Tuesday, July 26, 2016

2016-30 - The Vessel...


The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose?

"Take me", cried the gold one, "I'm shiny and bright,
I'm of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and lustre will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!"

The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
"You may use me, dear Master", the wooden bowl said,
"But I'd rather You used me for fruit, not for Bread!"

Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

"Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it all Mine."
"I need not the vessel with pride of its self;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;

Nor the one who is big mouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might."

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly. "There's work you must do,
Just pour out to others as I pour into you."

~ Author Unknown



"If you cannot mould yourself entirely as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?"

~ Thomas a Kempis


Tuesday, July 19, 2016

2016-29 - The Teacher…

The Teacher could not be called an ardent advocate of etiquette and good manners, but dealing with people, he always showed natural politeness and courtesy.

One evening a young student drove the Teacher home and was rude to the police in the way.

Justifying himself, he said: "I want to be myself and let everyone know what I feel. Politeness is nonsense, just hot air…"

"It is true," agreed the Teacher kindly, "but our car tires are filled with air and you see how it helps to soften the blows."

~ Author Unknown



Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.

~ Laurence Sterne


Tuesday, July 12, 2016

2016-28 - Love Is A Circle

Love is a circle, coming back to you,
When your love is given, with a heart that's true.

Love is a circle, going up then down,
Reaching to the heavens. returning to ground.

Love is a circle, take my hand, my friend,
Love is a circle, love will never end.

Love is a circle, setting people free,
Love is a circle, love is you and me.

Love, once it is given, has no end,
Circling forever thru all time.
Bringing love wherever man may be,
Going on for all eternity.

~ Manny Feldman



"A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve."

~ Joseph Joubert

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

2016-27 - Many living things need each other to survive

If you have ever seen a Colorado aspen tree, you may have noticed that it does not grow alone. Aspens are found in clusters, or groves. The reason is that the aspens send up new shoots from the roots. In a small grove, all of the trees may actually be connected by their roots!

Giant California redwood trees may tower 300 feet into the sky. It would seem that they would require extremely deep roots to anchor them against strong winds. But we're told that their roots are actually quite shallow - in order to capture as much surface water as possible. And they spread in all directions, intertwining with other redwoods.

Locked together in this way, all the trees support each other in wind and storms. Like the aspen, they never stand alone. They need one another to survive.

People, too, are connected by a system of roots. We are born to family and learn early to make friends. We are not meant to survive long without others.

And like the redwood, we need to hold one another up. When pounded by the sometimes vicious storms of life, we need others to support and sustain us.

Have you been going it alone? Maybe it's time to let someone else help hold you up for a while. Or perhaps someone needs to hang on to you.

~ Author Unknown



"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."

~ Dalai Lama