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Volume 27, # 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 2011 |
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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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On Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abigail Adams
"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence."
A Teacher Awakens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Patricia Neal
"A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations."
Dream Great Dreams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert K. Greenleaf
"Not much happens without a dream. Behind every great achievement is a dreamer of great dreams. Much more than a dreamer is required to bring it to reality; but the dream must be there first."
Greatest Rewards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arlene Blum
"The greatest rewards come only from the greatest commitment."
Docility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donald De Marco, The Faces of Virtue, p. 19
"Docility, according to Saint Thomas Aquinas, is related to the virtue of prudence. Specifically, it is that part of prudence that allows us to acquire knowledge through the teachings of another. The Angelic Doctor points out that even the most learned people need to be docile, since no man is completely self-sufficient in matters of prudence. We all stand in great need of being taught by others."
Francis, Go, Repair My House . . . . . . . . . . . . Bishop Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of Assisi
In his "Pastoral Letter in the Eighth Centenary of the Words of the Crucifix of San Damiano to St. Francis," Bishop Sorrentino writes: Francis, go, repair my house which, as you see, is falling into ruin.
"It seems to me…in the spiritual turmoil that the young Francis was going through, those words of calling and of mission were perceived by him first of all as an invitation to bring to fulfillment the conversion just begun, taking upon himself the anxiety and the plans of Christ for his church. The first benefit he receives from the Crucifix is, in fact, that of being ‘changed.’ Celano talks about an ‘ineffable transformation.’
"In short, even before calling to ‘repair’ churches or persons, the meeting with the Crucifix of San Damiano is the special grace through which Francis himself is ‘restored’ in a profound intimacy with the Crucifix that will not stop growing and will find its seal in the stigmata of La Verna.…But, the first issue is his own change; the first thing is penance in the biblical sense of metanoia: the full conversion to Christ and to His Gospel."
3 Daily Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Twain
"Three daily reminders: Have courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Have the courage to do the right thing because it is right."
Make a Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jane Goodall
"Every individual makes a difference. We cannot live through a single day without making an impact on the world around us. And we all have free choice – what sort of difference do we want to make? Do we want to make the world around us a better place? Or not?"
Successful Managing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Casey Stengel, former manager, New York Yankees
"The secret of successful managing is to keep the five guys who hate you away from the four guys who haven’t made up their minds."
Keep a Journal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Rohn
"Be a collector of good ideas. Keep a journal. If you hear a good idea, capture it, write it down. Don’t trust your memory."
Keep Still . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Springs in the Valley, p. 25
"Time works wonders! Wait till you speak calmly and then perhaps you will not need to speak. Silence is the most powerful thing conceivable, sometimes. It is strength in its grandeur; it is like a regiment ordered to stand still in the mad fury of battle.…Nothing is lost by learning to keep still."
Born to Soar! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR
"You were born to soar on eagles’ wings. Reach–Stretch–Soar! When you have a burning desire, a significant passion in life, you will be amazed at how high you can soar."
Pray for… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Goodier
Don’t pray for fewer problems; pray for more skills. Don’t ask for smaller challenges; ask for greater wisdom. Don’t look for an easy way out; look for the best possible outcome. When life gives you a kick, let it kick you forward."
Look at the Bees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Francis de Sales
"Look at the bees. They suck bitter juice from thyme and by their nature convert it into honey. Devout souls find many hardships, it is true, but in accepting them, they convert bitterness into sweetness."
God’s Game Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard A. Hasler, p. 12
"Agony: The Greek word translated ‘race’ is agon from which we get our word agony. It signifies a wrestling match or race where endurance and determination must overcome the aching to quit. In a race…there are moments toward the end when the body cries to let up. Pain starts in the calf and works up through the hamstrings to the gluteus maximus. At times it is so intense it feels like a burning fire. Agony is the best way to describe it…It would be so easy to let up…but the champion heart fights through, waiting for that opportunistic moment…that allows an explosive surge."
If Your Actions… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Quincy Adams
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
Life’s Pilgrimage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ernest Kurtz, The Spirituality of Imperfection, p. 133
"[A] journey becomes a pilgrimage as we discover, day by day, that the distance traveled is less important than the experience gained."
Competence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kouses & Posner, The Leadership Challenge, p. 19
"Competence:…To enlist in another’s cause, we must believe that that person knows what she or he is doing. We must see the person as capable and effective. If we doubt the leader’s abilities, we are unlikely to enlist.… Expertise in leadership skills themselves is another dimension of competence. The abilities to challenge, inspire, enable, model, and encourage…must be demonstrated if leaders are to seen as capable."
2 Brands of Discontent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B.C. Forbes
"There are two brands of discontent: the brand that merely fosters greed and snarling and back-biting, and the brand that inspires greater and greater effort to reach the desired goal. Which is your brand?"
Eyes and Eyelids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. Anthony De Mello, SJ, More One Minute Nonsense
When one of the disciples was guilty of a serious error in judgment everyone expected the Master to give him a harsh punishment.
When nothing was done for an entire month someone remonstrated with the Master: "We cannot ignore what has happened. After all, God has given us eyes."
"Yes," replied the Master, "and eyelids!"
3 Frogs on a Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous, Leadership, July 2, 1996, p.12
Three frogs sat on a log and two decided to jump off. How many frogs were left on the log?
One?
Although most people answer "one," the correct answer is "three." Just because the frogs decided to jump off the log does not necessarily mean that they actually did jump.
Is there a gap between what you decide to do and what you actually do?
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