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WITandWISDOM(tm) - April 20, 2006 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: The rich miss out on one of the greatest pleasures in life, the last payment on an installment plan. Submitted by Gerry ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Victoria Ruvolo, 45, of Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, was selected as the "Most Inspiring Person of 2005" by Beliefnet, and for good reason. Victoria was driving to her niece's voice recital when she passed another car driven by 19-year-old Ryan Cushing. Cushing was riding with five other teens, and had just used a stolen credit card to go on a spending spree. One of their purchases was a frozen turkey, which Cushing decided to toss into oncoming traffic. The 20-pound projectile smashed through Ruvolo's windshield, crushing her face. Amazingly, Ruvolo survived, although she spent 10 hours in an operating room while doctors repaired her face. When she finally went home, she brought a tracheotomy tube and endured months of painful rehabilitation. On October 17, 2005, Ruvolo attended Cushing's sentencing and asked his judge for leniency. Part of her statement read: "Despite all the fear and the pain, I have learned from this horrific experience, and I have much to be thankful for…. Each day when I wake up, I thank God simply because I'm alive. I sincerely hope you have also learned from this awful experience, Ryan. There is no room for vengeance in my life, and I do not believe a long, hard prison term would do you, me, or society any good." Cushing, who wept and expressed remorse for his action, was sentenced to six months in jail. He could have gotten a 25-year prison sentence if Ruvolo, his victim, had not intervened. Ruvolo added: "I truly hope that by demonstrating compassion and leniency I have encouraged you to seek an honorable life. If my generosity will help you mature into a responsible, honest man whose graciousness is a source of pride to your loved ones and your community, then I will be truly gratified, and my suffering will not have been in vain…. Ryan, prove me right." Source: Preaching Today, http://www.preachingtoday.com/33967 ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride. With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car. Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail, until she noticed a white bag on the seat next to Sally. "What in bag? " asked the old woman. Sally looked down at the white bag and said, "It's a box of chocolates. I got it for my husband". The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said: "Good trade." Submitted by Jay Graham ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: “Why do you not join the church?” said an aged pastor on the frontier many years ago to one who had talked much and loudly of his interest in such matters. “I would, pastor,” was the reply, “if there were not so many bad men in the church. I am waiting to find a perfect church.” “You will never find it, my young brother,” said the pastor sadly; “for (unless you claim for yourself more than I think you will care to), when you once have joined it, it will cease to be a perfect church.” Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) March 7, 1895, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Where is gambling illegal in Nevada? The State of Nevada first legalized gambling in 1931. At that same time, the Hoover Dam was being built and the federal government did not want its workers (who earned 50 cents an hour) to be involved with such diversions, so they built the town of Boulder City to house the dam workers. To this day, Boulder City is the only city in Nevada where gambling is illegal. Hoover Dam is 726 feet tall and 660 feet thick at its base. Enough rock was excavated in its construction to build the Great Wall of China. Contrary to old wives' tales, no workers were buried in the dam's concrete. Source: ArcaMax - Trivia, http://tinyurl.com/9kf44