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Saturday, October 27, 2007

An Interview With God

I dreamed I had an interview with God.
"Come in," God said. "So, you would like to interview Me?" "If you have the time," I said. God smiled and said: "My time is eternity. It is enough to do everything.
What questions do you have in mind to ask me?"
I asked, "What surprises you most about mankind?"
God thought for a few moments and then answered: "That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health.
That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor the future.
That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived"
God placed my hands in His and we were silent for while. Then I asked, "As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"

God replied with a smile:
"To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved.
To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives.
To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. All will be judged individually on their own merits, not as a group on a comparison basis.
To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.
To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them.
To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness. To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings.
To learn that money can buy everything but happiness.
To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally different.
To learn that a true friend is someone who knows everything about them...and likes them anyway.
To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they have to forgive themselves."
I sat there for awhile enjoying my visit with God. I thanked Him for His time and for all that He has done for me and my family.
He replied, "Anytime. I'm here 24 hours a day. All you have to do is ask for me, and I'll answer"
People will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did...but people will never forget how they felt when they were with you.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Barriers or Hurdles?

Children were enthusiastically rehearsing and decorating the rural school for their approaching concert. As I glanced up from my teacher's desk, Patty stood waiting to lodge her urgent request.
"Every year I g-g-g-get to do quiet stuff. The other kids are always in a p-p-p-play or something. Talking. This year, I w-w-want to do a p-p-p-poem, myself!"
As I looked into those eager eyes, all possible excuses fizzled. Patty's yearning drew from me a promise that in a day or two she would have a special part - a
"reciting" part. That promise proved to be very difficult to keep.
None of my resource books had any useful selections. In desperation, I stayed up most of the night writing a poem, carefully avoiding those letters that trick the
tongue. It was not great literature, but it was custom-tailored to cope with Patty's speech problem.
After only a few brief readings, Patty had memorized all the verses and was prepared to dash through them. Somehow we had to control that rush without shattering
her enthusiasm. Day after day, Patty and I plodded through recitals. She meticulously matched her timing to my silent mouthing. She accepted the drudgery, eagerly anticipating her first speaking part. Concert night found the children in a frenzy of excitement.
In a dither the master of ceremonies came to me, waving his printed program. "There has been a mistake! You have listed Patty for a recitation. That girl can't even say her own name without stuttering." Because there was not time enough for explanations, I brushed his objection aside with, "We know what we are doing."

The entertainment was moving well. As item after item was presented, parents and friends responded with encouraging applause. When it was time for the questionable recitation, the MC again challenged me, insisting that Patty would embarrass everyone. Losing patience, I snapped, "Patty will do her part. You do yours. Just introduce her number."
I flitted past the curtains and sat on the floor at the foot of the audience. The MC appeared flustered as he announced, "The next recitation will be by . . .um . .
. Patty Connors." An initial gasp from the audience was followed by strained silence.
The curtain parted to show Patty, radiant, confident. Those hours of rehearsing took possession of the moment. In perfect control, the little charmer synchronized her words to my silent mouthing below the footlights. She articulated each syllable with
controlled clarity, and without a splutter or stammer. With eyes sparkling, she made her triumphant bow. The curtain closed. A hushed silence held the audience. Gradually the stillness gave way to suppressed chuckles, and then to enthusiastic applause. Utterly thrilled, I floated backstage. My little heroine threw her arms around me and, bubbling with joy, blurted out,
"We d-d-d-did it!"

A Story of Moral Values

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20
bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in
the air. "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson.

No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless.

But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in God's eyes. To Him, dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to Him.
God will keep us, "as the apple of His eye."

What Is Hugging?

Hugging is natural, organic, naturally sweet, free of pesticides and
preservatives. Hugging contains no artificial ingredients. It's 100%
wholesome. No calories, no caffeine, no nicotine.

Hugging is nearly perfect. There are no removable parts, batteries to wear
out, no periodic checkups. It consumes little energy, while yielding a lot.

It's inflation-proof. It's non-fattening. There are no monthly payments.
No insurance requirements. It's theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting, and
fully refundable. And it costs very little.

Hugging is healthy. It assists the body's immune system, it cures
depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it invigorates, it
rejuvenates, and it has no unpleasant side-effects. Hugging is no less than
a miracle drug.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

The smile

Many Americans are familiar with The Little Prince, a wonderful book by
Antoine de Saint-Exupery. This is a whimsical and fabulous book and works as
a children's story as well as a thought-provoking adult fable.
Far fewer are aware of Saint Exupery's other writings, novels and short
stories. Saint Exupery was a fighter pilot who fought against the Nazis and
was killed in action. Before World War II, he fought in the Spanish Civil War
against the fascists. He wrote a fascinating story based on that experience
entitled The Smile (Le Sourire).
It is this story which I'd like to share with you now. It isn't clear
whether or not he meant this to be autobiographical or fiction. I choose to
believe it to be the former. He said that he was captured by the enemy and
thrown into a jail cell. He was sure that from the contemptuous looks and
rough treatment he received from his jailers he would be executed the next
day.
From here, I'll tell the story as I remember it in my own words.
"I was sure that I was to be killed. I became terribly nervous and
distraught. I fumbled in my pockets to see if there were any cigarettes which
had escaped their search. I found one and because of my shaking hands, I
could barely get it to my lips. But I had no matches, they had taken those.
"I looked through the bars at my jailer. He did not make eye contact with me.
After all, one does not make eye contact with a thing, a corpse. I called out
to him 'Have you got a light, por favor?' He looked at me, shrugged and came
over to light my cigarette. "As he came close and lit the match, his eyes
inadvertently locked with mine. At that moment, I smiled. I don't know why I
did that. Perhaps it was nervousness, perhaps it was because, when you get
very close, one to another, it is very hard not to smile. In any case, I
smiled.
In that instant, it was as though a spark jumped across the gap between
our two hearts, our two human souls. I know he didn't want to, but my smile
leaped through the bars and generated a smile on his lips, too. He lit my
cigarette but stayed near, looking at me directly in the eyes and continuing
to smile. "I kept smiling at him, now aware of him as a person and not just a
jailer. And his looking at me seemed to have a new dimension, too.
'Do you have kids?' he asked. '"Yes, here, here.' I took out my wallet
and nervously fumbled for the pictures of my family. He, too, took out the
pictures of his ninos and began to talk about his plans and hopes for them.
My eyes filled with tears. I said that I feared that I'd never see my family
again, never have the chance to see them grow up. Tears came to his eyes,
too. "Suddenly, without another word, he unlocked my cell and silently led me
out. Out of the jail, quietly and by back routes, out of the town. There, at
the edge of town, he released me. And without another word, he turned back
toward the town.
"My life was saved by a smile." Yes, the smile - the unaffected,
unplanned natural connection between people.
I tell this story in my work because I'd like people to consider that
underneath all the layers we construct to protect ourselves, our dignity, our
titles, our degrees, our status and our need to be seen in certain ways -
underneath all that, remains the authentic, essential self. I'm not afraid to
call it the soul. I really believe that if that part of you and that part of
me could recognize each other, we wouldn't be enemies. We couldn't have hate
or envy or fear. I sadly conclude that all those other layers, which we so
carefully construct through our lives, distance and insulate us from truly
contacting others.
Saint Exupery's story speaks of that magic moment when two souls
recognize each other. I've had just a few moments like that. Falling in love
is one example. And looking at a baby. Why do we smile when we see a baby?
Perhaps it's because we see someone without all the defensive layers, someone
whose smile for us we know to be fully genuine and without guile. And that
baby-soul inside us smiles wistfully in recognition.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Change Begins With Choice

Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to make important changes in our lives. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves." We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth. And they need nothing but the truth.

We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life - If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree. You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life - and it all begins with your very own power of choice.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

The Cave People

Long ago, or maybe not so long ago, there was a tribe in a dark, cold cavern.
The cave dwellers would huddle together and cry against the chill. Loud and
long they wailed. It was all they did. It was all they knew to do. The sounds
in the cave were mournful, but the people didn't know it, for they had never
known joy. The spirit in the cave was death, but the people didn't know it,
for they had never known life.
But then, one day, they heard a different voice. "I have heard your cries,"
it announced. "I have felt your chill and seen your darkness. I have come to
help."
The cave people grew quiet. They had never heard this voice. hope sounded
strange to their ears. "How can we know you have come to help?"
"Trust me," he answered. "I have what you need."
The cave people peered through the darkness at the figure of the stranger. He
was stacking something, then stooping and stacking more.
"What are you doing?" one cried, nervously.
The stranger didn't answer.
"What are you making?" one shouted even louder.
Still no response.
"Tell us!" demanded a third.
The visitor stood and spoke in the direction of the voices. "I have what you
need." With that he turned to the pile at his feet and lit it. Wood ignited,
flames erupted, and light filled the cavern.
The cave people turned away in fear. "Put it out!" they cried. "It hurts to
see it."
"Light always hurts before it helps," he answered. "Step closer. The pain
will soon pass."
"Not I," declared a voice.
"Nor I," agreed a second.
"Only a fool would risk exposing his eyes to such light."
The stranger stood next to the fire. "Would you prefer the darkness? Would
you prefer the cold? Don't consult your fears. Take a step of faith"
For a long time no one spoke. The people hovered in groups covering their
eyes. The fire builder stood next to the fire. "It's warm here," he invited.
"He's right," one from behind him announced. "It's warmer." The stranger
turned and saw a figure slowly stepping toward the fire. "I can open my eyes
now," she proclaimed. "I can see."
"Come closer," invited the fire builder.
She did. She stepped into the ring of light.
"It's so warm!" she extended her hands and sighed as her chill began to pass.
"Come, everyone! Feel the warmth," she invited.
"Silence, woman!" cried one of the cave dwellers. "Dare you lead us into your
folly? Leave us. Leave us and take your light with you."
She turned to the stranger. "Why won't they come?"
"They choose the chill, for though it's cold, it's what they know. They'd
rather be cold than change."
"And live in the dark?"
"And live in the dark."
The now-warm woman stood silent. Looking first at the dark, then at the man.
"Will you leave the fire?" he asked.
She paused, then answered, "I cannot. I cannot bear the cold." Then she spoke
again. "But nor can I bear the thought of my people in darkness."
"You don't have to," he responded, reaching into the fire and removing a
stick. "Carry this to your people. Tell them the light is here, and the light
is warm. Tell them the light is for all who desire it."
And so she took the small flame and stepped into the shadows.
Moral stories can improve your moral values.

Soar With The Eagles

There's an old fable that talks about a man who found an eagle's egg and put
it in a nest of a barnyard hen.
The eagle hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them. All his
life, the eagle did what the barnyard chicks did, thinking he was a barnyard
chicken.
He scratched the earth for worms and insects. He clucked and cackled. And he
would thrash his wings and fly a few feet in the air.
Years passed and the eagle grew very old. One day he saw a magnificent bird
above him in the cloudless sky.
It glided in graceful majesty among powerful wind currents, with scarcely a
beat of its strong golden wings. The old eagle looked up in awe. "Who's
that?" he asked. "That's the eagle, the king of the birds," said his
neighbor. "He belongs to the sky. We belong to the earth--we're chickens."
So the eagle lived and died a chicken, for that's what he thought he was.
How sad when we who are children of the King live as chickens when we could
fly with the eagles.
Moral stories can improve your moral values.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Look Upon Them As Wounded

After vaccinating a young boy with an injection in the arm, a doctor
wanted to stick on a bandage. "Please put it on the other arm," the boy
pleaded. "Why do that?" the doctor asked. "This will let everyone know you have
been vaccinated and they won't hit your sore arm."
"Please put it on my other arm! Please!" the boy begged. "You don't know
the kids at my school." He couldn't show his weakness. He was afraid to let others know of his vulnerability for fear of being hurt more than he was already.
Adults, too, are pretty good at hiding pain. Not usually physical pain,
but the pain of loss or rejection or fear. They like to appear as if they are
in control; they can handle whatever life throws at them; they're on top of
it. And too often... they end up going it alone. No one understands. No one
is there to help. Susan Muto, in her book BLESSINGS THAT MAKE US BE (Crossroad, 1982), tells a story of a great ruler who needed a second-in-command to help manage
his kingdom. When he finally selected the right person, he took him outside
onto a balcony of the palace where they could gaze over all the lands under
his jurisdiction. His assistant asked the king, "Master, what must I remember
most of all if I am to carry out your wishes?"
"My son," the king replied, "there is only one directive to follow -- and
that is to look upon the people as wounded."
The wise king knew that everyone is in pain in some way. Wounds may not
show, but they are there. And those people we find particularly difficult to
relate to may actually be hurting the most.
Discover where people hurt, and you'll finally understand them. Learn
where the invisible bandages are and you'll know how to help, heal or reach
them. It makes for good leadership. But just as important, it makes for great
friendship.Moral stories can improve your moral values.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Natural Highs

Take a few minutes and read these. Think about them one at a time BEFORE
going on to the next one.........

Falling in love. Laughing so hard your face hurts. A hot shower. No lines at the Super Wal-Mart. A special glance. Getting mail. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
Hearing your favorite song on the radio. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
Hot towels out of the dryer. Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.
Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla!)
A long distance phone call. A bubble bath. Giggling.
A good conversation. The beach. Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter.
Laughing at yourself. Midnight phone calls that last for hours. Running through sprinklers. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful. Laughing at an inside joke.
Friends. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
Your first kiss. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
Playing with a new puppy. Having someone play with your hair. Sweet dreams.
Hot chocolate. Road trips with friends. Swinging on swings.
Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies and drinking
eggnog. Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling
stupid. Going to a really good concert. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
Winning a really competitive game. Making chocolate chip cookies.
Having your friends send you homemade cookies. Spending time with close friends.
Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends.
Holding hands with someone you care about.
Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never
change. Riding the best roller coasters over and over.
Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present
from you. Watching the sunrise.
Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day.

Friday, October 5, 2007

An Action Challenge

My friend, Cheryl Richardson, head of Oprah's coaching team, has helped
me take a very practical approach to life. Good ideas stay in the realm of
knowledge until they birth actions that affect our lives. When we act on
them, they become wisdom. This month, reflect on the Dalai Lama's three
points and then take action on at least one of them.
1. What one thing can you do that will make you a more peaceful person?
2. The average person needs 8 hours and 15 minutes sleep every night. If you
are getting less, try sleeping more. This is wisdom, not sloth. If you have
trouble sleeping, and one-third of all adult Americans do, try Harvard
researcher Gregg D. Jacobs' excellent book, Say Good Night to Insomnia.
3. Identify one area in your life that is a persistent problem, and that you
would like to solve but have given up on. It may concern a relationship, a
work issue, or even something simple like wanting to exercise but not
following through. What important vision would solving the problem fill? Give
it another try from that perspective. You have inner resources that have yet
to be tapped. Overcoming obstacles makes you stronger, and previous thwarted
attempts to solve a problem can provide insight about what may be more likely
to work.
Moral stories can improve your moral values.

Teaching Story: I Tried To Climb The Mountain Today

I tried to climb the mountain today. As I inched my way up the path, I felt
overwhelmed, so I had to turn back.
I tried to climb the mountain today. On my journey, darkness started to fall,
and I was full of fear, so I had to return to a safe place.
I was ready to climb the mountain today. But it was so hot outside, I thought
I better stay in my nice air-conditioned house and rest up for tomorrow's
attempt.
I was about to climb the mountain today. But I had so many other things to
do, so instead of climbing the mountain I took care of much more important
tasks. I washed my car, mowed the grass and watched the big game.
Today the mountain will just have to wait.
I was going to climb the mountain today. But as I stared at the mountain in
it's majestic beauty, I knew I stood no chance of making it to the top, so I
figured why even bother trying.
I had forgotten about climbing the mountain today, until a friend came by and
asked me what I was up to lately. I told him I was thinking about climbing
that mountain some day. I went on and on about how I was going to accomplish
this task.
Finally, he said, "I just got back from climbing the mountain." Astonished,
I asked him, "How did you do it?"
He replied, "For the longest time I told myself I was trying to climb the
mountain but never made any progress. I almost let the dream of making it to
the top die. I came up with every excuse of why I could not make it up the
mountain, but never once did I give myself a reason why I could. One day as I
stared at the mountain and pondered, I realized that if I didn't make an
attempt at this dream all my dreams will eventually die."
"The next morning, I started my climb." He continued, "It was not easy, and
at times I wanted to quit. But no matter what I faced, I placed one foot in
front of the other, keeping a steady pace.
When the wind tried to blow me over the edge, I kept walking. When the voices
inside my head screamed, "stop!" I focused on my goal never letting it out of
sight, and I kept moving forward.
At times, I was ready to quit, but I knew I had come too far. Time and time
again, I reassured myself that I was going to finish this journey. I
struggled to make it to the top, but I climbed the mountain!"
"I have to be going," my friend said. "Tomorrow is a new day to accomplish
more dreams. By the way, what are you going to do tomorrow?

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Potatoes, Eggs and Coffee Beans

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn't know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?"
"Potatoes, eggs, and coffee," she hastily replied.
"Look closer," he said, "and touch the potatoes." She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.
"Father, what does this mean?" she asked.
He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity-- the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.
"Which are you," he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean? " In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us. Which one are you?
Moral stories can improve your moral values.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Seek Friends Who Challenge You

The Talmud tells the story of Rebbi Yochanan, a great scholar who had a study partner named Reish Lakish. (Before becoming a rabbi, Reish Lakish was a bandit. But that's another story...) These two men studied together for many years, until one day Reish Lakish got sick and died. Rebbe Yochanan was seen walking in the street, totally depressed. His students asked him, "What's wrong?" He said, "My study partner died and now I have none." They told him, "Don't worry Rebbi, we'll take care of it." So they went and found a brilliant young man to study with Rebbe Yochanan.
Two weeks later, Rebbi Yochanan is seen walking in the street again, totally depressed. They asked: "Rebbi, what happened? Why are you so sad? We sent you the most brilliant study partner. What's the problem?"
He told them: "My new study partner is so brilliant that whatever I say, he brings 24 proofs that I'm correct. But when I studied with Reish Lakish, he showed me 24 proofs that I was wrong. That's what I miss. I don't want someone who will just agree with me; I want a partner who will challenge my position. In this way we will arrive at the truth together."
A good challenge - is that what friends are for? YES! The Sages say: "Better the criticism of a friend, than the kiss of an enemy." Your friend will tell you when you have spinach stuck in your teeth; your enemy will smirk and say you look great! The Torah speaks of Dikduk Chaverim, which literally means fine-tuning with friends. With this attitude, I see others not as adversaries, but as a welcome counterbalance to my own perspective. In choosing my friends, I want someone who will challenge me to become better in life, not just better on the tennis court.
Moral stories can improve your moral values.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

How Heavy Is Your Bag?

One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person we'd refuse to forgive in our life, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy. We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work.
The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually, and how we had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget, and keep leaving it in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty slime. This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity! Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, and while that's true, it clearly is also a gift for ourselves!
So next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself-- Isn't MY bag heavy enough?

Monday, October 1, 2007

A Work Of Art

Edward Fischer writes in Notre Dame Magazine (February, 1983), that a leper (or, more correctly, a sufferer of Hanson's Disease) in Fiji followed the leading of his twisted hands. He became an internationally known artist. "My sickness I see as a gift of God leading me to my life's work," he said. "If it had not been for my sickness, none of these things would have happened."
As a young girl, Jessamyn West had tuberculosis. She was so sick that she was sent away to die. During that time she developed her skill as a writer and authored numerous novels in her lifetime.
That great author Flannery O'Connor suffered numerous ailments --lupus struck her at 25 and she walked only with the aid of crutches for the final fourteen years of her life. She noted, however, that this illness narrowed her activities in such a way that she had time for the real work of her life, which was writing.
Some people succeed in spite of handicaps. Others succeed because of them. The truth is, our problems help to make us what we are. Those who suffer often learn the value of compassion. Those who struggle often learn perseverance. And those who fall down often teach others how to rise again. Our troubles can shape
us in ways a carefree existence cannot.
A story is told of an Eastern village which, through the centuries, was known for its exquisite pottery. Especially striking were its urns; high as tables, wide as chairs, they were admired around the globe for their strong form and delicate beauty.
Legend has it that when each urn was apparently finished, there was one final step. The artist broke it -- and then put it back together with gold filigree.
An ordinary urn was then transformed into a priceless work of art. What seemed finished wasn't, until it was broken.
So it is with people! Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, they can become disappointed and bitter. But when mended by a hand of infinite patience and love, the finished product will be a work of exquisite beauty and effectiveness; a life which could only reach its wholeness after it was broken.
If you feel broken remember that you are a work of art! And you may not actually be complete until the pieces are reassembled and bonded with a golden filigree of love.
Moral stories can improve your moral values.
--Steve Goodier

Weakness Or Strength

Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take, for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.
"Sensei," the boy finally said, "shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied.
Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament.
Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals.
This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. "No," the sensei insisted, "Let him continue."
Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?"
"You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
Moral stories can improve your moral values.
--Author Unknown