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WITandWISDOM(tm) - November 10, 2005 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you. - Zig Ziglar Source: Carol's Thought for Today, http://users.adelphia.net/~mrs.carol ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Starting is the first step to succeeding. We cannot be afraid of failure. I am a baseball junkie so I can bring you this: in 1915 Ty Cobb set the record for stolen bases, 96. Seven years later, Max Carey of the Pittsburgh Pirates became second best with 51 stolen bases. Does this mean that Cobb was twice as good as Carey, his closest rival? Look at the facts: Cobb made 134 attempts, Carey, 53. Cobb failed 38 times; Carey only failed twice. Cobb succeeded 96 times, Carey only 51 times. Cobb's average was only 71 percent. Carey's average was 96 percent. Carey's average was much better than Cobb's. Cobb tried 81 more times than Carey. But here is the key: His 81 additional tries produced 44 more stolen bases. Cobb risked failure 81 more times in one season than his closest rival and Cobb goes down in history as the greatest base runner of all time. Why? Because he tried. David E. Leininger, http://www.eSermons.com Source: Illustrations, http://www.cybersaltlists.org ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: It had been a hard winter in the Appalachian area. The snow had piled up deeper and deeper, the mercury dropped, rivers froze, people suffered. The Red Cross used helicopters to fly in supplies. One crew had been working day after day--long hours. They were on their way home late in the afternoon when they saw a little cabin submerged in the snow. There was a thin whisper of smoke coming from the chimney. The rescue team figured they were probably about out of food, fuel, perhaps medicine. Because of the trees they had to put the helicopter down a mile away. They put on heavy packs with emergency supplies, trudged through heavy snow, waist deep, reached the cabin exhausted, panting, perspiring. They pounded on the door. A thin, gaunt mountain woman opened the door and the lead man gasped, "We're from the Red Cross." She was silent for a moment and then she said, "It’s been a hard winter, Sonny, I just don't think we can give anything this year." Dr. David Beckett, Spiritual Investment Source: Illustrations, http://www.cybersaltlists.org ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: We've been letting our six-year-old go to sleep listening to the radio, and I'm beginning to wonder if it's a good idea. Last night he said his prayers and wound up with: "And God bless Mommy and Daddy and Sister. Amen and FM!" Submitted by B. B. ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: "If you don't find it in the index, look very carefully through the entire catalogue." (Sears, Roebuck, and Co. Consumer's Guide, 1897) Submitted by Lorraine