| ETERNAL rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen. |
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Maree Claire Wiskar
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Building Bridges
Building Bridges Not Walls
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell
into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming
side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed
without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small
misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally
it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of
silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find
a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days
work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I
help you?" Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look
across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my
younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his
bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us.
Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one
better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me
a fence - - an 8-foot fence... so I won't need to see his place
anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."
The carpenter responded, "I think I understand the situation. Show me
the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that
pleases you."
The older brother went into town for supplies, so he helped the
Carpenter prepare the materials and then took the day off. The carpenter worked the remainder of the day measuring, sawing, nailing.
About sunset as the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. Upon seeing the project, his eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge-a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! The bridge was a fine piece of handy- work complete with handrails and beautiful ornamentation. To top it off, the younger brother was coming across the newly constructed bridge with a smile on his face and his hands outstretched.
“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done" said the older brother. The bridge builder simply smiled and watched the two brothers as they hugged in the middle of the bridge.
After a few moments, they turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder.
“No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, “but I have many more bridges to build.” (Source of story unknown).
A Story of Two Pebbles
A Story of Two Pebbles
Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend to the Girl to do?
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think. Start your day with this thought provoking story and have a nice day.
Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend to the Girl to do?
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
MORAL OF THE STORY:
Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't attempt to think. Start your day with this thought provoking story and have a nice day.
Cherokee Legend
As Richard Rohr has already noted, our Western culture is so ‘ritual-starved’ by comparison to other, more ancient (and in my opinion, ‘richer’ cultures). I can’t help but agree with him, particularly in the area of our adolescents who grow up too fast, but in the wrong things. I sometimes wish that they could grow up more slowly so that they had time to gather in their experiences and a sense of themselves, which is much more important than what our Western society often puts before them as ‘important’ and ‘real’.
Love to you all and the beautiful young people in all your lives. Treasure them.
Suzanne
Cherokee Legend
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youths' rite of Passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him an leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm.
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.
It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.
He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.
When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
Moral of the story:
Just because you can't see God,
Doesn't mean He is not there.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Love to you all and the beautiful young people in all your lives. Treasure them.
Suzanne
Cherokee Legend
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youths' rite of Passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him an leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.
Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm.
The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.
It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.
He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us.
When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
Moral of the story:
Just because you can't see God,
Doesn't mean He is not there.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Life--The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Beers.
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
when 24 hours in a day are not enough,
remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.....
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items
in front of him.
When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and
empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.
He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded with an unanimous "yes!"
The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and
poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the
empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to
recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children,
your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if
everything else was lost and only they remained,
your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job,
your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff!!"
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued,
"there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will
never have room for the things that are important to you."
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness!
Spend time with your children!
Spend time with your parents!
Visit with grandparents!
Take time to get medical checkups!
Take your spouse out to dinner!
Play another 18!
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal!
Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter!
Set your priorities!
The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what
the Beer represented.
The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked."
The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend."
Friday, 17 June 2011
The Thousandth Man
One man in a thousand, Solomon says will
stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth seeking him all your days,
if you find him before the other.
Nine hundred and ninety nine depend
on what the world sees in you.
But the thousandth man will stand your friend
with the whole world against you.
'Tis not promise nor prayer nor show
will settle the finding for thee.
Nine hundred and ninety nine of them go
by your looks, or your acts or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him,
the rest of the world doesn't matter.
For the thousandth man will sink or swim
with you in any water.
It's you can use his purse with no more talk,
than he use his yours for his spendings,
and laugh and meet in your daily walk
as though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and ninety nine of them call
for silver and gold in their dealings,
but the thousandth man he's worth them all
because you can show him your feelings.
His wrong's your wrong, and his rights your right,
with that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and ninety nine can't bide
the shame or mocking or laughter.
But the thousandth man will stand by your side
to the gallows foot and after.
Rudyard Kipling
stick more close than a brother.
And it's worth seeking him all your days,
if you find him before the other.
Nine hundred and ninety nine depend
on what the world sees in you.
But the thousandth man will stand your friend
with the whole world against you.
'Tis not promise nor prayer nor show
will settle the finding for thee.
Nine hundred and ninety nine of them go
by your looks, or your acts or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him,
the rest of the world doesn't matter.
For the thousandth man will sink or swim
with you in any water.
It's you can use his purse with no more talk,
than he use his yours for his spendings,
and laugh and meet in your daily walk
as though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and ninety nine of them call
for silver and gold in their dealings,
but the thousandth man he's worth them all
because you can show him your feelings.
His wrong's your wrong, and his rights your right,
with that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and ninety nine can't bide
the shame or mocking or laughter.
But the thousandth man will stand by your side
to the gallows foot and after.
Rudyard Kipling
Their Deeds Follow
When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words unsaid,
promises, walks never taken…
promises, walks never taken…
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always irregularly.
Spaces fill
Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored,
never to be the same, whisper to us.
never to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed.
We can be. Be and be better.
For they existed.
Maya Angelou
Friday, 10 June 2011
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Learning to Dance in the Rain Movie
Learning to Dance in the Rain Movie: "It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but one word... gratitude, can change your attitude, and thus your life, forever. Sarah Breathnach said it best... When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present... We experience heaven on earth."
(Thanks Bruno and Suzanne for this one. Just click on red writing to view link.)
(Thanks Bruno and Suzanne for this one. Just click on red writing to view link.)
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
ABC2 'Am I Normal' Episode 1 - Addiction
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/775978
Thanks Monique for recommending this. This episode can be viewed on iview for the next 2 weeks.
Episode 2 - Body Image
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/779118 added 9/6/11
Episode 3 - Spirituality
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/780663 added 16/6/11
Thanks Monique for recommending this. This episode can be viewed on iview for the next 2 weeks.
Episode 2 - Body Image
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/779118 added 9/6/11
Episode 3 - Spirituality
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/780663 added 16/6/11
Mindfulness CD
This CD provides a great description of Mindfulness and gives 5 exercises. I've put it on my ipod for easy access.
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