Define

Author: ~ Wayne Dyer ~
nyomot dari http://www.angelfire.com/md/elanmichaels/quotations3.html

When you judge another,
you do not define them,
you define yourself.

Sstttt

Author: ~ Jim Rohn ~
nyomot dari http://www.angelfire.com/md/elanmichaels/quotations3.html

The more you know the less you need to say.

Each Day

Author: ~ Paulo Coelho ~
nyomot dari http://www.angelfire.com/md/elanmichaels/quotations.html

You can become blind
by seeing each day as a similar one.
Each day is a different one,
each day brings a miracle of its own.
It's just a matter of
paying attention to this miracle.

Greater Happiness

Author: ~ Kitaro Nishida~
nyomott dari http://www.angelfire.com/md/elanmichaels/quotations.html

If my heart can become pure and simple,
like that of a child,
I think there probably can be
no greater happiness than this.

That's Not My Job

by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown
nyomot dari http://www.inspirationalstories.com/1/111.html

This's a story about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody have done.

Spouse from God

by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown
nyomot dari http://www.inspirationalstories.com/11/1137.html

Years ago, I asked God to give me a spouse, "You don't own because you didn't ask" God said. Not only I asked for a spouse but also explained what kind of spouse I wanted. I want a nice, tender, forgiving, passionate, honest, peaceful, generous, understanding, pleasant, warm, intelligent, humorous, attentive, compassionate and truthful. I even mentioned the physical characteristics I dreamt about.

As time went by I added the required list of my wanted spouse. One night, in my prayer, God talked to my heart: "My servant, I cannot give you what you want."

I asked, "Why God?" and God said "Because I am God and I am fair. God is the truth and all I do are true and right."

I asked "God, I don't understand why I cannot have what I ask from you?"

God answered, "I will explain. It is not fair and right for Me to fulfill your demand because I cannot give something that is not your ownself. It is not fair to give someone who is full of love to you if sometimes you are still hostile, or to give you someone generous but sometimes you can be cruel, or someone forgiving; however, you still hide revenge, someone sensitive;however, you are very insensitive...."

He then said to me: "It is better for Me to give you someone who I know could grow to have all qualities you are searching rather than to make you waste your time to find someone who already have the qualities you want. Your spouse would be bone from your bone and flesh from your flesh and you will see yourself in her and both of you will be one. Marriage is like a school. It is a life-long span education. It is where you and your partner make adjustment and aim not merely to please each other,but to be better human beings and to make a solid teamwork. I do not give you a perfect partner, because you are not perfect either. I give you a partner with whom you would grow together"

This is for all: the recently married, the ones who have been married, the soon to get married,and the ones who are still looking.

Jatuh Cinta

nyomot dari http://bosan.or.id/catatan-harian/2005/06/06/jatuh-cinta/#comment-2490

saat mengatakan itu semua ….
dia sama sekali tidak menangis
tapi aku tahu pasti
sebenarnya ia ingin menangis keras-keras ….
tapi ia menahannya sekuat tenaga

saat melihat itu aku berpikir ….
di saat sedih, di saat susah, di saat dia ingin menangis
aku ingin ada di situ untuknya

aku jatuh cinta …..
padanya

[shinbo hiromu, chobits #3]

Wisdom Words

nyomot dari http://www.angelfire.com/md/elanmichaels/MIDI.html

"To receive true spiritual guidance,
one must deal with the past,
have faith in the future,
but live in the present."

Daily Prayer of the Wolf

nyomot dari http://www.angelfire.com/md/elanmichaels/wolfprayer.html

I call to those whoe went before me
for guidance to travel this days path I ask
those who are yet to come what this holds for me
of Wolf and Man is what I seek
I ask for the Wolf to be at one with the Man
and for the Man to walk beside the Wolf
I offer this prayer to the Spirits above
and humbly ask for their divine help to live my life
to the fullest and bring honor to myself and my people.

An Indian Prayer

nyomot dari http://www.gatheringofnations.com/educate/articles/prayer.htm

O' Great Spirit, Whose voice I hear in the winds, And whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me! I am small and weak, I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy myself. Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes. So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

American Indian Version of The 23rd Psalm

Unknown Author
nyomot dari http://www.angelfire.com/oh3/wingwomanowl/

The Great Father above a shepherd Chief is
I am His and with Him I want not.
He throws out to me a rope and the name of the rope is love.
He draws me to where the grass is green and the water is not dangerous.

I eat and lie down and am satisfied.
Sometimes my heart is weak and falls down.
He lifts me up again and draws me into a good road.
His name is WONDERFUL.
Sometime, it may be very soon, it may be a long long time,
He will draw me into a valley.

It is dark there, but I'll be afraid not,
for it is in between those mountains that the Shepherd Spirit will meet me.
The hunger that I have in my heart all through this life will be satisfied.
He gives me a staff to lean upon.
He spreads a table before me with all kinds of foods.

He puts His hand upon mine my head and all the tired is gone.
My cup he fills till it runs over.
What I tell you is true. I lie not.
These roads that are away ahead will stay with me through this life and after.

Afterwards I will go to live in the Big Tepee and sit down with the Shepherd Chief forever.

Don't We All?

Author Unknown
nyomot dari http://www.indianchild.com/inspiring_stories.htm

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times." "I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't.

He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. "That's a very pretty car," he said. He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond beard keep more than his face warm. I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the inner voice. "Do you need any help?" I asked. He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments.

I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me. "Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun.

Don't we all?

I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help.

Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that. You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see. Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that.

Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."

Don't we all?

Maaf..

nyomot dari http://bosan.or.id/catatan-harian/kategori/gemuruh-hati/

kenapa ??
15/11/2005 00:49:49

ada orang nulis minta maaf
yang justru bikin aku tersinggung ..

dia bilang dia punya banyak salah ke aku,
dan minta maaf untuk itu ..
tapi .. kalo bener ngerasa punya banyak salah ..

kenapa mesti nunggu lebaran ??
elu punya banyak kesempatan buat itu
kenapa mesti lewat internet ??
elu tau di mana gua
elu tau nomer kantor gua
dan kalo niat pun gampang dapet nomer hp gua ..

kenapa ?

jujur aja aku gak percaya
kalo dia bener-bener menyadari kesalahan dia
kalo dia bener-bener minta maaf

so i just keep silent,
and not answering the message ..

Hati Yang Indah

Oleh: Tidak Diketahui

Rumah kami langsung berseberangan dengan pintu masuk RS John Hopkins di Baltimore. Kami tinggal dilantai dasar dan menyewakan kamar-kamar lantai atas pada para pasien yang ke klinik itu.

Suatu petang dimusim panas, ketika aku sedang menyiapkan makan malam, ada orang mengetuk pintu. Saat kubuka, yang kutatap ialah seorang pria dengan wajah yang benar buruk sekali rupanya.

"Lho, dia ini juga hampir cuma setinggi anakku yang berusia 8 tahun," pikirku ketika aku mengamati tubuh yang bungkuk dan sudah serba keriput ini. Tapi yang mengerikan ialah wajahnya, begitu miring besar sebelah akibat bengkak, merah dan seperti daging mentah., hiiiihh...!

Tapi suaranya begitu lembut menyenangkan ketika ia berkata, "Selamat malam. Saya ini kemari untuk melihat apakah anda punya kamar hanya buat semalam saja. Saya datang berobat dan tiba dari pantai Timur, dan ternyata tidak ada bis lagi sampai esok pagi."

Ia bilang sudah mencoba mencari kamar sejak tadi siang tanpa hasil, tidak ada seorangpun tampaknya yang punya kamar.

"Aku rasa mungkin karena wajahku... Saya tahu kelihatannya memang mengerikan, tapi dokterku bilang dengan beberapa kali pengobatan lagi..."

Untuk sesaat aku mulai ragu-ragu, tapi kemudian kata-kata selanjutnya menenteramkan dan meyakinkanku: "Oh aku bisa kok tidur dikursi goyang diluar sini, di veranda samping ini. Toh bisku esok pagi-pagi juga sudah berangkat."

Aku katakan kepadanya bahwa kami akan mencarikan ranjang buat dia, untuk beristirahat diveranda. Aku masuk kedalam menyelesaikan makan malam. Setelah rampung, aku mengundang pria tua itu, kalau-kalau ia mau ikut makan.

"Wah, terima kasih, tapi saya sudah bawa cukup banyak makanan." Dan ia menunjukkan sebuah kantung kertas coklat.

Selesai dengan mencuci piring-piring, aku keluar mengobrol dengannya beberapa menit. Tak butuh waktu lama untuk melihat bahwa orang tua ini memiliki sebuah hati yang ter-lampau besar untuk dijejalkan ketubuhnya yang kecil ini.

Dia bercerita ia menangkap ikan untuk menunjang putrinya, kelima anak-anaknya, dan istrinya, yang tanpa daya telah lumpuh selamanya akibat luka ditulang punggung. Ia bercerita itu bukan dengan berkeluh kesah dan mengadu; malah sesungguhnya, setiap kalimat selalu didahului dengan ucapan syukur pada Allah untuk suatu berkat!

Ia berterima kasih bahwa tidak ada rasa sakit yang menyertai penyakitnya, yang rupa-rupanya adalah semacam kanker kulit. Ia bersyukur pada Allah yang memberinya ke-kuatan untuk bisa terus maju dan bertahan.

Saatnya tidur, kami bukakan ranjang-lipat-kain berkemah untuknya dikamar anak-anak. Esoknya waktu aku bangun, seprei dan selimut sudah rapi terlipat dan pria tua itu sudah berada di veranda.

Ia menolak makan pagi, tapi sesaat sebelum ia berangkat naik bis, ia berhenti sebentar, seakan meminta suatu bantuan besar, ia berkata, "Permisi, bolehkah aku datang dan tinggal disini lagi lain kali bila aku harus kembali berobat? Saya sungguh tidak akan merepotkan anda sedikitpun. Saya bisa kok tidur enak dikursi."

Ia berhenti sejenak dan lalu menambahkan, "Anak-anak anda membuatku begitu merasa kerasan seperti di rumah sendiri. Orang dewasa rasanya terganggu oleh rupa buruknya wajahku, tetapi anak-anak tampaknya tidak terganggu."

Aku katakan silahkan datang kembali setiap saat.

Ketika ia datang lagi, Ia tiba pagi-pagi jam tujuh lewat sedikit. Sebagai oleh-oleh, ia bawakan seekor Ikan besar dan satu liter kerang oyster terbesar yang pernah kulihat. Ia bilang, pagi sebelum berangkat, semuanya ia kuliti supaya tetap bagus dan segar.

Aku tahu bis-nya berangkat jam 4.00 pagi, entah jam berapa ia sudah harus bangun untuk mengerjakan semuanya ini bagi kami. Selama tahun-tahun ia datang dan tinggal bersama kami, tidak pernah sekalipun ia datang tanpa membawakan kami ikan atau kerang oyster atau sayur mayur dari kebunnya. Beberapa kali kami terima kiriman lewat pos, selalu lewat kilat khusus, ikan dan oyster terbungkus dalam sebuah kotak penuh daun bayam atau sejenis kol, setiap helai tercuci bersih.

Mengetahui bahwa ia harus berjalan sekitar 5 km untuk mengirimkan semua itu, dan sadar betapa sedikit penghasilannya, kiriman-kiriman dia menjadi makin bernilai...

Ketika aku menerima kiriman oleh-oleh itu, sering aku teringat kepada komentar tetangga kami pada hari ia pulang ketika pertama kali datang.

"Ehhh, kau terima dia bermalam ya, orang yang luar biasa jelek menjijikkan mukanya itu? Tadi malam ia kutolak. Waduhh, celaka dehh.., kita kan bakal kehilangan langganan kalau nerima orang macam gitu!"

Oh ya, memang boleh jadi kita kehilangan satu dua tamu. Tapi seandainya mereka sempat mengenalnya, mungkin penyakit mereka bakal jadi akan lebih mudah untuk dipikul. Aku tahu kami sekeluarga akan selalu bersyukur, sempat dan telah mengenalnya; dari dia kami belajar apa artinya menerima yang buruk tanpa mengeluh, dan yang baik dengan bersyukur kepada Allah.

Baru-baru ini aku mengunjungi seorang teman yang punya rumah kaca. Ketika ia menunjukkan tanaman-tanaman bunganya, kami sampai pada satu tanaman krisan (timum) yang paling cantik dari semuanya, lebat penuh tertutup bunga berwarna kuning emas. Tapi aku jadi heran sekali, melihat ia tertanam dalam sebuah ember tua, sudah penyok berkarat pula.

Dalam hati aku berkata, "Kalau ini tanamanku, pastilah sudah akan kutanam didalam bejana terindah yang kumiliki."

Tapi temanku merubah cara pikirku.

"Ahh, aku sedang kekurangan pot saat itu," ia coba terangkan, "dan tahu ini bakal cantik sekali, aku pikir tidak apalah sementara aku pakai ember loak ini. Toh cuma buat sebentar saja, sampai aku bisa menanamnya ditaman."

Ia pastilah terheran-heran sendiri melihat aku tertawa begitu gembira, tapi aku membayangkan kejadian dan skenario seperti itu disurga.

"Hah, yang ini luar biasa bagusnya," mungkin begitulah kata Allah saat Ia sampai pada jiwa nelayan tua baik itu.

"Ia pastilah tidak akan keberatan memulai dulu didalam badan kecil ini."

Semua ini sudah lama terjadi, dulu - dan kini, didalam taman Allah, betapa tinggi mestinya berdirinya jiwa manis baik ini.

"Bukan yang dilihat manusia yang dilihat Allah; manusia melihat apa yang didepan mata, tetapi Tuhan melihat hati." (1 Samuel 16:7b)

Sahabat-sahabat adalah istimewa sekali. Mereka membuatmu tersenyum dan mendorongmu jadi sukses. Mereka meminjamimu sebuah kuping dan berbagi suatu kata pujian.

Buatlah seseorang tersenyum hari ini.

Ada Kasih di Matamu

Oleh: Brian Cavanaugh
Sumber: The Sower's Seeds

Sore itu adalah sore yang sangat dingin di Virginia bagian utara, berpuluh-puluh tahun yang lalu. Janggut si orang tua dilapisi es musim dingin selagi ia menunggu tumpangan menyeberangi sungai. Penantiannya seakan tak berakhir. Tubuhnya menjadi mati rasa dan kaku akibat angin utara yang dingin.

Samar-samar ia mendengar irama teratur hentakan kaki kuda yang berlari mendekat di atas jalan yang beku itu. Dengan gelisah ia mengawasi beberapa penunggang kuda memutari tikungan. Ia membiarkan kuda yang pertama lewat, tanpa berusaha untuk menarik perhatian. Lalu, satu lagi lewat, dan satu lagi. Akhirnya, penunggang kuda yang terakhir mendekati tempat si orang tua yang duduk seperti patung salju.

Saat yang satu ini mendekat, si orang tua menangkap mata si penunggang, dan berkata, "Pak, maukah anda memberikan tumpangan pada orang tua ini ke seberang? Kelihatannya tak ada jalan untuk berjalan kaki."

Sambil menghentikan kudanya, si penunggang menjawab, "Tentu. Naiklah."

Melihat si orang tua tak mampu mengangkat tubuhnya yang setengah membeku dari atas tanah, si penunggang kuda turun dan menolongnya naik ke atas kuda. Si penunggang membawa si orang tua itu bukan hanya ke seberang sungai, tapi terus ke tempat tujuannya, yang hanya berjarak beberapa kilometer.

Selagi mereka mendekati pondok kecil yang nyaman, rasa ingin tahu si penunggang kuda mendorongnya untuk bertanya, "Pak, saya lihat tadi bapak membiarkan penunggang kuda lain lewat tanpa berusaha meminta tumpangan. Saya ingin tahu kenapa pada malam musim dingin begini bapak mau menunggu dan minta tolong pada penunggang terakhir. Bagaimana kalau saya tadi menolak dan meninggalkan bapak di sana ?"

Si orang tua menurunkan tubuhnya perlahan dari kuda, memandang langsung mata si penunggan kuda, dan menjawab, "Saya sudah lama tinggal di daerah ini. Saya rasa saya cukup kenal dengan orang."

Si orang tua melanjutkan, "Saya memandang mata penunggang yang lain, dan langsung tahu bahwa di situ tidak ada perhatian pada keadaan saya. Pasti percuma saja saya minta tumpangan. Tapi waktu saya melihat ke matamu, kebaikan hati dan rasa kasihmu terlihat jelas. Saya tahu saat itu juga bahwa jiwamu yang lembut akan menyambut kesempatan untuk memberi saya pertolongan pada saat saya membutuhkannya."

Komentar yang menghangatkan hati itu menyentuh si penunggang kuda dengan dalam.

"Saya berterima kasih sekali atas perkataan bapak", ia berkata pada si orang tua. "Mudah-mudahan saya tidak akan sibuk mengurus masalah saya sendiri hingga saya gagal menanggapi kebutuhan orang lain dengan kasih dan kebaikan hati saya."

Seraya berkata demikian, Thomas Jefferson si penunggang kuda itu, memutar kudanya dan melanjutkan perjalanannya menuju ke Gedung Putih.

Persahabatan

Oleh: Tidak Diketahui

Apa yang kita alami demi teman kadang-kadang melelahkan dan menjengkelkan, tetapi itulah yang membuat persahabatan mempunyai nilai yang indah. Persahabatan sering menyuguhkan beberapa cobaan, tetapi persahabatan sejati bisa mengatasi cobaan itu bahkan bertumbuh bersama karenanya.

Persahabatan tidak terjalin secara otomatis tetapi membutuhkan proses yang panjang seperti besi menajamkan besi, demikianlah sahabat menajamkan sahabatnya.

Persahabatan diwarnai dengan berbagai pengalaman suka dan duka, dihibur-disakiti, diperhatikan-dikecewakan,didengar-diabaikan, dibantu-ditolak, namun semua ini tidak pernah sengaja dilakukan dengan tujuan kebencian.

Seorang sahabat tidak akan menyembunyikan kesalahan untuk menghindari perselisihan, justru karena kasihnya ia memberanikan diri menegur apa adanya.

Sahabat tidak pernah membungkus pukulan dengan ciuman, tetapi menyatakan apa yang amat menyakitkan dengan tujuan sahabatnya mau berubah.

Proses dari teman menjadi sahabat membutuhkan usaha pemeliharaan dari kesetiaan, tetapi bukan pada saat kita membutuhkan bantuan barulah kita memiliki motivasi mencari perhatian, pertolongan dan pernyataaan kasih dari orang lain,tetapi justru ia beriinisiatif memberikan dan mewujudkan apa yang dibutuhkan oleh sahabatnya.

Kerinduannya adalah menjadi bagian dari kehidupan sahabatnya, karena tidak ada persahabatan yang diawali dengan sikap egoistis.

Semua orang pasti membutuhkan sahabat sejati, namun tidak semua orang berhasil mendapatkannya. Banyak pula orang yang telah menikmati indahnya persahabatan, namun ada juga yang begitu hancur karena dikhianati sahabatnya.

Beberapa hal seringkali menjadi penghancur persahabatan antara lain:
Masalah bisnis UUD (Ujung-Ujungnya Duit)
Ketidakterbukaan
Kehilangan kepercayaan
Perubahan perasaan antar lawan jenis
Ketidak setiaan.
Tetapi penghancur persahabatan ini telah berhasil dipatahkan oleh sahabat-sahabat yang teruji kesejatian motivasinya.

Renungkan:
Mempunyai satu sahabat sejati lebih berharga dari seribu teman yang mementingkan diri sendiri.

"Dalam masa kejayaan, teman-teman mengenal kita. Dalam kesengsaraan, kita mengenal teman-teman kita." - Anonim -

Ingatlah kapan terakhir kali anda berada dalam kesulitan. Siapa yang berada di samping anda ??
Siapa yang mengasihi anda saat anda merasa tidak dicintai??
Siapa yang ingin bersama anda pada saat tiada satu pun yang dapat anda berikan ??
Merekalah sahabat-sahabat anda.
Hargai dan peliharalah selalu persahabatan anda dengan mereka.

Masihkah kau sahabatku???

Oleh: Budi Mulyana / hijjau / pendakierror

keceriaan melenakan apa yg dijalani bersama
canda tawa membius keinginan yg tak pernah surut
membutakan kesedihan hati yg menjerit
hingga lupa arti sebuah persahabatan

kebersamaan tak mesti selalu beriringan
keceriaan tak harus selalu dinikmati bersama
waktu pun tak selamanya mempersatukan kita
semua berjalan menuju takdirnya

haruskah kecewa dgn apa yg telah terjadi
haruskah marah dgn keadaan yg berubah
haruskan menumpahkan amarah yg egois
haruskah...haruskah...haruskah seperti itu

kawan...

persahabatan tak bisa dibeli dgn rasa egois
persahabatan tak bisa dinilai oleh waktu yg sempit
persahabatan tak akan ternoda oleh kemarahan sesaat
persahabatan tak akan terusik oleh perasaan yg semu

TERNYATA..

Terasa sakit juga ya
Ketika tahu di luar sana
Ada seseorang yang mencintaimu
Namun tidak dapat membalasnya
Ternyata..

Does God Still Speak to People?

by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?"

After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God.. If you will listen. I will do my best to obey."

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.He shook his head an said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply an started on toward home. But again the thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. The young man though about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. "Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started of toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn down that street." This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will". He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in a semicommercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either.

The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people of the houses were already in bed. Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. "Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here." He walked across the street and rant the bell. He could hear so noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?"

Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep.

"What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from done the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying.

The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me. How to get some milk." His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?"

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put it in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers.

Come and Go

by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

Some people come into our lives and quickly go...
Some people become friends and stay a while...
leaving beautiful footprints in our hearts...
and we are never quite the same.

Nothing but the Truth!

by: David Casstevens, Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul

David Casstevens of the Dallas Morning News tells a story about Frank Szymanski, a Notre Dame center in the 1940s, who had been called as a witness in a civil suit at South Bend.

"Are you on the Notre Dame football team this year?" the judge asked.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"What position?"
"Center, Your Honor."
"How good a center?"

Szymanski squirmed in his seat, but said firmly: "Sir, I'm the best center Notre Dame has ever had."

Coach Frank Leahy, who was in the courtroom, was surprised. Szymanski always had been modest and unassuming. So when the proceedings were over, he took Szymanski aside and asked why he had made such a statement. Szymanski blushed.

"I hated to do it, Coach," he said. "But, after all, I was under oath."

Problem Thinker

by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then to loosen up. Inevitably though, one thought led to another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.

I began to think alone - "to relax," I told myself - but I knew it wasn't true. Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was thinking all the time.

I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't stop myself.

I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and Kafka.

I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"

Things weren't going so great at home either. One evening I had turned off the TV and asked my wife about the meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.

I soon had a reputation as a heavy thinker. One day the boss called me in. He said, "Skippy, I like you, and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job." This gave me a lot to think about.

I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..."

"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!"

"But Honey, surely it's not that serious."

"It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver. "You think as much as college professors, and college professors don't make any money, so if you keep on thinking we won't have any money!"

"That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently, and she began to cry. I'd had enough. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I stomped out the door.

I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche, with NPR on the radio. I roared into the parking lot and ran up to the big glass doors... they didn't open. The library was closed.

To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night.

As I sank to the ground clawing at the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked. You probably recognize that line. It comes from the standard Thinker's Anonymous poster.

Which is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker. I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting.

I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed... easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking.

Christian Budha

by: Author Unknown, Zen Stories to Tell Your Neighbors

One of master Gasan's monks visited the university in Tokyo. When he returned, he asked the master if he had ever read the Christian Bible.

"No," Gasan replied, "Please read some of it to me."

The monk opened the Bible to the Sermon on the Mount in St. Matthew, and began reading. After reading Christ's words about the lilies in the field, he paused. Master Gasan was silent for a long time.

"Yes," he finally said, "Whoever uttered these words is an enlightened being. What you have read to me is the essence of everything I have been trying to teach you here!"