Mary's Christmas
It was anything but an idyllic, silent night on that cool Bethlehem evening when a scared teenager gave birth to the King of kings. Mary endured the pain of her baby’s arrival without the aid of anything more than the carpentry-roughened hands of Joseph, her betrothed. Shepherds may have been serenaded in nearby fields by angels singing praises to the Baby, but all Mary and Joseph heard were the sounds of animals, birth agony, and the first cries of God in baby form. A high-magnitude star shone in the night sky above the outbuilding, but the manger scene was a dreary place for these two out-of-town visitors.
As Joseph laid the infant in Mary’s arms, a combination of wonder, pain, fear and joy must have coursed through her heart. She knew, because of an angel’s promise, that this tiny bundle was “the Son of the Highest.” (Luke 1:32) As she peered through the semidarkness into His eyes and then into Joseph’s, she must have wondered how she was going to mother this One whose kingdom would never end.
Mary had much to ponder in her heart on that special night. Now, over 2,000 years later, each of us needs to consider the importance of Jesus’ birth and His subsequent death, resurrection, and promise to return.
- Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread
Something to Think About
Based on Luke 1: 26-38 from The New Serendipity Bible for Study Groups
1. What do you think was the hardest for Mary to comprehend?
a. The fact that she was favoured by God
b. A pregnancy before marriage
c. Who her child was going to be
d. How all this fit into God’s plan
2. Why did God choose Mary to give birth to his Son?
a. She earned the honour by her holy life
b. She was at the right place at the right time
c. Her lineage was correct
d. He had her in mind from the beginning
e. Only God knows why He picked her
3. Mary’s initial reaction to the angel’s appearance was:
a. Fear
b. Confusion
c. Doubt
d. Faith
e. Concern
f. Curiousity
4. If an angel were to reveal God’s plan for my life today, I would:
a. Ask a lot of questions
b. Wonder if I had any say about it
c. Rejoice that God could use me
d. Worry about my ability to carry it off
e. Run away scared
f. I’d rather not know the future; I’d prefer to be surprised
5. After this encounter with the angel, how did Mary envision herself?
a. Ascending a throne
b. As a lowly servant
c. As a surrogate mother
d. As an ordinary person
6. Why did the angel tell Mary about Elizabeth’s condition?
a. To prove God’s power
b. To unfold the rest of God’s plan
c. To encourage her
d. To give her something else to think about
7. My biggest concern about bringing Christ to my world is:
a. I don’t know enough about Him
b. I’m not sure if Christ has entered my world
c. I never know what to say
d. I’m not sure I am ready for people’s reaction
e. My own life does not always reflect God’s holiness
f. It may require some major changes in my life
8. One way I can bring the Saviour into the world right now is to:
a. Talk about my relationship to Christ with others
b. Help those in need around me
c. Do everything in a spirit of joy and gratitude
d. Work with honesty and integrity in the marketplace
e. Persuade my family and community to observe God’s laws
f. Celebrate God’s love in worship with other believers
9. I have the easiest (E) time and the hardest (H) time believing that:
a. All the days ordained for me were written in God’s book ahead of time (Ps 139:16)
b. God has saved us and called us to holy life (2 Ti 1:8-9)
c. I am an important part of the body of Christ (1 Co 12:27)
d. In Christ I can bear fruit for His kingdom (Jn 15:5)
e. To be great, I must become a servant of Christ (mt 20:26-28)
10. If indeed “the Lord is with me,” then I am encouraged that:
a. God can use even me, despite my flaws
b. Serving Him will bring me joy and fulfillment
c. God will guide me each step of the way
d. He will carry me through my time of struggle
e. He has the power to carry out His plan
God Bless...Have a Blessed Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas
Fran Watson
http://www.franwatson.ca/
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Random Acts of Kindness
Random acts of kindness are those little sweet or grand lovely things we for no reason.
The unexpected kindness of a stranger
Submitted By: Betty
Yesterday, as I approached the front door of our public library, a white-haired gentleman stepped back to hold the door for me. You see, I have to go everywhere these days with a walker, and folks are constantly holding or opening doors for me, so this was not unusual.
However, I told the gentleman that the door had an automatic opener, and he did not need to stay to hold it open. He said "Here I thought I would have an opportunity to be useful."
At that, I backed up, let the door close, and allowed him to reopen the door, this time using the automatic control. His comment then was "Well, now I feel like I have accomplished something helpful and worthwhile today."
We never know, do we, how someone else is feeling… we seniors seem to feel we can take care of ourselves at all times. That random act of Kindness brightened not only my day, but to my joy and delight, also the day of that kind, gentle, white-haired senior citizen. I felt a glow for the rest of the day, and, hopefully, so did he!
So, gentle readers, never hesitate to offer kindness... you may find to your amazement that there is more kindness in your community than you ever believe possible.
"If you have not often felt the joy of doing a kind act, you have neglected much, and most of all yourself."
Author:A. Neilen
"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into a flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light." - Author:Albert Schweitzer
Check out the Random Acts of Kindness website for some ideas on how you can make life better for those around you. You'll feel better for it!
BANABU
Fran Watson
http://www.banabu.ca/
http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/Stories/Features/Kindness-101.html#
The unexpected kindness of a stranger
Submitted By: Betty
Yesterday, as I approached the front door of our public library, a white-haired gentleman stepped back to hold the door for me. You see, I have to go everywhere these days with a walker, and folks are constantly holding or opening doors for me, so this was not unusual.
However, I told the gentleman that the door had an automatic opener, and he did not need to stay to hold it open. He said "Here I thought I would have an opportunity to be useful."
At that, I backed up, let the door close, and allowed him to reopen the door, this time using the automatic control. His comment then was "Well, now I feel like I have accomplished something helpful and worthwhile today."
We never know, do we, how someone else is feeling… we seniors seem to feel we can take care of ourselves at all times. That random act of Kindness brightened not only my day, but to my joy and delight, also the day of that kind, gentle, white-haired senior citizen. I felt a glow for the rest of the day, and, hopefully, so did he!
So, gentle readers, never hesitate to offer kindness... you may find to your amazement that there is more kindness in your community than you ever believe possible.
"If you have not often felt the joy of doing a kind act, you have neglected much, and most of all yourself."
Author:A. Neilen
"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into a flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light." - Author:Albert Schweitzer
Check out the Random Acts of Kindness website for some ideas on how you can make life better for those around you. You'll feel better for it!
BANABU
Fran Watson
http://www.banabu.ca/
http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/Stories/Features/Kindness-101.html#
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Being Your Best
We moved our Japanese Maple out of the shade of the Aspens maybe a month ago, placing it closer to our front door in full sun. Before, a few leaves were red, most others green or kind of purple. Since being replanted it has exploded in an all over palette of red and crimson and scarlet and magenta. It is a constant delight. And we think it’s very happy! I hope this image delights you.As I read this quote on Paul and Layne’s blog today I thought about how it relates to people. How often do we wither when we are in the wrong workplace, the wrong relationship, the wrong situation for us?
Think of the changes you have seen in people you know when they met the “right” person, got the “right” job for them or moved out of a bad situation. Just like the Maple, they burst into life and their happiness explodes around them affecting everyone and everything.
If you are in a bad situation, you owe it to yourself to move into the light. Expose yourself to the warmth and possibilities. Explore your potential. If it is your job, look around and find another one. Don’t be trapped by false thinking. Maybe you’ve been told, “You’ve got a good job with good pay, you should stay there.” If you are unhappy, then all the money isn’t going to make you happy. You owe it to yourself to explore the type of job you really want, one that will make you happy. You are worth it.
If you are in a bad relationship, it’s time to move on. If you are in an abusive relationship, it’s time to run as fast as you can away from the situation and get yourself into a safe place. Every relationship has its ups and downs, as well as some bumps and hiccups, that’s normal, but if you can’t find any of the joy, then why stay? But be honest, not deceitful. Don’t carry on with another person while you are still in the relationship. Make a clean break. You need to get to know yourself before you start over or you may find yourself in the same type of relationship you just left.
You are what you believe you are. Your thoughts make you. Think happy, positive thoughts. Let them course through your body and burst forth like the leaves on the maple. Be bright. Be happy. Be who you really are!
To being your best self
Fran
www.banabu.ca
Friday, November 19, 2010
Paths of Life
Had you trodden a different path,
Life sweeter might have been;
And riches might have come your way,
With every day serene.
Dream not of yesteryears, I say,
But make the utmost of today.
What's the weather like today where you live? Is it bright and sunny, or is it overcast and dull like it is where I live. A dark, foggy morning can often cause a bit of depression in the kitchen, where chores must be done, or in the office, where nobody feels like singing. But, of course, such circumstances are a challenge, aren't they. Here are a few lines by Viney Wilder which may help us make it through those dull days.
Do the job that lies before you'
Keep your courage one more day.
You can never guess how often
You affect some other life
By the fact that you're a doer,
Not a quitter, in the strife.
Just say a little word today
That brings a happy smile.
Just do a little kindness which
May warm some heart a while.
Just share the burden, if you may,
Of someone on the road today.
Life is better when you are helping others. It warrms both your heart and theirs and makes everyone's day a little more pleasant, and the gift you give to others gets passed on.
Have a wonderful, wonderful day, no matter what the weather where you are.
Fran Watson
Life sweeter might have been;
And riches might have come your way,
With every day serene.
Dream not of yesteryears, I say,
But make the utmost of today.
What's the weather like today where you live? Is it bright and sunny, or is it overcast and dull like it is where I live. A dark, foggy morning can often cause a bit of depression in the kitchen, where chores must be done, or in the office, where nobody feels like singing. But, of course, such circumstances are a challenge, aren't they. Here are a few lines by Viney Wilder which may help us make it through those dull days.
Do the job that lies before you'
Keep your courage one more day.
You can never guess how often
You affect some other life
By the fact that you're a doer,
Not a quitter, in the strife.
Just say a little word today
That brings a happy smile.
Just do a little kindness which
May warm some heart a while.
Just share the burden, if you may,
Of someone on the road today.
Life is better when you are helping others. It warrms both your heart and theirs and makes everyone's day a little more pleasant, and the gift you give to others gets passed on.
Have a wonderful, wonderful day, no matter what the weather where you are.
Fran Watson
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Inspiration - You Never Know Where It Will Strike You
You never know when you may be the lucky recipient of an inspirational moment, something that causes you to take pause and think and really appreciate what you have and the incredible resilience of fellow human beings.
Last night I went with my wife to a local hole-in-the-wall pizza parlor where we heard rumor live jazz was going to be played. As our neighborhood is sadly lacking in after-hours-entertainment of this type, we showed up early and got a good seat, close to the action but not so close that you had to shout to be heard. It was a small place, probably seating about 50 people max so the setting was very intimate so we were just a few feet away from the live performers.
Within twenty minutes, the first musician climbed the stage with saxophone in hand. He did a wonderful job playing two soulful songs with the background provided by a drummer, keyboard, and bass player. He finished his second song, accepted his light applause, and returned to his table where a well deserved adult beverage awaited him.
We learned that this was how the evening was going to progress with numerous musicians of all ages and proficiencies stepping up to play a few songs and then making way for the next performer. There was a small whiteboard on a stand and whoever wanted to play just signed up, with ages ranging from what looked like about 20 to what was definitely at least 65. What fun – we were in store for some talent-filled times over the next two hours.
Enjoying our pizza, I observed the other members of the audience as they filtered in to find a seat. A pair of twins took a table next to us, an older gentleman sat at the nearby bar air-drumming along with the music, and students from the local college joined the growing ranks. I noticed a man who came in on a pair of crutches, struggling a bit to navigate the narrow path between booths and tables, but with a big smile on his face. He sat down with the twins and listened to the trombone performer currently wailing on stage. The young brass player finished his first song, took a breath, and started his second and final rendition.
About this time, I noticed the man on crutches working his way up to his feet and then carefully to the booth in front of us. I was rocking out to the jazz and assumed he just wanted to get a little closer to the action. I saw him raise a small suitcase from the floor and carefully place it on the table top. He opened it and took out a mouthpiece that was to fit on the end of the saxophone stored within. Holding it carefully while balanced on the end of the seat, he adjusted the reed and wetted it and fiddled with it, preparing for his performance.
The trombone player finished, took a bow, and headed back to his seat. The man with the crutches carefully rose with his saxophone suspended around his neck. With one crutch on his left side, he started forward, his free hand moving from chair to chair to keep him stable. The stage was about 10 feet away but it took him a few minutes to manage the distance. He was offered a chair to sit on but turned it down, instead leaning against the booth closest to the stage. Once situated, he turned to his right to face the audience and share a brief smile. The song to play was agreed upon and with a one and a two and a three, they began. And he was good. Not just good, but GOOD! Crisp, clean notes rolled from his instrument, tight harmonies with the others on stage, smooth transitions, just pure sweet music. I may have imagined it, but I swear he had a smile on his face while he was playing. He finished his first song and was heartily applauded by the audience and his fellow musicians. A quick breath and he started in on his second song which was equally as beautiful. Inside of me, I felt a pride for what he had done and admiration for what it must have taken to get here.
How difficult must it have been to focus on playing such beautiful music when at any moment you might slip from your perch and end up on the floor?
How much effort and commitment and never-say-die attitude did it take to get that good despite his physical challenges?
How much faith in himself was needed just to participate and excel amidst a group of generally younger, universally talented, and physically fit fellow musicians?
You never know where you will find inspiration. You never know when someone’s strength may become your strength. And you never know just what you might find at your local pizza parlor on an average-every-day week night.
Inspiration is everywhere if you just tune in to hear it. Now that’s music to my ears…
David Bernard is a guest blogger for PickTheBrain. He is the founder of the blog Love Being Retired.
I was inspired....hopefully you were too.
Fran
Last night I went with my wife to a local hole-in-the-wall pizza parlor where we heard rumor live jazz was going to be played. As our neighborhood is sadly lacking in after-hours-entertainment of this type, we showed up early and got a good seat, close to the action but not so close that you had to shout to be heard. It was a small place, probably seating about 50 people max so the setting was very intimate so we were just a few feet away from the live performers.
Within twenty minutes, the first musician climbed the stage with saxophone in hand. He did a wonderful job playing two soulful songs with the background provided by a drummer, keyboard, and bass player. He finished his second song, accepted his light applause, and returned to his table where a well deserved adult beverage awaited him.
We learned that this was how the evening was going to progress with numerous musicians of all ages and proficiencies stepping up to play a few songs and then making way for the next performer. There was a small whiteboard on a stand and whoever wanted to play just signed up, with ages ranging from what looked like about 20 to what was definitely at least 65. What fun – we were in store for some talent-filled times over the next two hours.
Enjoying our pizza, I observed the other members of the audience as they filtered in to find a seat. A pair of twins took a table next to us, an older gentleman sat at the nearby bar air-drumming along with the music, and students from the local college joined the growing ranks. I noticed a man who came in on a pair of crutches, struggling a bit to navigate the narrow path between booths and tables, but with a big smile on his face. He sat down with the twins and listened to the trombone performer currently wailing on stage. The young brass player finished his first song, took a breath, and started his second and final rendition.
About this time, I noticed the man on crutches working his way up to his feet and then carefully to the booth in front of us. I was rocking out to the jazz and assumed he just wanted to get a little closer to the action. I saw him raise a small suitcase from the floor and carefully place it on the table top. He opened it and took out a mouthpiece that was to fit on the end of the saxophone stored within. Holding it carefully while balanced on the end of the seat, he adjusted the reed and wetted it and fiddled with it, preparing for his performance.
The trombone player finished, took a bow, and headed back to his seat. The man with the crutches carefully rose with his saxophone suspended around his neck. With one crutch on his left side, he started forward, his free hand moving from chair to chair to keep him stable. The stage was about 10 feet away but it took him a few minutes to manage the distance. He was offered a chair to sit on but turned it down, instead leaning against the booth closest to the stage. Once situated, he turned to his right to face the audience and share a brief smile. The song to play was agreed upon and with a one and a two and a three, they began. And he was good. Not just good, but GOOD! Crisp, clean notes rolled from his instrument, tight harmonies with the others on stage, smooth transitions, just pure sweet music. I may have imagined it, but I swear he had a smile on his face while he was playing. He finished his first song and was heartily applauded by the audience and his fellow musicians. A quick breath and he started in on his second song which was equally as beautiful. Inside of me, I felt a pride for what he had done and admiration for what it must have taken to get here.
How difficult must it have been to focus on playing such beautiful music when at any moment you might slip from your perch and end up on the floor?
How much effort and commitment and never-say-die attitude did it take to get that good despite his physical challenges?
How much faith in himself was needed just to participate and excel amidst a group of generally younger, universally talented, and physically fit fellow musicians?
You never know where you will find inspiration. You never know when someone’s strength may become your strength. And you never know just what you might find at your local pizza parlor on an average-every-day week night.
Inspiration is everywhere if you just tune in to hear it. Now that’s music to my ears…
David Bernard is a guest blogger for PickTheBrain. He is the founder of the blog Love Being Retired.
I was inspired....hopefully you were too.
Fran
Do You Need Pruning?
Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.
Raymond Lindquist
Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.
Herman Hesse
One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us.
Michael Cibenko
********************************
Article from Dawn Brown's Perception Shift Newsletter - Enjoy!
This fall I went on a tour of the wine region in Southern Ontario. The words of one vineyard owner struck a chord with me. He told our group that he prunes 95% of his grapevines. Without pruning you end up with lots of grapes, more than the vine can handle and so quality suffers.
This reminded me of a beautiful flowering plant I had in my office years ago. Over time it flowered less and less and then it started to look scraggly. I just couldn't get it to thrive the way it had in the past. A colleague told me I needed to cut it back. That sounded cruel and I politely refused. He offered to do it. Again, no thanks!
There came a time when the plant looked more dead than alive and I agreed to let him prune it. I should have stayed in the room while he did it. When I returned there was nothing left of the plant - just a couple of stumps.
Funny thing happened after a few weeks though - life reappeared. And in no time I had a plant that was healthy and more beautiful than it had ever been. That plant became my metaphor for letting go of what no longer fits who I am while clearing a space for rebirth to happen.
We hang on to things, people, situations, memories - long past their expiration dates. Replaying memories over and over, painful or happy ones, can keep us stuck in the past and stop us from seeing and appreciating the beauty in the present.
Now is a good time to do a life inventory. What needs to exit your life for your own personal and professional growth?
**********************
dawnbrown@perceptionshift.com
phone: 613-728-0887
web: http://www.perceptionshift.com/
Now avaialable - Dawn's latest book "Been There, Done That... Now What?" http://www.beentheredonethatnowwhat.com/
**********************
A very thought-provoking question. Do you have "stuff" hanging around in your house? In your office? In your mind? Are there things you should get rid of that you've been hanging on to for "sometime" or "a rainy day"? Is it time for you to prune?
Have a wonderful day
Fran Watson
Raymond Lindquist
Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.
Herman Hesse
One problem with gazing too frequently into the past is that we may turn around to find the future has run out on us.
Michael Cibenko
********************************
Article from Dawn Brown's Perception Shift Newsletter - Enjoy!
This fall I went on a tour of the wine region in Southern Ontario. The words of one vineyard owner struck a chord with me. He told our group that he prunes 95% of his grapevines. Without pruning you end up with lots of grapes, more than the vine can handle and so quality suffers.
This reminded me of a beautiful flowering plant I had in my office years ago. Over time it flowered less and less and then it started to look scraggly. I just couldn't get it to thrive the way it had in the past. A colleague told me I needed to cut it back. That sounded cruel and I politely refused. He offered to do it. Again, no thanks!
There came a time when the plant looked more dead than alive and I agreed to let him prune it. I should have stayed in the room while he did it. When I returned there was nothing left of the plant - just a couple of stumps.
Funny thing happened after a few weeks though - life reappeared. And in no time I had a plant that was healthy and more beautiful than it had ever been. That plant became my metaphor for letting go of what no longer fits who I am while clearing a space for rebirth to happen.
We hang on to things, people, situations, memories - long past their expiration dates. Replaying memories over and over, painful or happy ones, can keep us stuck in the past and stop us from seeing and appreciating the beauty in the present.
Now is a good time to do a life inventory. What needs to exit your life for your own personal and professional growth?
**********************
dawnbrown@perceptionshift.com
phone: 613-728-0887
web: http://www.perceptionshift.com/
Now avaialable - Dawn's latest book "Been There, Done That... Now What?" http://www.beentheredonethatnowwhat.com/
**********************
A very thought-provoking question. Do you have "stuff" hanging around in your house? In your office? In your mind? Are there things you should get rid of that you've been hanging on to for "sometime" or "a rainy day"? Is it time for you to prune?
Have a wonderful day
Fran Watson
Friday, November 12, 2010
Transform Your Life
If you have never heard of SARK, you owe it to yourself to check this out. Get 90 fabulous tools for healing and transforming your life with SARK's Transformation Exper!ence!
If you have heard of SARK, you've probably already been here, but if not, hurry on over!!!
Enjoy
Fran
If you have heard of SARK, you've probably already been here, but if not, hurry on over!!!
Enjoy
Fran
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Pencilling My Thoughts
Whenever I read the paper, the first part I turn to is the comics. I like to lighten up my life a little. There is too much doom and gloom on the front pages.
Most of the time I find comics that make me chuckle, some that make me laugh out loud and occasionally some give me pause to think, such as one I read recently. The grandfather was sharpening his pencil with a knife and his grandson was watching.
The grandfather said to him: “We are all kind of like a pencil. The most important part of us is on the inside. Sometimes we spend too much time erasing and not enough time writing, or sometimes we do too much writing and forget to sharpen the pencil. And sometimes we spend too much time sharpening and we end up as a useless stub.”
That’s something to think about isn’t it?
Do we beat ourselves up over our mistakes, trying to erase the past? Do we play the “if only” game? I remember my mother used to say, “If ifs and ands were pots and pans, the beggars would ride on horseback.” The full Scottish proverb is: "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. If turnips were swords, I'd wear one by my side. If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no need for tinkers' hands."
What is done is done and no amount of thinking or worrying can undo it. Try as you might you can’t erase it, so you may as well begin to use the other end of the pencil and begin writing.
You need to write/right your life. Begin by writing down your goals and your dreams and move towards them one line at a time, but don’t get so busy writing that you forget about everything else and become dull.
Remember that your body needs rest. Don’t get caught up in the whirlwind of life or son you will be operating at less than your best, like the unsharpened pencil. Take the time to sleep, to rest…to sharpen up.
We can also sharpen up by reading and studying, but again, we can spend so much time learning that we forget about actually taking part in life and we find that life has passed us by and all the things we could have done we can no longer do. We have become a stub, no longer effective.
The grandchild then asks a very powerful question: Can I be the knife?
Wow! How perceptive of him. He is asking the question, can I be the one that helps to shape the lives of others, that helps to keep them sharp, but doesn’t let them do it too quickly, that let’s them move at just the right pace, sharpening/helping them when they need it but letting them learn and grow as they need to?
A person in this role has the opportunity to shape lives. Who are these people? Think about the roles of parent, teacher, leader. How do these people shape the lives of others. How do you sharpen the lives of those around you? Do you keep them sharp, or allow them to get dull. Do you try to sharpen them too much? Are your words and manner abrasive? Or are you gently shaping them into a point, allowing them to write their lives at a steady pace.
I did some research on the Pencil Story and found that it is a parable – author unknown and thought I would share it here with you.
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him back into the box. “There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”
“One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand.”
“Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.”
“Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”
“Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.”
“And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.”
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
And five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.
By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.
[Author Unknown
Further research led to this version:
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. “There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be. “
#1 — You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand. “ #2 — You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil. “ #3 — You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. “ #4 — The most important part of you will always be what’s inside. ` ` #5 — On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition you must continue to write. “ The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in his heart. “
But now the pencil lay on the dark wood table, feeling insignificant and rather sad. Beside him on the desk was a colorful tin can, filled with every kind of beautiful pen to be had. There were silver fountain pens and a neon felt tip marker. There was also a classy ballpoint whom everyone called Parker. “ “What a loser,” they said of the pencil, as they observed his wooden frame. “Don’t bother with him, he’s a nobody,” said Parker, “He doesn’t even have a name.” “
Now the world was at war and their owner was a Soldier who was tasked to bring peace to the land.
“What we need is a map,” the Soldier had said, at the desk across from his Officer the other night. “If someone can fly me over the city unseen, I can draw a map from the sky. The map will tell you where to go and how to win, and soon we’ll put an end to this fight.” “
The Officer had agreed and now the Soldier would fly, but first he discussed with his wife. “I’ll need something to draw with, something dependable . . . something that won’t fail me mid-flight.” “ The Soldier looked at his dark wood desk, and observed all the pens in the can. He studied each one, their bodies all shimmering, and he weighed them all in his hand. “This one won’t work,” he said of a pen, “the ink might blot on the map. This one needs to be refilled every few hours, and this one will dry out without a cap.” “ He looked at each one and always found something wrong, or anticipated problems if he used it in the sky. “I need something that would work whatever the conditions, and I need it soon my dear wife.” “Then take this pencil.” his wife finally said, handing him the frail and battered yellow thing. “It will write no matter what, it will write on a plane — it’s the best writing tool you can bring.”
“ The Soldier smiled, kept the pencil in his pocket, and took it with him on the plane. He finished the map and the map helped bring them peace … and the pencil has never been the same. “ The pencil was now nothing more than a stub; what was left of his lead was now broken. His eraser was gone, his wood frame had split, and some time ago his metal ring had been stolen. “
Now he stood before the Pencil Maker, and waited for him to say those five words. “”Well done, my faithful pencil,” the Pencil Maker said, “You have written what you were meant to write in the world.”
These thoughts and many more were raised as I pondered that particular comic, so you can see why I like to begin with the comic section of the paper.
A bit of trivia: William Munroe manufactured the first American lead pencils in 1812. N.J.Conte made the first pencil and it was made in 1795.
The humble pencil is, globally, one of the most common tools used to write on paper, and there are a wide range of different types of pencils, but who invented the most widely-seen type of pencil (graphite with wood casing) seen today, and in doing so creating a stereotypical image for a product that is used at home, work, and school?
Although there were early attempts at making a pencils from ancient Egyptians and Romans, and also in the 1500’s, where English farmers used plain graphite to mark sheep. Both were reasonable methods for their purpose, the material on its own would leave marks on the user’s skin and were prone to breaking easily.
In 1795, a French officer belonging to the army of Napoleon invented and patented the first quality pencil on earth. Nicholas Jacques Conte (aka NJ Conte) discovered that ground graphite, when mixed with the right kinds of clay, produced the best lead for pencils. A great myth is that pencils are made of lead, but the thin black material in pencils is actually a mix of graphite, carbon, and clay. NJ Conte, managed to turn this graphite into powder, mixing it with moist doughs of clay and then pressing the materials into thin sticks, which were then ‘cooked’ to make the ‘pencil lead’. The modern wooden casing seen in most original pencils today would soon follow, providing a no-mess and more shatter-resistant protection for the product. The Faber family would soon take on this product into mass production, and the rest is history.
To date, there are 350 different types of pencils, used for a variety of purposes, and fitting different budgets. With a variety of shades and new and creative methods being sold for novelty (e.g. giant, twisty, ect.), it is an ever-expanding product, and one that is used in all walks of life, as it is very difficult to live a lifetime without using one.
Hope you enjoyed this
Fran Watson
http://www.banabu.ca/
Most of the time I find comics that make me chuckle, some that make me laugh out loud and occasionally some give me pause to think, such as one I read recently. The grandfather was sharpening his pencil with a knife and his grandson was watching.
The grandfather said to him: “We are all kind of like a pencil. The most important part of us is on the inside. Sometimes we spend too much time erasing and not enough time writing, or sometimes we do too much writing and forget to sharpen the pencil. And sometimes we spend too much time sharpening and we end up as a useless stub.”
That’s something to think about isn’t it?
Do we beat ourselves up over our mistakes, trying to erase the past? Do we play the “if only” game? I remember my mother used to say, “If ifs and ands were pots and pans, the beggars would ride on horseback.” The full Scottish proverb is: "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. If turnips were swords, I'd wear one by my side. If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no need for tinkers' hands."
What is done is done and no amount of thinking or worrying can undo it. Try as you might you can’t erase it, so you may as well begin to use the other end of the pencil and begin writing.
You need to write/right your life. Begin by writing down your goals and your dreams and move towards them one line at a time, but don’t get so busy writing that you forget about everything else and become dull.
Remember that your body needs rest. Don’t get caught up in the whirlwind of life or son you will be operating at less than your best, like the unsharpened pencil. Take the time to sleep, to rest…to sharpen up.
We can also sharpen up by reading and studying, but again, we can spend so much time learning that we forget about actually taking part in life and we find that life has passed us by and all the things we could have done we can no longer do. We have become a stub, no longer effective.
The grandchild then asks a very powerful question: Can I be the knife?
Wow! How perceptive of him. He is asking the question, can I be the one that helps to shape the lives of others, that helps to keep them sharp, but doesn’t let them do it too quickly, that let’s them move at just the right pace, sharpening/helping them when they need it but letting them learn and grow as they need to?
A person in this role has the opportunity to shape lives. Who are these people? Think about the roles of parent, teacher, leader. How do these people shape the lives of others. How do you sharpen the lives of those around you? Do you keep them sharp, or allow them to get dull. Do you try to sharpen them too much? Are your words and manner abrasive? Or are you gently shaping them into a point, allowing them to write their lives at a steady pace.
I did some research on the Pencil Story and found that it is a parable – author unknown and thought I would share it here with you.
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him back into the box. “There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.”
“One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand.”
“Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.”
“Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.”
“Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.”
“And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.”
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
And five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.
By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.
[Author Unknown
Further research led to this version:
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. “There are 5 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be. “
#1 — You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone’s hand. “ #2 — You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil. “ #3 — You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. “ #4 — The most important part of you will always be what’s inside. ` ` #5 — On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition you must continue to write. “ The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in his heart. “
But now the pencil lay on the dark wood table, feeling insignificant and rather sad. Beside him on the desk was a colorful tin can, filled with every kind of beautiful pen to be had. There were silver fountain pens and a neon felt tip marker. There was also a classy ballpoint whom everyone called Parker. “ “What a loser,” they said of the pencil, as they observed his wooden frame. “Don’t bother with him, he’s a nobody,” said Parker, “He doesn’t even have a name.” “
Now the world was at war and their owner was a Soldier who was tasked to bring peace to the land.
“What we need is a map,” the Soldier had said, at the desk across from his Officer the other night. “If someone can fly me over the city unseen, I can draw a map from the sky. The map will tell you where to go and how to win, and soon we’ll put an end to this fight.” “
The Officer had agreed and now the Soldier would fly, but first he discussed with his wife. “I’ll need something to draw with, something dependable . . . something that won’t fail me mid-flight.” “ The Soldier looked at his dark wood desk, and observed all the pens in the can. He studied each one, their bodies all shimmering, and he weighed them all in his hand. “This one won’t work,” he said of a pen, “the ink might blot on the map. This one needs to be refilled every few hours, and this one will dry out without a cap.” “ He looked at each one and always found something wrong, or anticipated problems if he used it in the sky. “I need something that would work whatever the conditions, and I need it soon my dear wife.” “Then take this pencil.” his wife finally said, handing him the frail and battered yellow thing. “It will write no matter what, it will write on a plane — it’s the best writing tool you can bring.”
“ The Soldier smiled, kept the pencil in his pocket, and took it with him on the plane. He finished the map and the map helped bring them peace … and the pencil has never been the same. “ The pencil was now nothing more than a stub; what was left of his lead was now broken. His eraser was gone, his wood frame had split, and some time ago his metal ring had been stolen. “
Now he stood before the Pencil Maker, and waited for him to say those five words. “”Well done, my faithful pencil,” the Pencil Maker said, “You have written what you were meant to write in the world.”
These thoughts and many more were raised as I pondered that particular comic, so you can see why I like to begin with the comic section of the paper.
A bit of trivia: William Munroe manufactured the first American lead pencils in 1812. N.J.Conte made the first pencil and it was made in 1795.
The humble pencil is, globally, one of the most common tools used to write on paper, and there are a wide range of different types of pencils, but who invented the most widely-seen type of pencil (graphite with wood casing) seen today, and in doing so creating a stereotypical image for a product that is used at home, work, and school?
Although there were early attempts at making a pencils from ancient Egyptians and Romans, and also in the 1500’s, where English farmers used plain graphite to mark sheep. Both were reasonable methods for their purpose, the material on its own would leave marks on the user’s skin and were prone to breaking easily.
In 1795, a French officer belonging to the army of Napoleon invented and patented the first quality pencil on earth. Nicholas Jacques Conte (aka NJ Conte) discovered that ground graphite, when mixed with the right kinds of clay, produced the best lead for pencils. A great myth is that pencils are made of lead, but the thin black material in pencils is actually a mix of graphite, carbon, and clay. NJ Conte, managed to turn this graphite into powder, mixing it with moist doughs of clay and then pressing the materials into thin sticks, which were then ‘cooked’ to make the ‘pencil lead’. The modern wooden casing seen in most original pencils today would soon follow, providing a no-mess and more shatter-resistant protection for the product. The Faber family would soon take on this product into mass production, and the rest is history.
To date, there are 350 different types of pencils, used for a variety of purposes, and fitting different budgets. With a variety of shades and new and creative methods being sold for novelty (e.g. giant, twisty, ect.), it is an ever-expanding product, and one that is used in all walks of life, as it is very difficult to live a lifetime without using one.
Hope you enjoyed this
Fran Watson
http://www.banabu.ca/
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Passion provides potential
How Wanting Something with Your Whole Being Makes it a Reality
Written by Daniel Wood on October 31, 2010 - 9 Comments
Desire is the bread and butter of success. If you don’t desire your goals enough, you won’t be able to muster the motivation to go after them, the courage to put yourself out there and you will not be able to tap into the enormous potential your desperation will let you access.
Everyone has dreams and goals in their lives. But most don’t believe that it is possible possible or don’t want them enough to care. To succeed you need to harness you dreams into an obsession, a burning desire that allows you to push yourself further then you every could without.
The Most Successful People in the World
If you look at the successful people in our community the only thing they have in common is that they wanted something and they went and got it.
We have people with lots of education, no education, rich backgrounds, poor families, different ethnic backgrounds, some who were popular growing up, others who were outsiders.
The only thing all these people have in common is their desire, they all have a burning desire to succeed.
Chris Gardner
If you have seen the movie “The Pursuit of Happiness” about Chris Gardner’s life you will have seen how a dream can change a life.
He was a black man from a small town with very little education. One day he makes the decision to change his life. He is going to be a stock broker and he stakes his entire future on that goal.
He tells his son “If you want something, go get it. Period.”
**Side note from Fran...I saw the movie. It was very powerful! The Pursuit of Happyness indeed. We make our own happiness with our choices.**
That is the same philosophy we all have to adopt if we are to succeed.
No one is going to make it easy
We have all hit hard times, it is the will to succeed that can turn it around and make your dreams reality.
When I was new in sales I had become one of the top salesmen at my company.
I worked hard every day and dreamed about getting a managerial position.
After 18 months of toil a spot opened up. I considered myself an obvious choice for the role so I applied, and get the answer, “You are too valuable a salesman, we cannot lose your sales figures. Sorry.”
This put me down and it took a long time for me to get my motivation back. At last I realized that it was up to me if I was going to get a managerial position.
I started working hard again. Harder then ever before. I started asking for more responsibility, for opportunities to lead and prove that I could handle the role.
Within 5 months the company created a new managerial position for me. The only reason I got the position was because I wanted it so badly.
Conclusion
Anything you want and anything you dream about can be yours, if you want it. All it takes is a desire so strong that it almost becomes an obsession combined with a focused effort on that goal until it becomes a reality.
Sooner or later your goal will become truth and you will have what you have dreamed about.
This was a guest post by Daniel M. Wood, posted at pickthebrain.com (great site - lots of wonderful information). If you like his articles head over to http://lookingtobusiness.com and take a look. He writes about sales technique, motivation and success.
To your success!!!
Fran
Written by Daniel Wood on October 31, 2010 - 9 Comments
Desire is the bread and butter of success. If you don’t desire your goals enough, you won’t be able to muster the motivation to go after them, the courage to put yourself out there and you will not be able to tap into the enormous potential your desperation will let you access.
Everyone has dreams and goals in their lives. But most don’t believe that it is possible possible or don’t want them enough to care. To succeed you need to harness you dreams into an obsession, a burning desire that allows you to push yourself further then you every could without.
The Most Successful People in the World
If you look at the successful people in our community the only thing they have in common is that they wanted something and they went and got it.
We have people with lots of education, no education, rich backgrounds, poor families, different ethnic backgrounds, some who were popular growing up, others who were outsiders.
The only thing all these people have in common is their desire, they all have a burning desire to succeed.
Chris Gardner
If you have seen the movie “The Pursuit of Happiness” about Chris Gardner’s life you will have seen how a dream can change a life.
He was a black man from a small town with very little education. One day he makes the decision to change his life. He is going to be a stock broker and he stakes his entire future on that goal.
He tells his son “If you want something, go get it. Period.”
**Side note from Fran...I saw the movie. It was very powerful! The Pursuit of Happyness indeed. We make our own happiness with our choices.**
That is the same philosophy we all have to adopt if we are to succeed.
No one is going to make it easy
We have all hit hard times, it is the will to succeed that can turn it around and make your dreams reality.
When I was new in sales I had become one of the top salesmen at my company.
I worked hard every day and dreamed about getting a managerial position.
After 18 months of toil a spot opened up. I considered myself an obvious choice for the role so I applied, and get the answer, “You are too valuable a salesman, we cannot lose your sales figures. Sorry.”
This put me down and it took a long time for me to get my motivation back. At last I realized that it was up to me if I was going to get a managerial position.
I started working hard again. Harder then ever before. I started asking for more responsibility, for opportunities to lead and prove that I could handle the role.
Within 5 months the company created a new managerial position for me. The only reason I got the position was because I wanted it so badly.
Conclusion
Anything you want and anything you dream about can be yours, if you want it. All it takes is a desire so strong that it almost becomes an obsession combined with a focused effort on that goal until it becomes a reality.
Sooner or later your goal will become truth and you will have what you have dreamed about.
This was a guest post by Daniel M. Wood, posted at pickthebrain.com (great site - lots of wonderful information). If you like his articles head over to http://lookingtobusiness.com and take a look. He writes about sales technique, motivation and success.
To your success!!!
Fran
Roaring Lions? Living Longer?
I am a member of Joe Vitale's Gold Club and this month's feature was Peter Rangar. After listening to the CD, I went to his website and I have just subscribed to his newsletter. You may also be intrigued by him. Check this out.
Roaring Lion Publishing/Peter Ragnar - The Roaring Lion Publishing online store featuring Peter Ragnar\'s books,and health products for physical fitness, success and personal growth.
Live long and prosper!!
Fran
Roaring Lion Publishing/Peter Ragnar - The Roaring Lion Publishing online store featuring Peter Ragnar\'s books,and health products for physical fitness, success and personal growth.
Live long and prosper!!
Fran
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