I was taking my usual morning walk when a garbage truck pulled up beside me. I thought the driver was going to ask for directions. Instead, he showed me a picture of a cute little five-year-old boy. "This is my grandson, Jeremiah," he said. "He's on a life-support system at a Phoenix hospital."
Thinking he would next ask for a contribution to his hospital bills, I reached for my wallet. But he wanted something more than money. He said, "I'm asking everybody I can to say a prayer for him. Would you say one for him, please?"
I did. And my problems didn't seem like much that day.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Fight Against Racism
The following scene took place on a BA flight between Johannesburg and London.
A White woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a Black man. Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess. "Madam, what is the matter," the Hostess asked.
"You obviously do not see it then?" she responded. "You placed me next to a Black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat."
"Be calm please, " the Hostess replied. "Almost all the places on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another seat is available." The Hostess went away and then came back a few minutes later. "Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in the Economy class.
I spoke to the Captain and he informed me that there is also no seats in the Business class. All the same, we still have one seat in the First class." Before the woman could say anything, the Hostess continued:
"It is not usual for our company to permit someone from the Economy class to sit in the First class. However, given the circumstances, the Captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting."
She turned to the Black guy, and said, "Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collect your hand luggage, a seat awaits you in First class." At that moment, the other passengers who were shocked by
what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded.
A White woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a Black man. Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess. "Madam, what is the matter," the Hostess asked.
"You obviously do not see it then?" she responded. "You placed me next to a Black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat."
"Be calm please, " the Hostess replied. "Almost all the places on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another seat is available." The Hostess went away and then came back a few minutes later. "Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in the Economy class.
I spoke to the Captain and he informed me that there is also no seats in the Business class. All the same, we still have one seat in the First class." Before the woman could say anything, the Hostess continued:
"It is not usual for our company to permit someone from the Economy class to sit in the First class. However, given the circumstances, the Captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting."
She turned to the Black guy, and said, "Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collect your hand luggage, a seat awaits you in First class." At that moment, the other passengers who were shocked by
what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded.
We'll See
Once upon a time, there was a farmer in the central region of China. He didn't have a lot of money and, instead of a tractor, he used an old horse to plow his field.
One afternoon, while working in the field, the horse dropped dead. Everyone in the village said, Oh, what a horrible thing to happen. The farmer said simply, We'll see. He was so at peace and so calm, that everyone in the village got together and, admiring his attitude, gave him a new horse as a gift.
Everyone's reaction now was, What a lucky man. And the farmer said, We'll see.
A couple days later, the new horse jumped a fence and ran away. Everyone in the village shook their heads and said, What a poor fellow!
The farmer smiled and said, We'll see.
Eventually, the horse found his way home, and everyone again said, What a fortunate man.
The farmer said, We'll see.
Later in the year, the farmer's young boy went out riding on the horse and fell and broke his leg. Everyone in the village said, What a shame for the poor boy.
The farmer said, We'll see.
Two days later, the army came into the village to draft new recruits. When they saw that the farmer's son had a broken leg, they decided not to recruit him.
Everyone said, What a fortunate young man.
The farmer smiled again - and said We'll see.
Moral of the story:
There's no use in overreacting to the events and circumstances of our everyday lives. Many times what looks like a setback, may actually be a gift in disguise. And when our hearts are in the right place, all events and circumstances are gifts that we can learn valuable lessons from.
One afternoon, while working in the field, the horse dropped dead. Everyone in the village said, Oh, what a horrible thing to happen. The farmer said simply, We'll see. He was so at peace and so calm, that everyone in the village got together and, admiring his attitude, gave him a new horse as a gift.
Everyone's reaction now was, What a lucky man. And the farmer said, We'll see.
A couple days later, the new horse jumped a fence and ran away. Everyone in the village shook their heads and said, What a poor fellow!
The farmer smiled and said, We'll see.
Eventually, the horse found his way home, and everyone again said, What a fortunate man.
The farmer said, We'll see.
Later in the year, the farmer's young boy went out riding on the horse and fell and broke his leg. Everyone in the village said, What a shame for the poor boy.
The farmer said, We'll see.
Two days later, the army came into the village to draft new recruits. When they saw that the farmer's son had a broken leg, they decided not to recruit him.
Everyone said, What a fortunate young man.
The farmer smiled again - and said We'll see.
Moral of the story:
There's no use in overreacting to the events and circumstances of our everyday lives. Many times what looks like a setback, may actually be a gift in disguise. And when our hearts are in the right place, all events and circumstances are gifts that we can learn valuable lessons from.
Sitting on Your Talent
There was a man played piano in a bar. He was a good piano player. People came out just to hear him play. But one night, a patron told him he didn't want to hear him just play anymore. He wanted him to sing a song.
The man said, I don't sing.
But the customer was persistent. He told the bartender, I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want that guy to sing!
The bartender shouted across the room, Hey buddy! If you want to get paid, sing a song. The patrons are asking you to sing!
So he did. He sang a song. A piano player who had never sung in public did so for the very first time. And nobody had ever heard the song Mona, Mona Lisa sung the way it was sung that night by Nat King Cole!
He had talent he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar, but because he had to sing, he went on to become one of the best-known entertainers in America.
You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel as if your talent is particularly great, but it may be better than you think! And with persistence, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may as well have no ability at all if you sit on whatever talent you possess!
The better question is not - What ability do I have that is useful? It is rather How will I use whatever ability I have?
The man said, I don't sing.
But the customer was persistent. He told the bartender, I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want that guy to sing!
The bartender shouted across the room, Hey buddy! If you want to get paid, sing a song. The patrons are asking you to sing!
So he did. He sang a song. A piano player who had never sung in public did so for the very first time. And nobody had ever heard the song Mona, Mona Lisa sung the way it was sung that night by Nat King Cole!
He had talent he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar, but because he had to sing, he went on to become one of the best-known entertainers in America.
You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel as if your talent is particularly great, but it may be better than you think! And with persistence, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may as well have no ability at all if you sit on whatever talent you possess!
The better question is not - What ability do I have that is useful? It is rather How will I use whatever ability I have?
Destiny
During a momentous battle, a Japanese general decided to attack even though his army was greatly outnumbered. He was confident they would win, but his men were filled with doubt.
On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the men, the general took out a coin and said, I shall now toss this coin. If it is heads, we shall win. If it is tails we shall lose.
Destiny will now reveal itself.
He threw the coin into the air and all watched intently as it landed. It was heads. The soldiers were so overjoyed and filled with confidence that they vigorously attacked the enemy and were victorious.
After the battle. a lieutenant remarked to the general, No one can change destiny.
Quite right, the general replied as he showed the lieutenant the coin, which had heads on both sides.
On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the men, the general took out a coin and said, I shall now toss this coin. If it is heads, we shall win. If it is tails we shall lose.
Destiny will now reveal itself.
He threw the coin into the air and all watched intently as it landed. It was heads. The soldiers were so overjoyed and filled with confidence that they vigorously attacked the enemy and were victorious.
After the battle. a lieutenant remarked to the general, No one can change destiny.
Quite right, the general replied as he showed the lieutenant the coin, which had heads on both sides.
Things to Remember
I find what I look for in people. If I look for God, I find God. If I look for bad qualities, I find them. I, in a sense, select what I expect, and I receive it.
A life without challenges would be like going to school without lessons to learn. Challenges come not to depress or get me down, but to master and to grow and to unfold thereby.
In the Father's wise and loving plan for me, no burden can fall upon me, no emergency can arise, no grief can overtake me, before I am given the grace and strength to meet them.
A rich, full life is not determined by outer circumstances and relationships. These can be contributory to it, but cannot be the source. I am happy or unhappy because of what I think and feel.
I can never lose anything that belongs to me, nor can I posses what is not really mine.
To never run from a problem either it will chase me or I will run into another just like it, although it may have a different face or name.
To have no concern for tomorrow. Today is the yesterday over which I had concern.
To never bang on a closed door Wait for it to open and then go through it.
A person who has come into my life has come either to teach me something, or to learn something from me.
A life without challenges would be like going to school without lessons to learn. Challenges come not to depress or get me down, but to master and to grow and to unfold thereby.
In the Father's wise and loving plan for me, no burden can fall upon me, no emergency can arise, no grief can overtake me, before I am given the grace and strength to meet them.
A rich, full life is not determined by outer circumstances and relationships. These can be contributory to it, but cannot be the source. I am happy or unhappy because of what I think and feel.
I can never lose anything that belongs to me, nor can I posses what is not really mine.
To never run from a problem either it will chase me or I will run into another just like it, although it may have a different face or name.
To have no concern for tomorrow. Today is the yesterday over which I had concern.
To never bang on a closed door Wait for it to open and then go through it.
A person who has come into my life has come either to teach me something, or to learn something from me.
Think Again - When You Think You Have Lost
I was praying two days ago and suddenly I saw the sun shinning. I never saw the sun so orange. It would disappear again behind rooftops of houses and again it would come and again it would disappear behind the rooftops. I asked God why is he letting the sun come up and then let is disappear again. He did not answer me till this morning when I was talking to a woman who also read a course in miracles. She told me that probably God wanted to show me that there is brightness, but also there is darkness. At that moment I understood that life is not this or that, but life is this and that.
Hope is not something we have to lose, the same counts for sadness; the more you resist sadness the harder it will get. To have hope is to have faith. Even in the darkest periods of the life faith and hope are always there; the most faithful friends. The sun did not leave, it was there behind the rooftops. It came when it was time for it to come. Being aware that the sun always will shine will give you hope in a new life. Every new day is a new life and the sun shines everyday. Even at night when we don't see it, it is there. Just as the trees, the birds and the see. There is always hope. It is as stable as any part of the nature, for it is nature. God created nature. We created pain and hurt, because we do hurt each other sometimes, forgetting that a simple sorry would do the cure.
Each day I am more aware of the nature and that I am part of it. Sometimes a big nature disaster will occur, but the nature will always fix it again. So my friends, if you have a broken heart for whatever reason, know that you are a part of nature and nature will always fix it again.
I am sharing this with you knowing that a lot of us are having or had a broken heart. Every time we get mad or sad it is our love for ourselves or for someone else that gets damaged. I think that life is about love; you make breakfast in the mornings for your family because you love them, you buy yourself a new book, because you love you. Everything you do or don't do is because you love, and when that feeling gets, hurt your heart brakes. When you think you have lost..............THINK AGAIN!!!!!!!!
Hope is not something we have to lose, the same counts for sadness; the more you resist sadness the harder it will get. To have hope is to have faith. Even in the darkest periods of the life faith and hope are always there; the most faithful friends. The sun did not leave, it was there behind the rooftops. It came when it was time for it to come. Being aware that the sun always will shine will give you hope in a new life. Every new day is a new life and the sun shines everyday. Even at night when we don't see it, it is there. Just as the trees, the birds and the see. There is always hope. It is as stable as any part of the nature, for it is nature. God created nature. We created pain and hurt, because we do hurt each other sometimes, forgetting that a simple sorry would do the cure.
Each day I am more aware of the nature and that I am part of it. Sometimes a big nature disaster will occur, but the nature will always fix it again. So my friends, if you have a broken heart for whatever reason, know that you are a part of nature and nature will always fix it again.
I am sharing this with you knowing that a lot of us are having or had a broken heart. Every time we get mad or sad it is our love for ourselves or for someone else that gets damaged. I think that life is about love; you make breakfast in the mornings for your family because you love them, you buy yourself a new book, because you love you. Everything you do or don't do is because you love, and when that feeling gets, hurt your heart brakes. When you think you have lost..............THINK AGAIN!!!!!!!!
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