One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.
They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”
“It was great, Dad.”
“Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked.
“Oh yeah,” said the son.
“So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father.
The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
“We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.
“We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs.
“We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.”
The boy’s father was speechless.
Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”
Tampilkan postingan dengan label inspirational. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label inspirational. Tampilkan semua postingan
Rabu, 06 April 2011
Trees That Wood
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."
Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" ... and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time. Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
A Luxurious Presence
When we planned a weekend away together, we were seeking to find a place where we could escape from the business of our day-to-day lives. We needed to go to a place that would allow us to put things back into proper perspective, focus on our lives as a couple and to examine our priorities.
After we checked in, our first interaction with another guest was our encounter with the man and his fancy car in the circular driveway in front of the Mansion. He was blocking the narrow driveway, car parked, door wide opened. We could have easily continued along, if only he would have closed the door to his car.
The concierge ran up to our car window with a sense of urgency and a hint of authority uttering that was something wrong with the hydraulics system of the car. We quietly sat in our car, observing the man with his broken down, door wide opened Jaguar.
My husband is a skilled auto technician with a good heart who has worked on the finest of cars. I knew that my husband was fully present in our quest to create space where we could focus on our lives together when he chose not to engage in the stranger's situation or try to rescue him.
Several minutes passed before the car owner approached us with an apology. He explained that the car was inoperable and that he could not close his door, as his hands had gotten dirty so he could not touch his car door to close it to allow us to get by.
The man with the broken down Jaguar's reality was clear to us, the cleanliness of his car door should take priority over our ability to exit the driveway at this time.
My husband's reaction was calm. He went to his toolbox in the back of our car, pulled out a clean rag, handed it to the man and suggested that it could be used to close the door so that we could be on our way. The man seemed a bit hesitant to accept such a simple solution to what seemed to be a very difficult situation for him, but he accepted the rag, closed his door and watched with a rather puzzled look on his face as we drove away.
We arrived at the building where we would stay for night and agreed to head out for a walk and some lunch after dropping off our bags. Our room was on the lower level of the building. It was well appointed with amenities, spacious and bit dark as it lacked the capacity to allow natural light to come in.
We noticed the note card on the bed almost immediately. It said that the resort as environmentally conscience and would only wash sheets every other day, unless otherwise requested, in an effort to conserve water.
We both agreed that we were happy to be in such and environmentally conscience place, as conservation was something we both are compassionate about.
We held hands as we walked and discussed the lessons of Eckhart Tolle that we had engaged in earlier as we set out to explore the place of luxury.
We checked out the spa, to see what it offered as a means of "getting away from it all." It was a busy place, filled with people dressed in fancy white bathrobes and black plastic slippers where fresh towels abound. "So this is what luxury looks like", I found myself thinking. I refilled my reusable water bottle while were there and we were on our way.
After observing the spa, we found an outside café that seemed like a great spot to stop for some lunch. While we waited for our salads, we talked about how we were both surprised that the same facility which washed sheets every other day rather than every day in an effort to be environmentally conscience, did not have a place to recycle all those plastic cups in the spa.
As we looked out over the golf course, we wondered if they kept the greens looking so lovely without the use of chemicals. Our shared effort to live with as little impact to our planet as possible was the topic of conversation during our lunch together.
We examined the options available in order to make the best choice possible with regards to the enormous amounts of left over salad on our plates when we were done eating. Our waitress explained that people complained if large quantities of food were not served. She also explained that almost no one finishes those large quantities.
We asked if they composted. We found out they do not. We discussed how using the restaurant's disposable container to take the leftovers with us would create additional waste beyond what we already were looking at. We resolved to not take the leftovers and to bring our own reusable container from now on when we go out to eat.
We made the most of the rest of our trip to the luxury spa. We used their facilities, dined at their restaurants and did our best to hold true to our own beliefs along the way. We learned that one man's luxury differs greatly from another's. The amenities at the spa that were placed there for our comfort in the first place, were the same things that made us uncomfortable. We do not like to support, create or contribute to avoidable waste. We did not give careful thought to what we were doing when we arranged to come to the luxury resort. We focused only on finding a place that we could rest comfortably and be together. When we came across the luxury spa's website, it seemed perfect at the time.
Would we go back to the luxury spa? Absolutely not, but not because they did not provide everything they promised. We will not go back because when we slowed down to think about it, if we were really present when we sought to find the perfect "getaway" spot, we would have recognized that the luxury spa was not a place we would want to support. This was a place that would put any environmentally conscience person outside of their comfort zone, us included.
We did however get exactly what were seeking in the first place. What we sought, we did not find by the golf course, in a fancy white robe or even inside the resort's swanky castle. What we got, was our return to presence, something we possessed all along and had lost sight of. We learned from our experience at the resort and left with a new appreciation for what comfort and luxury really mean to us.
Most importantly we will remember that the only place we will ever need to go to experience what we sought in the first place, is within.
After we checked in, our first interaction with another guest was our encounter with the man and his fancy car in the circular driveway in front of the Mansion. He was blocking the narrow driveway, car parked, door wide opened. We could have easily continued along, if only he would have closed the door to his car.
The concierge ran up to our car window with a sense of urgency and a hint of authority uttering that was something wrong with the hydraulics system of the car. We quietly sat in our car, observing the man with his broken down, door wide opened Jaguar.
My husband is a skilled auto technician with a good heart who has worked on the finest of cars. I knew that my husband was fully present in our quest to create space where we could focus on our lives together when he chose not to engage in the stranger's situation or try to rescue him.
Several minutes passed before the car owner approached us with an apology. He explained that the car was inoperable and that he could not close his door, as his hands had gotten dirty so he could not touch his car door to close it to allow us to get by.
The man with the broken down Jaguar's reality was clear to us, the cleanliness of his car door should take priority over our ability to exit the driveway at this time.
My husband's reaction was calm. He went to his toolbox in the back of our car, pulled out a clean rag, handed it to the man and suggested that it could be used to close the door so that we could be on our way. The man seemed a bit hesitant to accept such a simple solution to what seemed to be a very difficult situation for him, but he accepted the rag, closed his door and watched with a rather puzzled look on his face as we drove away.
We arrived at the building where we would stay for night and agreed to head out for a walk and some lunch after dropping off our bags. Our room was on the lower level of the building. It was well appointed with amenities, spacious and bit dark as it lacked the capacity to allow natural light to come in.
We noticed the note card on the bed almost immediately. It said that the resort as environmentally conscience and would only wash sheets every other day, unless otherwise requested, in an effort to conserve water.
We both agreed that we were happy to be in such and environmentally conscience place, as conservation was something we both are compassionate about.
We held hands as we walked and discussed the lessons of Eckhart Tolle that we had engaged in earlier as we set out to explore the place of luxury.
We checked out the spa, to see what it offered as a means of "getting away from it all." It was a busy place, filled with people dressed in fancy white bathrobes and black plastic slippers where fresh towels abound. "So this is what luxury looks like", I found myself thinking. I refilled my reusable water bottle while were there and we were on our way.
After observing the spa, we found an outside café that seemed like a great spot to stop for some lunch. While we waited for our salads, we talked about how we were both surprised that the same facility which washed sheets every other day rather than every day in an effort to be environmentally conscience, did not have a place to recycle all those plastic cups in the spa.
As we looked out over the golf course, we wondered if they kept the greens looking so lovely without the use of chemicals. Our shared effort to live with as little impact to our planet as possible was the topic of conversation during our lunch together.
We examined the options available in order to make the best choice possible with regards to the enormous amounts of left over salad on our plates when we were done eating. Our waitress explained that people complained if large quantities of food were not served. She also explained that almost no one finishes those large quantities.
We asked if they composted. We found out they do not. We discussed how using the restaurant's disposable container to take the leftovers with us would create additional waste beyond what we already were looking at. We resolved to not take the leftovers and to bring our own reusable container from now on when we go out to eat.
We made the most of the rest of our trip to the luxury spa. We used their facilities, dined at their restaurants and did our best to hold true to our own beliefs along the way. We learned that one man's luxury differs greatly from another's. The amenities at the spa that were placed there for our comfort in the first place, were the same things that made us uncomfortable. We do not like to support, create or contribute to avoidable waste. We did not give careful thought to what we were doing when we arranged to come to the luxury resort. We focused only on finding a place that we could rest comfortably and be together. When we came across the luxury spa's website, it seemed perfect at the time.
Would we go back to the luxury spa? Absolutely not, but not because they did not provide everything they promised. We will not go back because when we slowed down to think about it, if we were really present when we sought to find the perfect "getaway" spot, we would have recognized that the luxury spa was not a place we would want to support. This was a place that would put any environmentally conscience person outside of their comfort zone, us included.
We did however get exactly what were seeking in the first place. What we sought, we did not find by the golf course, in a fancy white robe or even inside the resort's swanky castle. What we got, was our return to presence, something we possessed all along and had lost sight of. We learned from our experience at the resort and left with a new appreciation for what comfort and luxury really mean to us.
Most importantly we will remember that the only place we will ever need to go to experience what we sought in the first place, is within.
Sign up for work
there was someone when applying for work, picking up trash on the floor of paper into the trash, and it showed by the lawyers interviewed, and he got the job.
It turned out to obtain the award is very easy, just maintain a good habit. There's a kid be a student at a bike shop. One time there was someone who brought a bicycle damaged to be repaired at the shop page. In addition to improving bicycle page, the child is also clean bike until shiny clean. The other students laughed at his actions. The next day after the owner of the bike to take his bike, the little brother pulled / drawn work in place.
It turned out to be a successful person is very easy, just have a little initiative A child said to her mother: "Mother was very beautiful day. She said: "Why? Children answer: "Because today's mother did not get angry. It turned out to have the beauty is easy, just have not got angry.
A farmer sent his son every day to work diligently in the fields. His friend said: "No need to send your son to work hard, Tanamanmu still will flourish.The farmer replied: "I'm not being fostered tanamanku, but I'm building my son. It turned out that fostering a child is very easy, just let her diligent work.
A soccer coach said to his disciples: "If a ball falls into the grass, how to look for it? There is an answer: "Find starting from the center." Some of them answered: "Look at the sunken into the grass." And there's the answer: "Find the highest in the grass.Coaches provide the best answer: "step by step search from here until the end of grass next to the grass over there. Apparently the road to success is very easy, just do everything step by step in order, do not be jumping up and down.
Frogs that live in rice fields said to the frog who lived at the curb: "Your place is too dangerous, stay with me." Frogs in the street said: "I'm used to, too lazy to move." A few days later the frog "fields" see frog "roadside" and found that the frog is dead by a car passing by. It turned out very easily hold our own destiny, just enough to avoid laziness.
There are a bunch of people walking in the desert, all walking with heavy, very miserable, only one person who walked with joy. Someone asks: "Why are you so relaxed?" He replied with a laugh: "Because I am a bit of luggage." Was very easy to get joy, just not greedy and have just enough
It turned out to obtain the award is very easy, just maintain a good habit. There's a kid be a student at a bike shop. One time there was someone who brought a bicycle damaged to be repaired at the shop page. In addition to improving bicycle page, the child is also clean bike until shiny clean. The other students laughed at his actions. The next day after the owner of the bike to take his bike, the little brother pulled / drawn work in place.
It turned out to be a successful person is very easy, just have a little initiative A child said to her mother: "Mother was very beautiful day. She said: "Why? Children answer: "Because today's mother did not get angry. It turned out to have the beauty is easy, just have not got angry.
A farmer sent his son every day to work diligently in the fields. His friend said: "No need to send your son to work hard, Tanamanmu still will flourish.The farmer replied: "I'm not being fostered tanamanku, but I'm building my son. It turned out that fostering a child is very easy, just let her diligent work.
A soccer coach said to his disciples: "If a ball falls into the grass, how to look for it? There is an answer: "Find starting from the center." Some of them answered: "Look at the sunken into the grass." And there's the answer: "Find the highest in the grass.Coaches provide the best answer: "step by step search from here until the end of grass next to the grass over there. Apparently the road to success is very easy, just do everything step by step in order, do not be jumping up and down.
Frogs that live in rice fields said to the frog who lived at the curb: "Your place is too dangerous, stay with me." Frogs in the street said: "I'm used to, too lazy to move." A few days later the frog "fields" see frog "roadside" and found that the frog is dead by a car passing by. It turned out very easily hold our own destiny, just enough to avoid laziness.
There are a bunch of people walking in the desert, all walking with heavy, very miserable, only one person who walked with joy. Someone asks: "Why are you so relaxed?" He replied with a laugh: "Because I am a bit of luggage." Was very easy to get joy, just not greedy and have just enough
Love someone without wanting anything
It hurts to love someone, but not loved by him. But the more beautiful is love without expecting anything from him any feelings. Just need a minute to crush someone, An hour to like someone, A day to love someone, But it takes a lifetime to forget someone ... Maybe God wants us to meet with people who are not right. So when we finally meet the right person we will know how precious these gifts. Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion and romance in a relationship and find that you still care for him ... ... ..
A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you. Only to find that in the end be meaningless and you have to let go. When the door of happiness close, another opens ... But sometimes we stare too long at the closed door that we do not see it so that another door has opened for us.
The best friend is a friend where you can sit down with him and feel lulled and never said anything and then walked together. Feelings like that are the sweetest conversation you've ever tasted. Is it true that we do not know what we got until we lose it? But it is also true that we do not know what is missing until it arrives. Giving someone all your love is never assurance that they will love you too! Do not expect love in return, just wait until it grows in their hearts, but if not, make sure he grows in your heart ...
There are things you want to hear but you would never hear from the person from whom you want to hear. But do not let you become deaf even though you do not hear from someone who says it from his heart. Never say goodbye if you still want to try.Do not give up as long as you feel can still be advanced. Never say you do not love that person anymore when you can not let go ...
Love comes to those who still have hope even though they have been let down ... To those who still believe even though they had been betrayed. To those who still want to love even though they have been hurt before and to those who still have courage and confidence to rebuild trust Do not see the face, it can be deceiving.
Do not see the wealth, it could disappear. Come to someone who can make you smile because a smile can make a dark day became brighter Hope you can find someone who can make you smile.
There are moments in life when you can miss someone, you want to pick them from your dreams and hug him really. Downs himself in every sleeping your beautiful ... Hope that you can dream about him, which means mimpilah what you want to dream.Go where you want to go. Be in accordance with the wishes of you, because you only have one life and one chance to do what you want May you have enough happiness to make you happy ...
Enough trials to make you strong Enough suffering to make you become truly human, and enough hope to make you happy. Always put yourself in someone else's. If you feel that it hurts you. Maybe it hurts the person too.
Careless words that can lead to strife, harsh words that may wreck. The words on time can reduce the tension. The words of love can heal and fun The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves. And do not mold them into our own taste. In other words we love our shadow that is in them.
Happy people do not necessarily have the best of everything. They just appreciate everything that comes into their lives. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who are looking for, they are trying ... They can only appreciate the important people who have touched their lives.
Love begins with a smile, and ends with tears ... maybe like that ... The future is bright based on the past that have been forgotten. You can not walk very well in your life until you forget your failure and heart pain. When you're born, you were crying and everyone around you smiling. Live your life, so when you die, you're one of them is smiling and everyone around you crying ...
A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you. Only to find that in the end be meaningless and you have to let go. When the door of happiness close, another opens ... But sometimes we stare too long at the closed door that we do not see it so that another door has opened for us.
The best friend is a friend where you can sit down with him and feel lulled and never said anything and then walked together. Feelings like that are the sweetest conversation you've ever tasted. Is it true that we do not know what we got until we lose it? But it is also true that we do not know what is missing until it arrives. Giving someone all your love is never assurance that they will love you too! Do not expect love in return, just wait until it grows in their hearts, but if not, make sure he grows in your heart ...
There are things you want to hear but you would never hear from the person from whom you want to hear. But do not let you become deaf even though you do not hear from someone who says it from his heart. Never say goodbye if you still want to try.Do not give up as long as you feel can still be advanced. Never say you do not love that person anymore when you can not let go ...
Love comes to those who still have hope even though they have been let down ... To those who still believe even though they had been betrayed. To those who still want to love even though they have been hurt before and to those who still have courage and confidence to rebuild trust Do not see the face, it can be deceiving.
Do not see the wealth, it could disappear. Come to someone who can make you smile because a smile can make a dark day became brighter Hope you can find someone who can make you smile.
There are moments in life when you can miss someone, you want to pick them from your dreams and hug him really. Downs himself in every sleeping your beautiful ... Hope that you can dream about him, which means mimpilah what you want to dream.Go where you want to go. Be in accordance with the wishes of you, because you only have one life and one chance to do what you want May you have enough happiness to make you happy ...
Enough trials to make you strong Enough suffering to make you become truly human, and enough hope to make you happy. Always put yourself in someone else's. If you feel that it hurts you. Maybe it hurts the person too.
Careless words that can lead to strife, harsh words that may wreck. The words on time can reduce the tension. The words of love can heal and fun The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves. And do not mold them into our own taste. In other words we love our shadow that is in them.
Happy people do not necessarily have the best of everything. They just appreciate everything that comes into their lives. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who are looking for, they are trying ... They can only appreciate the important people who have touched their lives.
Love begins with a smile, and ends with tears ... maybe like that ... The future is bright based on the past that have been forgotten. You can not walk very well in your life until you forget your failure and heart pain. When you're born, you were crying and everyone around you smiling. Live your life, so when you die, you're one of them is smiling and everyone around you crying ...
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)