| Prior Date | Back to Archive Index | Next Date |
|
WITandWISDOM(tm) - January 18, 2000 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: The bravest sight in the world is to see a great person struggling against adversity. - Seneca (E-zine: WISDOM SEEKERS Mailto:wisdomseekers-subscribe@onelist.com) ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - Paul the Apostle (Ephesians 4:32) Some years ago during a visit to Yellowstone Park one writer observed that the only animal the grizzly bear would share food with was a skunk. It wasn't that the grizzly wanted to share his food but rather that he chose to. With one swing of his powerful paw he could have crushed the skunk. So why did he allow the skunk to eat with him? Because he knew the high cost of getting even. Clever bear! Undoubtedly he learned the hard way. Strange that we humans often aren't as smart. Sometimes we carry grudges for years, often repressing them from conscious memory, and end up hurting ourselves more than the ones we would like to get even with. We fail to see how damaging an unforgiving spirit is. In his book, "None of These Diseases," Dr. S.I. McMillen says, "Medical science recognizes that emotions such as fear, sorrow, envy, resentment and hatred are responsible for the majority of our sicknesses. Estimates vary from 60 to nearly 100 percent." I read about one patient who was told by his doctor. "If you don't cut out your resentments, I may have to cut out a part of your intestinal tract." Fortunately the man took the doctor's advice. He had been nursing a bitter grudge against a former business partner. He went to see this man, resolved their difference, and forgave him. When he returned to the doctor, his physical condition had cleared up. Smart man! The reality is what we fail to forgive keeps us bound to and by the past. Forgiveness sets the hurt person free. That's why Jesus told Peter we need to forgive seventy times seven; that is, to keep on forgiving so we don't become bitter and resentful. Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to forgive all who have ever hurt me as you forgive me for all I have ever done to hurt others. Gratefully in Jesus' name." (E-zine: DAILY ENCOUNTER http://www.actsweb.org/encounter.htm ) ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: INSIGHTS Don't be irreplaceable; if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted. It's always darkest before dawn. So, if you're going to steal the neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it. Never test the depth of the water with both feet. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it. Some days you are the bug; some days you are the windshield. Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut. Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. Timing has an awful lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance. I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was going to blame you. Never miss a good chance to shut up. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your mouth is moving. Diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggie" while looking for a bigger stick. How many of you believe in telekinesis? Raise my hands. (Marjorie Cate) ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A monastery in the English countryside had fallen on hard times, and decided to establish a business to defray their expenses, such as a bakery or winery. Being English, however, they decided to open a fish-and-chips restaurant. The establishment soon became very popular, attracting people from all over. One city fellow, thinking himself clever, asked one of the brothers standing nearby, "I suppose you're the 'fish friar'?" "No", answered the brother levelly, "I'm the 'chip monk." (Ken Fitch via E-zine: MONDAY FODDER Mailto:dgaufaaa@iohk.com?subject=Subscribe_Monday_Fodder) ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: There was the time Donald Douglas was competing with Boeing to sell Eastern Air Lines its first big jets. Eddie Rickenbacker, who headed Eastern, is said to have told Douglas that his specifications and claims for the DC-8 were close to his competition on everything but noise suppression. He then gave Douglas one last chance to out-promise Boeing on this feature. After consulting his engineers. Douglas reported back that he did not feel he could make that promise. Rickenbacker replied, "I know you can't. I wanted to see if you were still honest. You just got yourself an order for $135,000,000 From: "The Pastor's Story File" (E-zine: DAILY ENCOUNTER http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm ) |