The young man had lost his job and didn’t know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher.
Pacing about the preacher’s study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, “I’ve begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn’t God answer?”
The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply–something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young man stepped across the room. “What did you say?” he asked.
The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher’s chair. “Sorry,” he said. “I still didn’t hear you.” With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. “God sometimes whispers,” he said, “so we will move closer to hear Him.”
This time the young man heard and he understood. We all want God’s voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God’s is the still, small voice. . .the gentle whisper.
Perhaps there’s a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God’s whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.
It is a generation of strong-willed, passionate, and optimistic youth. They have great expectations and are known for expecting (and demanding) to get what they want. In some cultures, like China, the one-child policy has resulted in a generation of only-children, which has vastly contributed to their oft-cited lack of sharing and compromising abilities.
They have grown up engaging with the Internet. This had led to their expectation of being able to obtain information at exceedingly rapid speeds.
Gen Y is also known for caring about the world and its problems, forming a large part of the worldwide Green movement.
Having been born into more culturally-diverse environments than previous generations, Generation Y tends to be more tolerant of differences than their parents' and grandparents' generations.
Listen to these attributes:
A) They’re confident in their ability to succeed, and they’re optimistic about their place in the world.
B) They are collaborative team players, who are able to think, work and achieve in groups.
C) They’re practically immune to gender gaps and racial divides.
D) They actually like their parents — one of my personal favorites as a dad.
E) They aren’t as rebellious, and they tend to follow authority.
F) They’re smarter than previous generations. Their aptitude test scores are up.
G) They’re activists. They want to live and work where it’s clean, safe and green.
Fun Facts about Gen Y
They are a generation of many names. Also known as "Echo Boomers" (for their being the echo of the Baby Boomers), the "Millennials", the "Net Generation" (for obvious reasons), the "Dot-com" generation, "Trophy kids", and, very appropriately, "Generation Y Not".
The average Gen Y changes jobs an average of 29 times and the average time in one job is 1.1 years.
Most of us today do not realise the importance of water to our overall health. True health cannot occur without proper hydration of the body.
Your body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. Blood is mostly water, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Your body needs water to regulate body temperature and to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all your organs. Water also transports oxygen to your cells, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs. When the body does not receive a constant, reliable supply of fresh water, it has to ration what's available and cut back on certain functions in order to make the supply go round. Essential systems like the brain are prioritised, others are impaired or cut back until the brain has had its needs met. The skin, being the least important, is rationed the least amount of water. Chronically dry skin and/or dandruff are signs of advanced bodily dehydration, as are asthma and hyperventilation. Other signs of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles, lower back pain, headaches and constipation. Constipation is a sure sign of water starvation, as the body's intestinal peristaltic action extracts every precious drop of water from your food, to save losing it, creating gridlock. Another sure sign to the lack of water in the body is a strong odour to your urine, along with a dark yellow or amber colour indicates that you may not be getting enough water. Note that riboflavin, a B vitamin, will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.
75% of us are chronically dehydrated.
In 37% of us, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
One glass of water deters hunger pangs for 98% of the dieters observed in a University of Washington study.
The biggest trigger of daytime fatigue is lack of water.
Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic maths, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, breast cancer by 79%, and developed bladder cancer by 50%.
Most of us have become CHRONICALLY AND DANGEROUSLY DEHYDRATED (especially the elderly), since we have decided that water is too bland to drink and instead replace it with tea, coffee, beer, wine, sodas, flavoured water and other chemical-laced water alternatives. These alternatives do not hydrate the body as many are diuretic (water expelling) in their effect because of their chemical composition. Water experts mention that asthmas, allergies, diabetes, arthritis, angina, stomach upsets, chronic intestinal complaints and certain others degenerative illnesses are the bodies many cries for water, complaints which are dramatically improved with a consistent and long-term intake of fresh, clean water. Dr. Batman's bestselling book has helped thousands quash long term health problems effortlessly and inexpensively. Flushing the body with a constant long-term supply of good clean fresh water, is a superb way to assist with detoxification and hydration and is especially important for anyone with cancer. Your body requires approximately 8 glasses (2 litres) of water a day for optimum health. A great time to start your daily intake of water would be in the morning, a glass or two about ½ an hour prior to breakfast, as the body is detoxifying and repairing from 4am until 12 noon. Drink a glass of water half an hour before a meal and then may be two glasses around three hours afterwards for optimum health. So it would make sense to get into the habit of drinking plenty of clean water on a daily basis, get your kids into the habit for without this essential habit you simply will not be healthy. If you drink tap water ensure that a carbon filter is attached to produce chlorine and solvent free water to drink. Avoid plastic bottled water which can be contaminated with chemicals from the plastic. Mineral water in glass bottles is fine. In the event that you live in a fluoridated area, reverse osmosis or back wash filters should be used to remove the fluoride poisons.
Once Buddha was walking from one town to another town with a few of his followers. This was in the initial days. While they were travelling, they happened to pass a lake. They stopped there and Buddha told one of his disciples, “I am thirsty. Do get me some water from that lake there.”
The disciple walked up to the lake. When he reached it, he noticed that some people were washing clothes in the water and, right at that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy, very turbid. The disciple thought, “How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink!” So he came back and told Buddha, “The water in there is very muddy. I don’t think it is fit to drink.”
After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake and get him some water to drink. The disciple obediently went back to the lake. This time he found that the lake had absolutely clear water in it. The mud had settled down and the water above it looked fit to be had. So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.
Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, “See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be ... and the mud settled down on its own – and you got clear water... Your mind is also like that. When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own. You don’t have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless.”
What did Buddha emphasize here? He said, “It is effortless.” Having 'peace of mind' is not a strenuous job; it is an effortless process. When there is peace inside you, that peace permeates to the outside. It spreads around you and in the environment, such that people around start feeling that peace and grace.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "Yes." The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now", said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions - things that, if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car.
The sand is everything else - the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first" he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the rubbish. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand".
... who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants...
The race began...
Honestly, no-one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"
"They will NEVER make it to the top".
"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one...
... Except for those who in a fresh tempo were climbing higher and higher...
The crowd continued to yell
"It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up...
...But ONE continued higher and higher and higher...
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end, everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how the one who succeeded had found the strength to reach the goal?
A vacationing American businessman standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico watched as a small boat with just one young Mexican fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. Enjoying the warmth of the early afternoon sun, the American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.
"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American casually asked.
"Oh, a few hours," the Mexican fisherman replied.
"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American businessman then asked.
The Mexican warmly replied, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."
The businessman then became serious, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, "I sleep late, play with my children, watch ballgames, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs..."
The American businessman impatiently interrupted, "Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, before long you can buy a second boat, then a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats."
Proud of his own sharp thinking, he excitedly elaborated a grand scheme which could bring even bigger profits, "Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise."
Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, "But how long will all this take?"
After a rapid mental calculation, the Harvard MBA pronounced, "Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard."
"And then what, señor?" asked the fisherman.
"Why, that's the best part!" answered the businessman with a laugh. "When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."
"Millions? Really? What would I do with it all?" asked the young fisherman in disbelief.
The businessman boasted, "Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ballgames, and take siesta with your wife. You could stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want."
The moral of the story is: Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much closer than you think.
Trust is relational and involves reliance of one on the other, individually or in groups. The reliance is based upon the non breaching of trustworthiness of the one trusted. Trust is past base but mostly future oriented. Trusting someone called trustee to take care of asset disposal after death requires lots of assumption after the truster's death is future oriented.
Belief is a mental state of a person holding a premise to be true. It is knowledge based but it is not the same as knowledge, which is justified true belief. Belief is tentative in holding something to be true, but the believer may trigger this tentative thing into thoughts and thoughts into action, and the resulting action is neither based on facts nor on justifiable truthfulness of that belief that triggered action. Going to war based on unjustifiable belief is risky stuff. Firing someone based on fear, that a common cold may deteriorate into something horrifying is unethical and illegal.
Faith is based on unproven belief. Faith is formed by a leap of faith. It is not recognized by the holder as tentative but as if the reliance on a person, a thing, a notion, a deity, is truth or even absolute truth.
Faith requires also the complete trusting of the item to be trusted and the complete abandonment of the person's own freedom of choice, and if there exists doubt, the holder of faith is called agnostic. This is the most risky type of belief, like going to war based on belief is risky, but going to war based on faith is even more so. If trust may be built between potential warring parties, trust must be the choice, at the expense of belief and faith. Hence belief and faith are closer to each other and both are further away from trust. If an expert dismissed this kind of dichotomous polarity, the expert is lacking in clarity and if he or she were to continue holding this polarization to be a false duality is probably himself or herself confused by mistrusting reasons proposed and is overly relying on own belief which is not yet justified but by the heat of his or her pant in sighting something such as a mono name.
