the training programme means that every effort is made in practicing these attributes until they become inbred habits and the seven pillars that we erected are held together by love.

You all might now be wondering what are these 'Seven Pillars'?

The Seven Pillars

Honour

Honour can be high respect or glory. It comes from a good name or reputation, through strong adherence to what is right.

Responsibility

Responsibility is the component of character that makes one faithful to obligations, trustworthy and reliable. It is the ability to act independently and make decisions rationally.

Justice

Justice or fairness is the quality of conforming to standards of what is fair, truthful, and morally upright.

Courage

Courage is the quality enabling one to face danger or difficulties without fear; it manifests itself as bravery and boldness.

Determination

Determination is the act of reaching a decision. It is the ascertainment after consideration, observation, investigation or calculation. It is also settlement on a course of action or the fixing of purpose.

Honesty

Honesty is the state or quality of displaying truthfulness, fairness, as in character. It is dependent on one’s ability to accurately describe or define reality.

Integrity

Integrity is moral uprightness. It is the state, quality, or condition of being complete or whole.

Let me end this article with a quote from the book of Proverbs

"Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars."

Crossroad !!!

2007-10-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

"If your life is ever going to get better, you'll have to take risks. There is simply no way you can grow without taking chances."

David Viscott

..One sunny day a caterpillar who was afraid of the dark came to a tunnel which lay squarely in its path. It had a choice of going back where it started, or summoning the courage to crawl into the darkness.

"What shall I do?" wondered the caterpillar. "If I go back home, I won't get where I want to go, but I'm so afraid!"

Just then, a voice called out from the tunnel. "I can hear you, Mr. Caterpillar. I am Mr. Beetle. I am here in the tunnel and I can see the other end. If you come through, you won't lose your fear of the dark, but you will get where you want to go."

We are all like the caterpillar once in a while. But if we let our fear stop us from doing things which are necessary to our growth, we will never realize what courage we really have.

What do you do when you come to such a cross-road?

Diligence !!!

2007-10-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

"He who labors diligently need never despair."

Menander

A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows."

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This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and hired him.

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A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace.
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The young man slept soundly.

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The farmer and his wife then inspected their property. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements.

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The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well.

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The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows."

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Because the farmhand did his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. So when the wind blew, he was not afraid. He could sleep in peace.

Are you like the farmhand that sleeps soundly when the storm is around?

Are you like the farmer, who is awaken by the smallest sound?

Flaws !!!

2007-10-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

"Show me a person without flaws and I shall show you God"

AlySS

...

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it was made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us have our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there. There is a lot of good in you!

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life!

Or as I like to think of it:

If it hadn't been for the crackpots in my life, it would have been pretty boring and not so interesting.

Forgiveness !!!

2007-10-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

“Forgiveness is the needle that knows how to mend."

Jewel

Nine year old Bess Lyn Sannino was angry to find her house had been burglarized. Seventeen dollars in allowance money, her Valentine's Day candy, and a tape player were gone. The front door had been pelted with raw eggs. She felt sure the burglars were several young teenagers from her neighborhood who'd earlier sprayed graffiti on the garage.

Her mother, a Quaker, had doubts about calling the police. She called the father of one of the young suspects, who encouraged her to work with police to help this become a lesson for the teens.

A compassionate police officer took a week to locate the parents of all four suspects. One mother worked two jobs and wasn't home until after 11 pm. A father had been hospitalized for erratic, potentially violent behavior. These were stressed, troubled families.

In the conversations that followed, all the parents and the police officer agreed that no permanent record of the incident would be kept if the offenders would make up for their crime in more meaningful ways. In addition to curfews and other restrictions, creative forms of restitution were agreed to. One of the perpetrators wrote an essay on integrity and came to the house to read it to Bess. Others came and cleaned off the front door, did yard work and chores around the house. Everything that was taken was returned.

But Bess found she needed healing on a deeper level. With her mother's support, Bess hosted a Forgiveness Party for the young people who'd broken into her house. She made a piñata and decorated her house and yard. There was lots of music coming from the formerly stolen tape player. Not only did the young people come, so did their parents and siblings. It became quite a celebration. Anger and shame were transformed into joy and community. Healing happened for everyone.

Bess related this story in a very matter-of-fact tone. To her, it seemed like the most ordinary thing, to throw a party for people who came uninvited into her home to vandalize and steal from her. She was surprised that so many adults were impressed by her idea.

What do you think ?

After the party would these youngsters have a bad feeling for the girl?

I know they came and appologized and did whatever they were asked to do ... but did that come from their heart?

But when the girl organised the "Forgiveness Party", that sure did reduce the hard feelings and shame these youngsters were having in their mind ... that's what I think.

Did she win a few more friends I can't guarantee, but one thing is for sure she didn't get an extra enemy that day.

Destiny !!!

2007-10-20T00:53:00.000-07:00

"Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control."

Albert Einstein

Once upon a time, there was a king. The king liked one of his followers very much because he was very wise and always gave very useful advice. Therefore the king took him along wherever he went.

One day, the king was bitten by a dog, the finger was injured and the wound was getting worse. He asked the follower if that was a bad sign.

The follower said, "Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control, but what God does, its for our best."

In the end, the finger of the king was so bad that it had to be cut. The king asked the follower again if that was a bad sign.

Again, the follower gave the same answer, "Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control, but what God does, its for our best."

The king became very angry and sent the follower to prison. But before he asked the guards to take him, he asked yet once again, if his going to the prision was a bad sign?

The follower bowed and gave the same reply, "Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control, but what God does, its for our best."

One day, the king went hunting in the jungle. He got so engrossed on the chase of a deer, that he went deeper and deeper inside the jungle and got lost. To make thing worse, he got captured by the native people that lived inside the jungle. The natives wanted to sacrifice him to their god, but when they noticed that the king had one finger short, they released him immediately as the was not a perfect man anymore and not suitable for sacrifice.

The king managed to get back to his palace somehow, and thats when he finally understood the follower's wise quote, "Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control, but what God does, its for our best." He thinks out loud, if I hadn't lost one finger, I could have been killed by the native people.

The kind immediately ordered to release the follower, and apologized to him. But to the king's amazement, the follower was not one bit mad at him. Instead, the follower said, "It wasn't a bad thing that you locked me up."

"Why?" asked the king.

"Because if your majesty hadn't locked me up, I would have followed you into the jungle. And after the native's had found that you were not suitable, they would have used me as their sacrifice. Again, Oh king I repeat, everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control, what God does, it for our best."

Remember

Everything that happens in this world, there is no absolute good or bad. Sometimes things that seemed to be bad at face value, eventually turn out to be good.

Whatever good things that happen to you, enjoy it, but don't have to hold too tight to it, treat it as a gift in your life and be thankful to the God - Almighty.

Whatever bad things that happen to you, don't feel too sad or despaired about it, in the end, it might not be a total bad thing after all, infact in might be a blessing in disguise.

If one can understand this, he or she will find life much easier.

Patience !!!

2007-10-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

"The principle part of faith is patience"

George MacDonald

When the idea is not right God says, "NO".
No - when the idea is not the best.
No - when the idea is absolutely wrong.
No - when though it may help you, it could create problems for someone else.

When the time is not right, God says, "SLOW"
What a catastrophe it would be if God answered every prayer at a snap of your fingers.

Do you know what would happen?
God would become your servant, not your master.

Suddenly God would be working for you instead of you working for Him.

When you are not right, God says, "GROW".
The selfish person has to grow in unselfishness.
The cautious person must grow courage.
The timid person must grow in confidence.
The dominating person must grow in sensitivity.
The critical person must grow in tolerance.
The negative person must grow in positive attitudes.
The pleasure-seeking person must grow in compassion
for suffering people.

...

When everything is all right, God says "GO".
Then miracles happen :
A hopeless alcoholic is set free!
A drug addict finds release!
A doubter becomes a child in his belief.
Diseased tissue responds to treatment, and healing begins.
The door to your dream suddenly swings open and there
stands God saying "Go"

"Go .. My Child Go"

Let me illustrate:

You are in a boat.

You approach the shore.

You throw the anchor out until it digs into the sand.

You take hold of the anchor rope and pull on it until your boat slides onto the sandy beach.

What have you done?

You have not moved the shore to the boat.

You have moved the boat to the shore.

This is the way God answers prayer.

The purpose of prayer is not to give you what you want, when you want it.

But the purpose of prayer is to turn you into the kind of person God wants you to be so he can answer your prayer in the way it needs to be answered.

God answers prayer always in one of four ways:

When the conditions are not right, God says, "No".

When the time is not right, God says, "Slow".

When we are not right, God says, "Grow".

When everythng is right, God says, "Go".

God does not advertise an 'Instant Prayer Answering Service".

Nowhere can you find that God will do anything you ask Him to do when you snap your finger or when you make your verbal demand.

But when everything is right - the conditions, the time, you yourself, and all else - then the answer is 'Yes'.

God maintains control in the area of why and the when.

God never explains why and God never promises when.

Always Remember:

His delays are not denials.

His timing is perfect.

Patience is what we need in our prayer.

Some people don't suffer from doubt as much as they suffer from impatience.

Fate !!!

2007-10-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

Jean de La Fontaine

There was a merchant in Bagdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions.

A little while later, the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, "Master, just now when I was in the market-place I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was 'death' that jostled me".

"She looked at me and made a threatening gesture," he continued, "Master, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there 'death' will not find me".

The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went.

Then the merchant went down to the market-place and he saw 'death' standing in the crowd.

He came to 'death' and said, "Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning?"

"That was not a threatening gesture," 'death' said, "it was only a start of my surprise. I was astonished to see him in Bagdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra".

Do you think you can alter what's written in your fate?

Criticism !!!

2007-10-17T17:49:00.000-07:00

"If you listen to correction to improve your life, you will live among the wise. Those who refuse correction hate themselves, but those who accept correction gain understanding."

Proverbs 15:31-32

Winston Churchill exemplified integrity and respect in the face of opposition. During his last year in office, he attended an official ceremony. Several rows behind him two gentlemen began whispering. "That's Winston Churchill." "They say he is getting senile." "They say he should step aside and leave the running of the nation to more dynamic and capable men."

When the ceremony was over, Churchill turned to the men and said, "Gentlemen, they also say he is deaf!"

Criticism

Nobody enjoys being criticized, even if it's done in a kind, loving way. But it's even more difficult to accept when the criticism is harsh or unfair. The fact is, however, that we all find ourselves from time to time in a position of being unfairly criticized.

Criticism -- even destructive criticism -- may serve a useful purpose. We need to listen to it and, if possible, profit by it. We ought to be humble enough to recognize that some criticisms are justly deserved. Even when critics are unkind and when they exaggerate our failures, there may still be some truth in what they say.

So, when faced with criticism, we need to look at the situation honestly and ask these questions: Is it true? If so, how can I overcome the condition that caused it? If not, is there something I can do to eliminate future criticism of the same type?

It was reported to Abraham Lincoln once that one of his cabinet members had called him a fool. Having verified the fact that Mr. Stanton had indeed referred to him in this manner, Lincoln said, "Mr Stanton is a wise man. If he said I am a fool, then I had better look into the matter."

It has been said, "We learn much from the disagreeable things people say, for they make us think, whereas the good things only make us glad."

Criticism should be a stepping stone to spiritual growth! It's an opportunity to learn what we're doing wrong and what we need to correct. It provides us with the motivation we need to change and mature.

How do you take criticism?

Gossiping !!!

2007-10-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

Before you repeat a story, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it fair? Is it necessary? If not, do not repeat it. Keep quiet.

Great minds discuss ideas - Average minds discuss events - Shallow minds discuss people.

Which are you?

Ann Landers

Phiosopher Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day he came upon anacquaintance who ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really"

Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed. This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

Don't you think we should keep this philosophy in mind the next time we either hear, or are about to repeat a rumor?

Contentment !!!

2007-10-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

Man falls from the pursuit of the ideal of plain living and high thinking the moment he wants to multiply his daily wants. Man's happiness really lies in contentment.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Some time ago, there lived a King. This king should have been contented with his life, given all the riches and luxuries he had. However, this was not the case! The King always found himself wondering why he just never seemed content with his life.

Sure, he had the attention of everyone wherever he went, attended fancy dinners and parties, but somehow, he still felt something was lacking and he couldn't put his finger on it.

One day, the King had woken up earlier than usual to stroll around his palace. He entered his huge living room and came to a stop when he heard someone happily singing away... following this singing... he saw that one of the servants was singing and had a very contented look on his face. This fascinated the King and he summoned this man to his chambers.

The man entered the King's chambers as ordered. The King asked why he was so happy?

To this the man replied: "Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but I make enough of a living to keep my wife and children happy. We don't need too much, a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummy. My wife and children are my inspiration, they are content with whatever little I bring home. I am happy because my family is happy."

Hearing this, the King dismissed the servant and summoned his Personal Assistant to his chambers.

The King related his personal anguish about his feelings and then related the story of the servant to his Personal Assistant, hoping that somehow, he will be able to come up with some reasoning that here was a King who could have anything he wished for at a snap of his fingers and yet was not contented, whereas, his servant, having so little was extremely contented.

The Personal Assistant listened attentively and came to a conclusion. He said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club."

"The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?" the King inquired.

To which the Assistant replied, "Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, you will have to do the following... place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep, you will then understand what The 99 Club is."

That very same evening, the King arranged for 99 Gold coins to be placed in a bag at the servant's doorstep. Although he was slightly hesitant and he thought he should have put 100 Gold coins into the bag, but since his assistant had advised him to put 99 that is what he did.

The servant was just stepping out of his house when he saw a bag at his doorstep. Wondering about its contents, he took it into his house and opened the bag. When he opened the bag, he let out a great big shout of joy...Gold Coins... so many of them. He could hardly believe it. He called his wife to show her the coins.

He then took the bag to a table and emptied it out and began to count the coins. Doing so, he realized that there were 99 coins and he thought it was an odd number so he counted again, and again and again only to come to the same conclusion... 99 Gold Coins.

He began to wonder, what could have happened to that last 1 coin? For no one would leave 99 coins. He began to search his entire house, looked around his backyard for hours, not wanting to lose out on that one coin. Finally, exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to make up for that 1 Gold coin to make his entire collection an even 100 Gold Coins.

He got up the next morning, in an extremely horrible mood, shouting at the children and his wife for his delay, not realizing that he had spent most of the night conjuring ways of working hard so that he had enough money to buy himself that gold coin. He went to work as usual - but not in his usual best mood, singing happily - as he grumpily did his daily errands.

Seeing the man's attitude change so drastically, the King was puzzled. He promptly summoned his assistant to his chambers. The King related his thoughts about the servant and once again, his assistant listened. The King could not believe that the servant who until yesterday had been singing away and was happy and content with his life had taken a sudden change of attitude, even though he should have been happier after receiving the gold coins.

To this the assistant replied "Ah! But your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club." He explained: "The 99 Club is just a name given to those people who have everything but yet are never contented, therefore they are always working hard and striving for that extra 1 to round it out to 100!

We have so much to be thankful for and we can live with very little in our lives, but the minute we are given something bigger and better, we want even more!

We are not the same happy contented person we used to be, we want more and more and by wanting more and more we don't realize the price we pay for it.

We lose our sleep, our happiness; we hurt the people around us just as a price to pay for our growing needs and desires.

That is what joining The 99 Club is all about."

Hearing this the King decided that from that day onwards, he was going to start appreciating all the little things in life.

Striving for more is always good, but let's not strive so hard and for so much that we lose all those near and dear to our hearts, we shouldn't compromise our happiness for moments of luxuries!

Generosity !!!

2007-10-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

I found this in a 'Jokes' section.

But after reading it, I think aside from the humorous side of this article, there is a great thought behind it.

There was this $20 dollar bill and a $1 dollar bill on the conveyor belt at the downtown Federal Reserve Building. As they were lying there side by side, the $1 dollar bill said to the $20 dollar bill, "Hey mannnnnn, where have you been? I haven't seen you in a long time."

The $20 dollar bill replied, "Man I have been having a ball!! I been traveling to distant countries, going to the finest restaurants, to the biggest and best casinos, numerous boutiques, the mall uptown, the mall downtown, the mall across town and even a mall that I just newly built. In fact, just this week I've been to Europe, a professional NBA game, Rodeo Drive, the all day retreat spa, the top-notch hair salon and the new casino!! I have done it all!!! "

After describing his great travels, the $20 dollar bill asked the $1 dollar bill, " What about you? Where have you been?"

The $1 dollar replied, "Well, I've been to the Baptist church, the Methodist church, the Presbyterian church, the Episcopalian church, the Church of God in Christ, the Catholic church, the Mormon church, the church of the Latter Day Saints, the A.M.E. church, the Disciple of Christ church, the..."

"WAIT A MINUTE! WAIT A MINUTE!!", shouted the $20 dollar bill to the $1 dollar bill. "What's a church??"

I would love to see your honest views.We all go to a place of worship be it a Temple, Mosque, Gurudwara or a Church and as is customary in each religion we all place an amount on the altar, when we bow to pray.What do you dig for in your pocket, the smallest bill or otherwise?

I wouldn't like to be a hypocrite and vote the other way, but I am one who looks for a small bill, but after reading this article I am ashamed and hope it will help me to change my ways. I hope this article is as helpful to all who are like me.

GENEROSITY !!!

Isn't the appropriate heading, let me know what is.