A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For
many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's
showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told
him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited
signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the
morning of his graduation his father called him into his private
study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine
son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son
a beautiful wrapped gift box.
Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man
opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily,
he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you
give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy
book.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in
business.
He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his
father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He
had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make
arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had
passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He
needed to come home immediately and take care things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and
regret filled his heart.
He began to search his father's important papers and
saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With
tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he
read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope
taped behind the Bible.
It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the
sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation,
and the words...PAID IN FULL.
How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not
packaged as we expected?
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
"The Window" (Author unknown)
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: Why should hehave all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.
Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.
The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.
Moral of the story:
The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never find lasting joy.
The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like programs, awaiting the code that will determine behaviors; like bank vaults awaiting our deposits. If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, if we continue to bite our lips just before we begin to grumble and complain, if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative thought as it germinates, we will find that there is much to rejoice about.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: Why should hehave all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.
Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.
The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.
Moral of the story:
The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never find lasting joy.
The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like programs, awaiting the code that will determine behaviors; like bank vaults awaiting our deposits. If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, if we continue to bite our lips just before we begin to grumble and complain, if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative thought as it germinates, we will find that there is much to rejoice about.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sunday, September 12, 2010
LOVE as the subtrahend, spot the DIFFERENCES!
Major differences inevitably comes within due to two main facts. One, the society's perception and the other is your own inferiority complex and insecurities. Growing in the world of frustrations, demands, comparison and contrast, how can someone live his life to the fullest considering these wrecked differences as the basis of morality and glory? What I mean is not to neglect it but to surmount it. Accept it. Improve it. After all, mind over matter truly defines your stand. A noble life does not depends on your negative perspective neither on your awful differences, rather on what are you doing on the things that you have. Regardless if it is a peculiar fancy idiosyncrasy of yours or a nasty awkward eccentricity of your personality.
No matter what we say that we don't pay attention to criticisms, still it is natural that we give a bit of our precious time to those little shits. I'm actually pertaining to love differences. If you're in love, why don't you just love each other. Period. And you may now live happily ever after. Paradoxically, that's not happening in reality. Our naked eye cannot see the tiniest particle on Earth yet can absolutely spot even the smallest difference on one's enigmatic body. Is it that important to consider the age, sex, orientation, belief and physical differences of your partner? Well apparently, it is. However, love binds us even if we are totally distinctive. Is it awkward if the lady is taller than to her partner? A 6 footer girl, dressed with a gorgeous face and wearing her delightful red stiletto partnered with a 5"6' guy wearing his black taxido suit doing the "HHWW" thing. Does it look like an outrageous scenario? Personally, no. In fact, I find it cute and appealing. It is interesting how a 5 footer guy brainwashed the mind and hook the heart of a 6 footer girl! Bottom line, you're in love!
A more sensual and sensitive issue is the difference between a couple's orientation. Yeah, when we say couple, obviously a male and a female sharing their love and affections each day and night. Unlimited and in demand. The drama is YOU and ME against the world. Nowadays, couple also pertains to a male-to-male and female-to-female relationship. You've heard it right, homosexuality, bisexuals, loving and caring for each other. A typical kind of lovers except for the fact that the difference is that they have the same of sexual orientation. You think it's a gross? Well get the fuck over it. If you believe in love, you won't care the boundaries; surpassing the expectation and rule of the society is nothing and worthless; even if the cruel world will despise the both of you; you don't care at all. That's great! You live on your expectations, clamor and requisition. As long as you loved, ready to see the magnificent beauty of this world. Life is a matter of acceptance, if you can't accept it then you better kill yourself now. This issue is getting bombarded by a lot of sectors coz they say that it is morbid, immoral. Think not twice but thrice. What is more immoral, abortion or same sex relationship? Death penalty? Divorce? What else? Duh! Things will be an immoral act depending on how one carries the situation. For instances like the mother is in 50:50 point, the doctors and her husband needs to choose between the baby and her wife, watchagonnachoose? Of course her wife! In some unforeseen circumstances, abortion can be moral and legally acceptable. Trying to point out that the 20th century, our modern world changed and strictly divergent. Going beyond, the most common, usual yet folly, age gap issue. Seriously, do you guys will fall in love in a 60 years old person when in fact you're only 22 years old? Possibly yes. "OH MY GOSHHHHH" - an absurd and moron's reaction. In my case, okay. You're in love. You loved. Go ahead. Show off. Unite and express love in every corner of this empirical world. Impossibly yes but possibly because you conquer the risk.
We don't need to complicate small differences and little things. Don't drag yourself to hell. There are numerous reasons to be happy, multiple stands to love your partner continuously and even if the people around you keep telling that you guys are incompatible or what; IGNORE. You may listen but don't be a fool to believe on it. Opinions vary. Some of them are for real however most are inconsequential bitch. A bombast! As long as you're not devastating the society and the people around you. Be with it. Grant your goals, your greatest desires to enjoy life. In subtraction, the process goes like this: Minuend - Subtrahend = Difference; in my case LOVED - LOVE = DIFFERENCES. Loved symbolizes the traits that you admire on your partner that's why you loved him/her while love signifies the major differences of the both of you as an individual, as a couple and yet you never stop loving each other!
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