Ash Lawrence

Saw this and thought of you.....

How many people do you know that are going through their lives like this?

If you're not happy change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it....

A glass of wine.....

There once lived a great warrior. Though quite old, he still was able to defeat any challenger. His reputation extended far and wide throughout the land and many students gathered to study under him.One day an infamous young warrior arrived at the village. He was determined to be the first man to defeat the great master. Along with his strength, he had an uncanny ability to spot and exploit any weakness in an opponent. He would wait for his opponent to make the first move, thus revealing a weakness, and then would strike with merciless force and lightning speed. No one had ever lasted with him in a match beyond the first move.

Much against the advice of his concerned students, the old master gladly accepted the young warrior’s challenge. As the two squared off for battle, the young warrior began to hurl insults at the old master. He threw dirt and spit in his face. For hours he verbally assaulted him with every curse and insult known to mankind. But the old warrior merely stood there motionless and calm. Finally, the young warrior exhausted himself. Knowing he was defeated, he left feeling shamed.

"An insult is like a glass of wine. It only affects you if you accept it."

 

Build your own house......

 

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favour. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked!

What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realise we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!

A bird in the hand; It's your choice.....

Many years ago there lived a famous oracle who was uncanny in his ability to foretell the future. It seemed that he never made a mistake. Kings, queens, statesmen, generals, constantly consulted him about important future events.

One day two young boys fell to arguing about the oracle, and one said, “I bet I can trick him into making a mistake.”
“This is what I’ll do. I’ll capture a small bird, and holding it in my hand, will go before the oracle and ask him what it is that I hold.  If he says it is a bird, I will say, yes, but is it dead or alive?”
If the oracle says it is dead, I shall open my hand and the bird will fly away.
If he says it is alive, I shall crush the bird so that when I open my hand it will be dead.
Either way he will lose!”

So they went before the oracle, and the boy held forth his hand, saying, “What do I hold?”
The oracle saw a small feather sticking out between the boy’s fingers and replied, “It is a bird.”
The lad asked, “Is it dead or alive?”

The oracle hesitated a moment … a wise gleam came into his eyes, and he replied
“That’s up to you, son. It is in your hands.”