Compassion

The Wooden Bowl 

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, 
a year from now. 

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. 
The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered 

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and 
failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. 
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. 

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 
'We must do something about father,' said the son. 
'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.' 

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. 
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. 
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. 

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. 
Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. 

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. 

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. 
He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 
'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. 
' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. 

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. 

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. 
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, 
neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. 

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. 

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: 
a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. 

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..' 

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. 

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You need to be able to throw something back sometimes<wbr>. 

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you 
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, 
your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you 

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. 

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. 

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. 

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. 

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. 

The Silent Sermon A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the minister decided to visit him. It was a chilly day. That evening, the minister found the man at home all alone sitting by a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his minister's visit, the man welcomed him, and led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The minister made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, he took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The minister glanced at his watch and chose this time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more, with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the minister reached the door to leave, his host said, with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday". ~Author Unknown~

There is an ancient Chinese parable about an old man who knew he would die soon.
He wanted to know what Heaven and hell were like.
 He visited a wise man in his village to ask "Can you tell me what Heaven and hell are like?"
The wise man led him down a strange path, deep into the countryside.
Finally they came upon a large house with many rooms and went inside.
Inside they found lots of people and many enormous tables with an incredible array of food.
Then the old man noticed a strange thing, the people,
all thin and hungry were holding chopsticks 12 feet long.
They tried to feed themselves, but of course could not get the food to their mouths with such long chopsticks.
The old man then said to the wise man "Now I know what hell looks like,
will you please show me what Heaven looks like?"
The wise man led him down the same path a little further until they came upon another large house similar to the first. They went inside and saw many people well fed and happy, they too had chopsticks 12 feet long.
This puzzled the old man and he asked, "I see all of these people have 12 feet chopsticks too,
yet they are well fed and happy, please explain this to me.
The wise man replied, "in Heaven we feed each other"

 

A devout clergyman sought every opportunity to impress upon the mind of his son the fact that God takes care of all his creatures.

Happening, one day, to see a crane wading in quest of food, the good man pointed out to his son the perfect adaptation of the crane to get his living in that manner. "See," said he, "how his legs are formed for wading! What a long slender bill he has! Observe how nicely he folds his feet when putting them in or drawing them out of the water! He does not cause the slightest ripple. He is thus enabled to approach the fish without giving them any notice of his arrival." . . .

"Yes," replied the boy. "I think I see the goodness of God, at least so far as the crane is concerned. But after all, father, don't you think the arrangement a little tough on the fish?"

Unreflecting people sometimes do mischief without considering its consequences.  Some schoolboys were just coming out of school.  You cannot think what a noise they made.  They seemed to be all talking at once.  Once snatched off another's hat, and ran away with it.  A second jumped over his comrade's back.  Some wrestled; some ran, and almost pushed on down.  They were all in high glee.

They presently came into a field.  Some had bats and balls; some had marbles; and a few came to fly their paper kites.  In one corner of the field there was a pond; and by the side of the pond there was a number of frogs that were basking and amusing themselves.  Poor, harmless frogs!  Why should not a frog be happy as well as a boy?

One inconsiderate boy caught up two or three stones, and began to throw them at the frogs.  When one boy does a naughty thing, others are very apt to do the same.  "I will lay you a penny," said one, "that I can hit that large old one."  "I will hit that little skinny one in the corner," said a second, "which is harder to do than yours."

Esop says, one of the frogs, seeing the cruel mischief that was going to happen, spoke to the boys.  I rather think that it was one good and humane boy that spoke to the rest.  I will tell you, however, what was said.

Stop a minute, I beg of you, and consider what you are going to do.  If you had one of the frogs in your hand, which I would not advise you to take, because I should be afraid you would hurt him, you would feel how his heart beats.  What bright shining eyes he has got!  What a vast way he jumps!  How numble he must be!  God gave him his eyes, and his long legs, and his joints, and his heart, and all his motions.  If you throw a stone at me you might hurt me very much.  But to throw it at a poor little frog!  You might break one of his legs, or two, or dash out his brains.  If you killed him, he could never take his pretty jumps any more, but would liie as still as the stone in your hand.  If you broke his legs, he could not help himself, but would pine a day or two in misery and then die.  Whe you are laughing, always consider whether the same thing that makes you laugh makes some other creature cry or be miserable.  None but a brute of a boy, who deserves to have every bone in his skin broken, would knowingly laugh at another's misery.

These boys were convinced, and all of them agreed that they would never more run the risk of breaking a frog's legs or knocking out one of his eyes.

I am sorry to say that boys are too apt to be cruel.  They will sometimes throw stones at the pretty birds as they hop along in the hedge.  But what I think is worst of all, is taking aways the birds' nests and thus making a mother miserable for the loss of all her young ones.  A bird's nest is her home and all her happiness; what good can it do to you to disturb her?  I hope, my dear Charles, I may depend upon you, that you will never do such things.

Deep in the forest, St. Godric lived alone, his hut hidden in briars.  One day he heard a horn and the baying of hounds on the hunt.  Suddenly, a stag bounded to him, magnificent and trembling.  Godric led the stag into his hut.  Then he came out, shut the door, and sat down.

Soon a frenzy of hounds surrounded him, but Godric was still.  The dogs could not get by him.  When the hunters came they asked, "Where is the stag?"

Slowly Godric opened his eyes.  "God knows where he may be," he said.

This is a holy man, the hunters thought, and a holy man does not lie.  So they gathered their hounds and left.  When the forest was safe again, Godric opened his door, and the stag was free. 

One day the Buddha visited a monastery. While he was there he came across a chamber where a monk lay in great pain caused by a loathsome disease. Although there were many other monks at the monastery, not one of them was concerned about their sick brother. The Buddha, beholding this woeful situation, began to look after the suffering man. He called Ananda and together they bathed the monk, changed his dirty bed and eased his pain.

Then the Buddha admonished the monks of the monastery for their neglect and encouraged them to nurse the sick and care for the suffering. He concluded by saying, "Whosoever serves the sick and suffering, serves me."

Prince Siddhartha saw the wild swans one day, flying white as clouds over the palace.  His cousin took a bow, drew back the string, and let an arrow fly.  One swan fell.

Both boys ran, and the prince came first to the place where the swan lay.  She was still alive.  He took her in his arms and pulled the arrow from her. 

"Give the swan to me," his cousin said.  "She is mine, for my arrow brought her down."

Siddhartha gave the arrow back and said, "Let us seek the counsel of the wise." 

The palace wise men weighed the question carefully.  Then the oldest of them spoke.  " A life does not belong to the one who brings it harm," he said.  And all agreed. 

So the swan remained in Prince Siddhartha's care.  And when her wound was healed, he rejoiced to see her fly again. 

This is a fictional story about Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk, activist, and writer (Deer Park). Some quotes in this story are attributed to him, but whom he said them to in reality is not known or came from the Shambhala Sun in March 2006 (Hanh).

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy… So please smile. Smile with your eyes, not just with your lips. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh (Inspiration)

In 1926, Thich Nhat Hanh, also called Thay by friends and students, was born in Vietnam and begun an extraordinary life with a long journey (Deer Park). Along the way, he met many people and saw much beauty in the world. He became a monk who contributed to and enhanced the lives of many. His religion was not only Buddhism, but also a way of life and the things he said reflected that life and philosophy. Even so, if he had to choose between Buddhism and peace he would choose peace (Wikiquote).

One day, while Thay was walking through the park he saw a blonde-headed little girl sitting on a park bench looking very sad and refusing to play with the other children as she cried large tears of hurt and pain. He felt compassion for this young girl and wanted to understand why she was so sad.

“What saddens you, young lady?”

The little girl looked up to see a man in a yellow robe and sobbed, “You look like a sunflower.”

“Well maybe this flower can bring a little sunshine into your life,” he replied without taking any insult to the girl’s comment, “and help to put an end to your suffering.”

“My mommy said not to talk to strangers.”

“Oh she is very right. You shouldn’t talk to strangers,” he replied. “I’m Thich Nhat Hanh, but my friends call me Thay, which means teacher. I’m from Vietnam.”

“Why do you wear a funny dress?”

“It’s not a dress. It’s a robe, a Buddhist monk robe. May I sit beside you?”

She looked at him for a moment as she studied his peaceful features. “I guess.”

“Thank you. So what’s your name?”

“Lydia.”

“Oh that’s a pretty name.”

“What’s a monk? And what is a Buddhist?”

“Well… What is it you call a religious teacher in America?”

“You’re a preacher?”

“Oh no!” he laughed. “Not a preacher. A teacher. See, Buddhism is a religion, a philosophy, a way of life, but I do not preach it. I live it. I do not believe you should adopt my views either, but maybe I can help you at least to smile. I like smiles because they bring about peace and… sunshine.”

“Why?” she said angrily and pouted, “I don’t want to smile. The other kids, including my big brother who was supposed to take care of me, called me mean names and don’t want me to play with them.”

“Oh, but smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace.”

“I don’t feel like making peace. I hate those kids, especially my brother,” she said with a frown.

“Oh you must not hate. How does that make you feel to hate?”

“I don’t know,” she said forlornly. “Sad. Mad. Besides, what if it’s true that I’m just a stupid, ugly… what else did they say?” she thought for a moment to remember everything they said. “Oh yes. I look like Yoda.”

Thay laughed. “Who or what is this Yoda?”

She laughed. “Haven’t you seen Star Wars? He’s a cool little guy with a bald head, dressed in a gray robe, who goes around saying things like, “And help you I will.” She drew back a bit and squinted to study him. “Sort of like you. Are you Yoda dressed as a sunflower?”

Thay chuckled again. “I am not sure who this Yoda is, but it sounds like I could be and to be honest, he sounds something like a monk, possibly the Buddha.”

“The Buddha?”

“Oh yes. He was a great teacher, who lived many, many, many years ago, but back to your problem. You know I have a saying, which you might not understand, but it goes like this: Do not maintain anger or hatred. Learn to penetrate and transform them when they are still seeds in your consciousness. As soon as they arise, turn your attention to your breath in order to see and understand the nature of your hatred (14 Precepts).”

She looked puzzled. “Penetrate? Transform? Mister, you use big words.”

“I’ll try to make it as simple as I can. Do not stay angry or continue to hate. It will only eat you up inside.”

“Eat me?” she said frightened.

“Hate and anger can be like a monster. It starts out like a seed and grows; only it is not a pretty flower. It is like an ugly weed.”

“Well, sometimes what mommy calls a weed is pretty. At least to me.”

“Yes, but some can choke and strangle other plants. This is not pretty, because they kill the plants you want.”

“Mommy said something like that once when she was telling me why she was pulling the weeds from her garden.”

“Yes and to her those were ugly, because they were, as you say, mean to the other plants.”

“Like those kids over there who don’t want to play with me and call me names.”

“And what did you do? Besides leave them to sit over here.”

“I called them stupid.”

“Ah, that was a mistake, for it does not plant seeds of peace, happiness, and joy. We must not say words that make people angry, just because they make us angry.”

“But they hurt me!” she cried.

“Yes, but maybe showing some compassion to them, instead of declaring war.”

“Calling them names back is not war. That’s what that man mommy calls ‘the Shrub’ does. He makes war with people somewhere over there. What’s it call. Irock?”

He smiled. “Iraq. I assume she means your president, Mr. Bush?”

Lydia nodded.

“She’s right. Mr. Bush, as she says, makes war, but he alone doesn’t do it. No. It takes many people, but one person can start a war. A different war. What you and the other children had was a war of words. You were the victim and they imposed great suffering on you.”

“Huh?”

“Made you sad and mad.”

“Oh.”

“You declared war on them, but lost.”

“What if they are right?”

“Ah, there is where you lost.”

“What?”

“You started to question what they said, thinking they were right.”

“What if they are?”

“Buddhists believe in what we call ‘right thinking, right action, and right speech’. That’s only part of Buddhism, but it applies here.”

“I did something bad?” she started to look sad again.

“Well, in a way. You started to mistreat yourself.” He noticed her confused look. “You started to think what they were saying was true. This was not nice to yourself and in order to spread seeds of kindness and peace; you have to plant them in yourself first.”

“I can’t plant seeds in myself. That’s silly!”

“In a sense yes. I tell you a story. OK?”

“OK. I like stories.”

“It is about sunflowers.”

“Like you?”

No, real sunflowers. In April, we cannot see sunflowers in France (Wikiquote).”

“We can’t see them here either.”

“This is true and we might think they don’t exist (Ibid).”

“They don’t. Not in April.”

“Oh but they do. The local farmers have already planted thousands of seeds, and when they look at the bare hills, they may be able to see the sunflowers already (Ibid).”

“That’s silly! The seeds are in the ground. There isn’t any sunflowers. They’re seeds in the ground.”

“Ah, but they do! They lack only the conditions of the sun, heat, rain, and July. Just because we cannot see them does not mean they do not exist (Ibid).”

“I don’t get it. That’s a story?”

This child would probably try the patience of many an adult, but Thay continue patiently, “If you love yourself then you can love others, even if they call you names, but first you must be compassionate and loving to yourself. This means you cannot think of yourself as stupid or ugly.”

“What about Yoda?”

“Yoda maybe OK,” he smiled. “At least the way you describe him.”

“Mmmm…” she moaned questioningly.

“Well, if he is a monk, then he’s OK. Does he teach love?”

“That wasn’t in the movie, but the force was,” she finally smiled excitedly.

“Not sure what ‘the force’ is, but maybe you can relate to this: When we come into contact with the other person, our thoughts and actions should express our mind of compassion, even if that person says and does things that are not easy to accept. We practice in this way until we see clearly that our love is not contingent upon the other person being lovable (Hanh).”

“You mean, if those kids say mean things, I shouldn’t say mean things back or start believing what they say?”

“Yes, that’s right. You see, love is the capacity to take care, to protect, to nourish. If you are not capable of generating that kind of energy toward yourself- if you are not capable of taking care of yourself, of nourishing yourself, of protecting yourself- it is very difficult to take care of another person. In the Buddhist teaching, it's clear that to love oneself is the foundation of the love of other people. Love is a practice. Love is truly a practice (Hanh).”

“I’m not sure I understand,” she stated with a frown.

“If you can love yourself and not allow their words to get to you, then the seeds for loving yourself will grow and in return, you can love others, no matter what they say to you. In this way, you maybe able to plant seeds of peace in others. Then maybe they will stop calling you names.”

“Love is practice? I don’t have to practice loving my mommy. I just do.”

“That is a start, but when you understand, maybe you can spread more seeds of love and peace.”

“Is this what you are doing now?”

“Yes, the essence of love and compassion is understanding, the ability to recognize the physical, material, and psychological suffering of others, to put ourselves "inside the skin" of the other. We "go inside" their body, feelings, and mental formations, and witness for ourselves their suffering. Shallow observation as an outsider is not enough to see their suffering. We must become one with the subject of our observation. When we are in contact with another's suffering, a feeling of compassion is born in us. Compassion means, literally, “to suffer with (Hanh).”

“I’m lost. You make no sense,” said the young mind as she shook her head.

He nodded. “You are young. Remember when I saw you crying and began to speak to you?”

“Yes.”

“I felt your suffering. I knew you were sad about something and felt sad with you. I wanted to help you smile again. I did not think of myself or of what other people might think. I thought about how sad you looked and hoped to help you feel better. This is compassion and love for another person.”

“Help you I will!” she mocked the fictional character and laughed. “You must be Yoda.”

Thay laughed too.

“You’re not mad that I called you Yoda?”

“No, I’m not. You do not mean it in a hateful manner, there is a difference, and when you say it, you not only smile with your lips, but you also smile with your eyes and show great joy. You bring me great joy now that you are smiling again. You are the sun that makes the sunflower grow.”

Lydia smiled and then she saw her mommy approaching them, jumped off the bench, and ran to her mother.

“Hi, Mommy! I want you to meet my new friend,” she said as she dragged her mother by the hand to where Thay sat.

Her mother looked Thay over as her daughter introduced them.

“Mommy, this is Thick… Um… How do you say your real name again, Thay?”

“Thich Nhat Hanh. Pleased to meet you,” he bowed slightly, “But you can call me Thay too, if you like.”

“He’s a sunflower Buddha monk.”

“Buddhist monk, Lydia, and it’s not nice to call him a sunflower.”

“It’s alright, Mrs?”

“Carolyn is fine.”

“Carolyn,” he repeated.

“Doesn’t he look like Yoda in a yellow robe instead of a gray one?”

“Lydia stop! That’s rude.”

“No, I like how she described the character. He sounds like a very wise character, almost like Buddha,” he replied as he smiled at Lydia.

“Thay taught me how to think, act, and um… Oh yeah, speak right, so I can love others, no matter how mean they are.”

The mother looked at him with confusion and concern.

“She was hurting because of what other children said and did to her, so I hoped to make her smile. She did and this is very important, because it brings peace to her, others, and the world. Because of her smile, she makes life more beautiful (Think Exist).”

“He talks funny, but I like him, Mommy. Can he come to our house for lunch?”

“Well, I don’t know,” she replied a bit uncomfortable, but wanted to return his kindness somehow. “Thich Nhat Hanh? I think I have heard of you.”

“You may have.”

“Can he come for lunch?”

“Maybe we can take him to lunch and you two can tell me all of what you talked about. That is, if you have time, Thay?”

“I would be honoured, as well as grateful to share a meal with you two, and yes, I do have time.”

“Can we go to McDonalds?” Lydia asked with glee.

“No, dear,” said her mother, “I think he might prefer something different, but we’ll think of something. Not sure where though, but we will think of something. Can monks even go out for lunch?” she asked Thay with curiosity.

“I can make a concession because it is your way of…” he paused to find the right words. “Of saying ‘thank you’, I’m sure.”

“Yes, I appreciate that you went out of your way for my daughter when you did not have too,” Carolyn replied.

“It is my duty and was no problem. Teaching young people about compassion is one of the most important things we can do for them, according to the Dalai Lama, and for the future of humanity (Shambhala Sun). I consider it an honour and privilege to teach young people.

“Well, in order to teach another young person such concept, I have to find him first. My son was supposed to watch Lydia,” she stated with a hint of anger in her voice.

“How old is the boy?”

“He’s fourteen and should know better to do what he did.”

“Don’t be too hard on him. Maybe he wants or needs something from you, and thinks this is how to get it, or maybe he wants to fit in with the others. Find out why he did what he did to his sister and then go from there.”

“I know you mean well,” Carolyn stated, “But he knew better.”

“Yes, he probably did,” Thay replied. “We will talk over lunch. OK?”

The mother was not sure what to think, but the three went to find the older child so they could go to lunch.

Quote Sources

“Deer Park Monastery”. The Biography of Thich Nhat Hanh. http://www.deerparkmonastery.org/about_us/ourteacher.html. May 3, 2008.

“Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism”. 2006. http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/resources/14_precepts.html. May 3, 2008.

“Inspiration Peak”. http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?search=Thich+Nhat+Hanh. May 3, 2008.

“The Quotations Page”. http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Thich_Nhat_Hanh. May 3, 2008.

“Shambhala Sun”. Educating the Heart. Melvin McCloud. http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3023&Itemid=247 May 4, 2008.

“Thich Naht Hanh”. Short Quotes on Love and Compassion. http://www.katinkahesselink.net/tibet/Thich-Nhat-Hanh-love-q.html. May 3, 2008.

“Think Exist”, http://en.thinkexist.com/quotation/because_of_your_smile-you_make_life_more/9457.html. May 3, 2008.

“Wikiquote”. 2008. http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nhat_Hanh. May 3, 2008.

In China, there was a prince who showed his kindness by setting doves free.  Once a year, the air was filled with beating wings.  But a tear shone on the cheek of his bride, and the prince asked her why.

"Dearest," she said, "the doves are freed because they are caught, and they are caught for you to set them free.  But in the nets, wings and necks are broken.  Many doves die.

So the prince ruled that doves were never more to be captured in his land.  Every year they came freely, in a splendor of beating wings, to coo in peace upon the palace roof.

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"

So he answered and said, " ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,'and ‘your neighbor as yourself.'"

And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"

And he said, "He who showed mercy on him."

Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

She told me she cried when she read my letter
that my words had landed in her tenderest place.
i told her that the number of tears shed in this world
would fill the great ocean.
her life had become heavy with this inner struggle
to feel understood in a world that cannot be understood,
she had wanted to be an
exception to this world
that knows no exceptions,
so her rivers of tears made their way
to join the ocean. i cannot offer her lasting security
only make available a small life jacket
in this unsettled ocean
and the warmth of an outstretched hand.

One day a wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country so that the son could see how the poor lived. They spent a day and a night at the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip, the father asked his son,

"How was the trip?"

"Very good, Dad!"

"Did you see how poor people can be?"

"Yeah!"

"And what did you learn?"

The son answered,
"I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the house; they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard; they have the whole horizon."

When the little boy was finished, the father was speechless. His son then added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are!"

A young and successful executive was traveling down a
neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.
He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars
and slowed down when he thought he saw something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick
smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes
and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been
thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed
the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you?
Just what the heck  are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going  to cost a lot of money.

Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic.
"Please, mister...please! I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," he pleaded.

"I threw the brick because no one else would stop!"

With tears dripping down his face and off his chin,
the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car.
"It's my brother," he said.
"He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair
and I can't lift him up." Now sobbing, the boy asked
the stunned executive,
"Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair?
He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly
swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped
boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief
and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts.

A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.
"Thank you" the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push
his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their
home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was
very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the
dented side door.

He kept the dent there to remind him of this message
"Don't go through life so fast that someone has to
throw a brick at you to get your attention!"

 

 

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream.

The next day she met another traveler who was hungry,
and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food.

The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune.
He knew the stone was worth enough to give him
security for a lifetime. But, a few days later,
he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is,
but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something
even more precious. Give me what you have within you that
enabled you to give me this stone.

" Sometimes it's not the wealth you have
but what's inside you that others need.