Anyway
ANYWAY - Leo Buscaglia
Anyway People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior
motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true
enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honestry and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
Whay you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the
teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
The Master claimed he had a book that contained everything one could conceivably know about God.
No one had ever seen the book till a visiting scholar, by dint of persistent entreaty, wrested it from the Master. He took it home and eagerly opened it - only to find that every one of the pages was blank.
"But the book says nothing," wailed the scholar.
"I know," said the Master contentedly. "But see how much it indicates!"
Blessed are those who are too tired, busy or disorganized to
meet with fellow Christians on Sundays each week.
Their hearts are not in it.
Blessed are those who enjoy noticing the mannerisms of clergy
and choir.
Their hearts are not in it.
Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect
to be thanked.
I can use them.
Blessed are the touchy. With a bit of luck they may even stop
going to church.
They are my missionaries.
Blessed are those who claim to love God at the same time as
hating other people.
They are mine forever.
Blessed are the trouble makers.
They shall be called my children.
Blessed are those who have no time to pray.
They are easy prey for me.
Blessed are you when you read this and think it is about
other people and not about yourself.
I'VE GOT YOU.
"Help us to find God."
"No one can help you there."
"Why not?"
"For the same reason that no one can help the fish to find the ocean."
GOD'S DAYS - Robert J. Burdette
There are two days in the week upon which and about which I never worry -- two carefree days kept sacredly free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday. Yesterday, with its cares and frets and pains and aches, all its faults, its mistakes and blunders, has passed forever beyond my recall. It was mine; it is God's.
The other day that I do not worry about is Tomorrow. Tomorrow, with all its possible adversities, its burdens, its perils, its large promise and performance, its failures and mistakes, is as far beyond my mastery as its dead sister, Yesterday. Tomorrow is God's day; it will be mine.
There is left, then, for myself but one day in the week - Today. Any man can fight the battles of today. Any woman can carry the burdens of just one day; any man can resist the temptation of today. It is only when we willfully add the burdens of these two awful eternities - Yesterday and Tomorrow - such burdens as only the Mighty God can sustain - that we break down.
It isn't the experience of Today that drives men mad. It is the remorse of what happened Yesterday and fear of what Tomorrow might bring. These are God's Days ... Leave them to Him.
A young man once asked God how long a million years was to him. God replied, "A million years to me is just like a single second to you."
The young man asked God what a million dollars was to him. God replied, "A million dollars to me is just like a single penny to you."
Then the young man got his courage up and asked, "God, could I have one of your pennies?"
God smiled and replies, "Certainly, just a second."
THE SACRIFICE FLOWER - Jose Hobday
My mother, who was a native American, taught me all kinds of wonderful ways to pray when I was a child. A very special one was the Sacrifice Flower prayer, which she adapted from the heritage of her people, the Seneca Iroquois.
She taught me to say this prayer when I was feeling low or had a burden I wanted to lifted. Later, I learned to use it for happy occasions and when I had a special request I wanted to make of God.
Like all mothers, she could always tell when something was bothering me. She'd say to me, "All right, Jo, I think it's time you went outside and find yourself a Sacrifice Flower. It's time you get your burden lifted from your heart and give it to God.
So, I'd go looking for a flower. Sometimes Mother would go out with me to help me with my flower or talk about what was bothering me. Sometimes, too, she had something weighing on her heart and she would find a Sacrifice Flower of her own.
The flower was supposed to be special, one that meant a lot to me. As a girl, I picked dandelions, hollyhocks, and daises. So, I usually picked one of them. In addition, Mother said I was to be very careful with the flower because it had been selected for a holy purpose. I lovingly cupped it in my hands so nothing would happen to it.
When I got home, I did as my mother instructed and told the flower what burden I wanted lifted and taken to God. How was the flower to do this? Remember, this was a Sacrifice Flower, one that was going to die. The idea was that as life went out of the flower, it would carry my prayer to God.
That meant, of course, the flower was not to be placed in water. I had a shelf in my room that I liked to use for my Sacrifice Flower because it was sort of private and yet I could see it as I went in and out.
Everytime I saw the flower, I could see it giving its life for me and I could imagine my prayer being carried to the Lord.
That was true even when I was elsewhere and was just thinking about the flower. Either way, I had a strong sense my prayer was being heard. My flower and I were in union. Sometimes it took a few days, sometimes a couple of weeks.
When the flower finally died, I would take it outside, say goodbye to it, and thank it for giving its life for me and for delivering my prayer. Then I would bury it so it would have a chance at a new life, and I always hoped it would come back as an even nicer flower.
In this simple, graphic way my mother taught me how uplifting prayer can be. And, in the process, she taught me about life, too - how basic both dying and rising are to living and how important it is that we become Sacrifice Flowers for each other.
TO:
Jesus, Son of Joseph
Woodcrafter Carpenter Shop
Nazareth
FROM:
Jordan Management Consultants
Jerusalem
Dear Sir:
Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant.
It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability.
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale.
We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.
We wish you every success in your new venture.
Sincerely yours,
Jordan Management Consultants.
THE STUDENT'S PSALM - (anonymous)
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not flunk; He keepeth me from lying down when I should be studying. He leadeth me beside the water cooler for a study break; He restores my faith in study guides. He leads me to better study habits For my grades' sake. Yea, tho' I walk through the valley of borderline grades, I will not have a nervous breakdown; For Thou art with me; My prayers and my friends, they comfort me. Thou givest me the answers in moments of blankness; Thou anointest my head with understanding, My test paper runneth over with questions I recognize. Surely passing grades and flying colors shall follow me all the days of examinations; And I shall not have to dwell in this university forever!
Amen!
A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him.
"Master, I wish to become your disciple," said the man.
"Why?" replied the hermit.
The young man thought for a moment. "Because I want to find God."
The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him into the river, and plunged his head under water. After holding him there for a minute, with him kicking and struggling to free himself, the master finally pulled him up out of the river. The young man coughed up water and gasped to get his breath. When he eventually quieted down, the master spoke. "Tell me, what did you want most of all when you were under water."
"Air!" answered the man.
"Very well," said the master. "Go home and come back to me when you want God as much as you just wanted air."
When I said to the Lord "I am so short of where you want me to be." He gently answered "That's okay. That's all the farther you and I can walk together."
When I said to the Lord "I don't know who I am" He gently answered "That's okay. I know who you are."
When I said to the Lord "I am so tired of fighting" He gently answered "That's okay. Satan is down for the count."
When I said to the Lord "My actions aren't reflecting my heart." He gently answered "That's okay. Mine did."
When I said to the Lord "My mind is corrupted." He gently answered "That's okay. Use mine for awhile."
When I said to the Lord "I don't know how to love." He gently answered "That's okay. I will give you free lessons"
A friend is a person whom you want to have near when you are
dying. And whom you like to be with while you are living;
To whom you spontaneously turn for help when you are in trouble. And who is the first to
hear the good news when you have good fortune;
Whose counsel you seek when you are perplexed. And whose congratulations you welcome when
the perplexity is solved;
In whom you can confide the secret you want no other living soul to know. Yet will never
pry into your heart to discover whether there are any more secrets to be revealed;
On whom you can lean when your heart aches. But who will never take advantage of your
leaning;
Who will get down on his knees beside you when you are down. And forget that he did so
when you are on your feet again;
And whose shoulder you can weep when you are sad. And with whom you enjoy laughing when
you are glad;
Who has a tear on his cheek when you suffer. And a twinkle in his eye when the sun shines
on you again;
Who has pain in his tone when you are in distress. And melody in his voice when your heart
is gay;
Who admires you for your strong points. But loves you in spite of your weak ones;
Who can laugh at your foibles. Without despising you for having them;
Who makes allowance for your limitations. Without allowing them to obscure your talents;
Who is proud of you when fortune favors you. But not ashamed of you when you fail;
Who contributes to your success without claiming any share in it.
Who can feel and show satisfaction when you please him. But never resentment when you
disappoint him;
Who will tell you the truth even when it hurts. And to whom you can tell the truth without
his taking offense;
Who is not ashamed to ask you a favor even at the risk of being imposed upon.
Who can extend a helping hand and lighten your load. Without expecting any other reward
than having had the privilege of so doing;
Who gives all he can whenever he can. Without ever keeping a record of what he has given;
Who says the best about you when everybody else is saying the worst.
Any person needs at least four such friends; Every person owes it to himself to be such a friend to at least four fellow humans.
God help me to be such a friend.
SOME PEOPLE - anonymous
Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some people move our souls to dance.
They awaken us to understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom.
Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.
They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts,
and we are never, ever the same.
YOU'RE SPECIAL - Collin McCarty
To You Just Because.... You're Very Special to Me
I want this message to put a smile on your face.
I want it to remind you that you have been on my mind.
I want it to tell you that I think you're wonderful.
I want it to be a beautiful part of this day.
And I want it to help you remember -
every time you remember it in the days yet to be -
that this message was sent to you...
just because you're very special to me.
WITH FRIENDS - by Susan Flosence
If there is one ingredient in which adds warmth and love to our lives...it is friendship. If there is one relationship to help us through all the others...it is friendship. Friends surround us with the beauty of their caring. With friends we can share what we see, what we feel and what we love.
Friends help us with our problems because they listen. And as they listen we begin to hear the language of our own hearts. With friends we can walk along the remembered paths of our lives and completely share our experiences. With friends we can work the soil of forgotten dreams that needed to be tended and nurtured once again. With friends we can plant the seed of our hearts new dreams. We can always return to a friend like going back to a special place...and find the same warm feeling unchanged by time or distance. Life gives us friends so we can share the prescious times and memorable moments of being children, and teenagers, and adults, and parents, and grandparents.
Life gives us friends so we can share the growing up...and growing down and old. With friends we have a place to go to be accepted and understood. Together we can laugh. Together we can cry. Our thoughts are heard, our feelings are held in the heart of a friend.
With friends our lives are made more full, more rich, more open, beautiful and blessed!
ATTITUDE - from Strengthening Your Grip by Charles Swindoll
Attitude is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.
The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past. We can not change the fact that people act in a certain way. We can not change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.
CHANGING THE WORLD - unknown monk, 1100 A.D.
When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation
... and I could indeed have changed the world.
THE EAGLE AND THE WOLF - unknown
There is a great battle that rages inside me.
One side is the soaring eagle. Everything the eagle stands for is good and true and beautiful, and it soars above the clouds. Even though it dips down into the valleys, it lays its eggs on the mountaintops.
The other side of me is the howling wolf. And that raging, howling wolf represents the worst that's in me. He eats upon my downfalls and justifies himself by his presence in the pack.
Who wins this great battle?
The one I feed.
One hundred years from now, it will not matter
What kind of car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
How much I had in my bank
Nor what my clothes looked like.
One hundred years from now, it will not matter
What kind of school I attended,
What kind of typewriter I used,
How large or small my church,
But the world may be a little better because...
I was important in the life of a child.
ON LIVING - from Journal of Humanistic Psychology - by an 85-year-old man who had just learned he was going to die.
"If I had my life to live over again,
I would try to make more mistakes next time...
I'd try not to be so darned perfect;
I'd relax more, I'd limber up,
I'd be sillier than I've been on this trip;
In fact, I know of very few things I'd take quite so seriously;
I'd be crazier ... and I'd certainly be less-hygenic;
I'd take more chances
I'd take more trips
I'd climb more mountains
I'd swim more rivers
And I'd watch more sunsets;
I'd burn more gasoline,
I'd eat more ice cream... and fewer beans;
I'd have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones,
You see, I was one of those people who lived prophylactically and sensibly, hour-after-hour and day-after-day;
Oh, that doesn't mean I didn't have my moments, but if I had it to do all over, I'd have more of those moments. In fact, I'd try to have nothing but wonderful moments, side-by-side.
I was one of those people who never went anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat and a parachute; If I had it to do all over again, I'd travel lighter next time.
If I had my life to live all over again,
I'd start barefoot earlier in the spring and I'd stay that way later in the fall;
I'd play hooky a lot more;
I'd ride more merry-go-rounds,
I'd pick more flowers,
I'd hug more children,
I'd tell more people that I loved them,
If I had my life to live over again;
But, you see, I don't."
TAKE TIME - unknown
Take time to think; it is the source of power.
Take time to read; it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to play; it is the secret of staying young.
Take time to be quiet; it is the opportunity to seek God.
Take time to be aware; it is the opportunity to help others.
Take time to love and be loved; it is God's greatest gift.
Take time to laugh; it is the music of the soul.
Take time to be friendly; it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream; it is what the future is made of.
Take time to pray; it is the greatest power on earth.
At the beginning of my work I saw myself standing on the bank of a river. All the people were swimming around in the river, and I'm shouting instructions at them.
Later on in my work when I began to learn more, I saw myself as wading out into the water a little bit and reaching out my hand to help.
Now, in my work, I realize that I am swimming around in the river just like everyone else.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self.
To place your ideas and your dreams before a crowd is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk dispair, and to try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest risk in life is
to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow
and love and live. Chained by things that are certain, he is a slave. He has forefeited
his freedom.
Only the person who risks is truly free.
Page Last updated: 4/28/98
Songs From The Closet ©1997