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Volume 32, #6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 2017 |
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![inspiration, motivation, Apple Seeds, [Apple]](AppleSeeds-1c.jpg)
![inspiration, motivation, Apple Seeds, [Apple]](AppleSeeds-2c.jpg)
Plant these "seeds" well and water often. Enjoy!
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The Critical Thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G.K. Chesterton
"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude."
Patience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donald DeMarco,
The Many Faces of Virtue, p. 35"We are in love with speed. We want ‘fast food,’ ‘instant replay,’ ‘immediate seating’ ‘rapid recoveries,’ and ‘quick fixes.’
We no longer prize patience as a virtue. ‘Why wait?’ people ask, and then do not bother to wait for an answer. People have trouble waiting for the traffic light to change, let alone waiting for their coffee, waiting before they jump to conclusions, or waiting until marriage."
People of Character . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Josephson
"People of character do the right thing not because they think it will change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the world."
Be of Good Cheer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Christophers, #284
"Laughter is a gift – one that you must first accept and cultivate within yourself before you can share it with others.
Once you learn to take yourself less seriously, chances are you’ll become more tolerant of the imperfections in others."
Ascent to the Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Merton
"The whole road is ordinarily traveled in darkness. We receive enlightenment only in proportion as we give ourselves more and more completely to God by humble submissions and love. We do not first see, then act; we act, then see. It is only by the free submission of our judgement in dark faith that we can advance to the light of understanding. And that is why the man who waits to see clearly before he will believe never starts on the journey."
A Life Worthwhile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Albert Einstein
"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
Tragedy of Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red Auerbach, f
ormer coach, Boston Celtics"To me, the tragedy of sports is that so many kids who are born with great natural talent, great natural ability, never come close to realizing their full potential, either because of poor coaching or their inability to absorb good coaching, or, more often, their unwillingness to pay the price. All this wonderful promise goes by the boards."
A Significant Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Richard D. Dobbins
"Many people confuse the concepts of success and significance. They are distinctly different concepts. If you want to build a successful life, you to make it to the top of the ladder in your field. To build a significant life you have to discover meaning and purpose along the way. It is far easier to become successful in life than it is to lead a significant life. Many successful people lack meaning and significance in their lives."
Tears Sow Hope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pope Francis
Pope Francis in his Wednesday Audience of 1/5/2017, "teaches us also how much delicacy is required in face of others’ sorrow. To speak of hope to one who is desperate requires sharing his despair, to dry a tear from the face of one who is suffering requires uniting our sorrow to his. Only thus will our words be really capable of giving some hope. And if I cannot say such words – weeping, sorrowing, then silence is better – a caress, a gesture and no words.…Many times in our life tears sow hope; they are seeds of hope."
Dreamers of the Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T.E. Lawrence
Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds
Wake in the day to find that it was vanity;
But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men,
For they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible."
On Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles M. Schwab
"The best place to succeed is where you are with what you have."
Greet This Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Og Mandino,
The Greatest Salesman in the World
Scroll 2: "‘I will greet this day with love in my heart.’
And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and I will be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness for it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.
And how will I confront each whom I meet? In only one way. In silence and to myself I will address him and say I love you. Though spoken in silence these words will shine in my eyes, unwrinkle my brow, bring a smile to my lips and echo in my voice; and his heart will be opened."
A Winner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larry Bird
"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills and uses these skills to accomplish his goals."
Six Essentials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous
"Six essentials for success: sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom and charity."
On Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Arthur Ward
it is more than a feeling –
it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing."
To Be Acceptable to God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous
The novice asked, "What good work shall I do to be acceptable to God?"
"How should I know?" said the abbot. "The Bible says that Abraham practiced hospitality and God was with him. Elijah loved to pray and God was with him. David ruled a kingdom and God was with him too."
"Well, is there some way," inquired the novice, "I can find my own allotted work?"
"Yes," replied the abbot, "search for the deepest inclination of your heart, one filled with passion and purpose, and follow it."
Never was Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Goodier,
LifeSupportSystem.comIn his later years, John Quincy Adams once remarked, "I inhabit a weak, frail, decayed tenement battered by the winds and broken in on by the storms of life, and, from all I can learn, the landlord does not intend to do any repairs."
Though he may have held out no hope that he would not die, Adams approached his own death with acceptance and a remarkable lack of concern.
When the elderly statesman fast approached his 80th birthday, he succinctly related his philosophy of death. The occasion happened as he hobbled down the street in Boston, leaning heavily on a cane, when a friend suddenly approached him and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Well, how’s John Quincy Adams this morning?" the friend inquired.
The old man turned slowly, smiled and replied, "Fine, sir, just fine! But this old tenement that John Quincy lives in is not so good. The underpinning is about to fall away. The thatch is all gone from the roof, and the windows are so dim John Quincy can hardly see out anymore. As a matter of fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if before the winter’s over he had to move out. But as for John Quincy Adams, he never was better…never was better!"
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