REFLECTIONS ON LIFE

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...

A young man went to a sage for help. “I come, teacher, because I feel so small that I have no strength to do anything. People tell me I’m good for nothing, I don’t do anything right, I’m clumsy and rather silly. How can I improve myself? What can I do that will make them think well of me?” The teacher, without looking up, replied, “I’m sorry boy, but I can’t help you. I have to solve my own problem first. Maybe later.” But after a pause, he added, “If you would like to help me, I could solve this problem faster, and then maybe I can help you.” Though delighted, the youth stammered to the teacher, feeling worthless as usual, his needs again subordinated. “Well, then,” agreed the teacher. He took off a ring he was wearing on his little finger and gave it to the boy, saying, “Take the horse out there and ride to the market place. I have to sell this ring to pay a debt. We have to get as much for it as we possibly can, but don’t accept anything less than a gold coin. Go, and com...

A beggar was given a piece of bread, but nothing to put on it. Hoping to get something to go with his bread, he went to a nearby inn and asked for a handout. The innkeeper turned him away with nothing, but the beggar sneaked into the kitchen where he saw a large pot of soup cooking over the fire. He held his piece of bread over the steaming pot, hoping to thus capture a bit of flavor from the good smelling vapor. Suddenly the innkeeper seized him by the arm and accused him of stealing soup.  "I took no soup," said the beggar. "I was only smelling the vapor."  "Then you must pay for the smell," answered the innkeeper. The poor beggar had no money, so the angry innkeeper dragged him to court.  Now The judge heard the innkeeper's complaint and the beggar's explanation. So you demand payment for the smell of your soup?" summarized him after the hearing. "Yes!" insisted the innkeeper.  The judge of the town listened carefully both...