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WITandWISDOM(tm) - August 26, 2002 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived A great street sweeper who did his job well. - Martin Luther King Jr. Source: The Funnies, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/andychaps_the-funnies ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Staying With a Dream Congratulations to all the graduates of the Class of 2002 whether high school, undergraduate, or graduate/professional school. I will confess, however, that I am especially touched by those people who have set noble educational goals, had their objectives delayed, and then returned to carry through on them. One person whose story I read in the Los Angeles Times on a day I was visiting there recently jumped out and grabbed me. This particular fellow had enrolled at Cal State Long Beach 37 years ago only to leave three years later, just shy of having his B.A. finished. So 34 years after dropping out and 37 years after enrolling, he was sitting among some 500 graduates and finally received his degree in film/video production. Yes, he had to take time out of an adult life and established career to rejoin the ranks of lowly college undergraduates. Yes, he had to write reports and term papers. Yes, he had to take exams during his final two semesters. He had contacted the university about 18 months earlier about the possibility of completing his degree. It really wasn't a career-enhancing or financial thing. There appear to have been three motivations driving the 55-year-old graduate. First, he wanted to honor his parents and their dreams for him. "I wanted to accomplish this for many years as a thank you to my parents for giving me the opportunity for an education and a career," he said. Second, he hoped his carry-through on an unfinished task would say something to his children. He spoke of it as "a personal note for my own family" on "the importance of achieving their college education goals." Third, the theme of making good on his own expectations of himself seemed to run through the effort. I really like that! Too many of us have abandoned educational, career, or personal spiritual goals because of detours along the way only to feel a bit empty, if not terribly guilty, about not picking them up later. I wish I could have been there for his walk across the stage in a $40 rented cap and gown. At one level, it must have been a humbling thing for him. You see, he already has three Oscars and several Emmys, Golden Globes, and lifetime achievement awards in film making. He's even got five honorary doctorates the most recent one from Yale about two weeks before his Cal State Long Beach graduation. At another level, though, it must have been one of the proudest moments in his life. He finished a worthwhile task. He achieved a goal set years before. He got the satisfaction of finishing what he had started. Congratulations, Steven Spielberg! And thanks for the wonderful example. From: The FAX of Life is a free weekly service from Rubel Shelly and the Family of God at Woodmont Hills, http://www.faithmatters.com Reference: The Los Angeles Times; Jun 5, 2002; pg. B.12 The Los Angeles Times; May 31, 2002; pg. A.1 http://www.latimes.com/ Source: Christian Voices, http://www.christianvoices.org ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: LEAVING WORK The Post Office employee was retiring after thirty years, and his supervisor called him into the office. "Joe," he said, "you've been here longer than any of us and experienced a lot. What would you say you've learned in thirty years with us?". Joe thought for a moment and said: "Don't mail my gold watch. I'll take it with me." ~~~~ At his retirement ceremony the boss told him, "The way we see it, we're not so much losing a worker as gaining a parking space." ~~~~ A wife's definition of retirement: Twice as much husband and half as much income. Source: Peter's Pearls, http://www.peterspearls.com.au ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: For a special smile visit: http://www.funklix.com/WannaShout/You_Make_Me_Wanna_Shout.swf ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: If the world were a village of 1000 people, next year's population would be 1018. Twenty-eight people would be born, but 10 would die: three from lack of food, one from cancer, two in birth, one from war or crime, and three from natural causes. Two-hundred people from this village would receive 75% of its total income. Six-hundred (the "middle class") would share another 23%. The remaining 200 people would have to survive on the last 2% of the income. Adapted from a statement by World Vision, http://www.wvi.org/home.shtml Source: Monday Fodder mailto:dgaufaaa@iohk.com?subject=Subscribe_Monday_Fodder |