Point to Ponder: “For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?” – guess who said this?
Ode to Reason- as the year ends
“Man!
Why do you hate,
When there is love?
Why do you hate,
Your own fellow man?
Each one of us, born to die,
In so little time, on this, our planet earth,
So why hate and why not love,
All things that live and breathe,
Including your fellow man
There is so little time.” Erza Mir
Reflection:
I cannot but hate the prospect of slavery’s expansion. I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself. I hate it because it deprives our republican example of its just influence in the world-enables the enemies of the free institutions, with plausibility, to taunt us as hypocrites-causes the real life friends of freedom to doubt sincerity- What Abraham Lincoln said about Slavery applies as well to Hate and Prejudice.
It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honored by the humiliation of fellow beings- Mahatma Gandhi, The story of my experiments with Truth.
No one is born hating another person because of color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.–Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
All of your life, you will be faced with a choice. You can choose love or hate…I choose love. - Johnny Cash
To all our wonderful readers: Wish you a Very Merry Christmas and/or Enjoyable Holidays.
Point to Ponder: “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without also helping himself.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Story Line: by Rajiv Shah
My mind keeps returning to the film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The film’s message has stayed with me as it has with so many viewers. The message I took away was this: the truth of one’s own life isn’t in the taking, in the acquisition of more and more things, but of the giving of oneself to others. And that giving will impact those around you.
The central character, George Bailey, is not acting like his usual self in the beginning of the film. The townspeople pray to God for George. God responds by sending an angel to show Bailey the positive impact his life has made on his community.
Without going into a full-blown synopsis of the movie, I want to pose a few thoughts: Firstly, Bailey had always wanted to travel the world, and to leave the town that he was so integral to. Secondly, Bailey regretted the things he didn’t do but never saw the positive influence he had in those around him. Why is it that the “what ifs” seem to occupy us more than the “what is?”
Finally, the angel showed George the purpose of his life and the good that was in his life all along.
Reflection: The secret Bailey discovered was that you get what you give. If he had never given of himself to the community, the community would have suffered and George would have never affected the lives of so many people. The material things Bailey didn’t acquire were replaced by the wishes, love, and thoughts of those he impacted in Bedford Falls. As Bailey says at the end of the film, “No man can be poor as long as he has friends.”
This reflection was originally published in December 2010 and then again in December 2014.It has been one of the favorites of the readers.
Point to Ponder: To err is human, to forgive Divine. But then someone said: To err is human, isn’t that Divine?
Reflection: George Bush Sr. was not the only President who had a Vice President who used to goof.......
Vice President Dan Quayle (1988-1992) in his various speeches:
One word probably sums up the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is ‘to be prepared’.
I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy but that could change.
El Salvador is a democracy so it’s not surprising that there are many voices to be heard hear. Yet in my conversations with Salvadorans…I have heard a single voice.
We expect them (Salvadorian Officials) to work toward the elimination of human rights.
If we do not succeed, then we run the risk of failure.
Hawaii has always been a very pivotal role in the Pacific. It is in the Pacific. It is a part of the United States that is an island that is right here. –in his visit to Hawaii in September 1989
What a terrible thing to have lost one’s mind, or not to have one at all.
Ronald Reagan had one too.
Source: San Jose Mercury News or Parade Magazine in 1980s. I have Saved it in my collectibles since then.
Story Line: Last week’s Friday Reflection titled No Man is a Failure who has Friends had an error in the spelling of the word Failure in the title. It was spelled Faillure. Thanks to Sharon for letting me know and My apology for the mistake. Trying to make the change in the title would have changed the link to the article that was sent out worldwide. So a footnote was placed in the article explaining the situation. My 92 years old mom witnessing my face tried to soothe my pain by reminding me of some stories I had told her a few decades ago. Thinking of those made me laugh and I am sharing some of those with the readers.
Point to Ponder: “I know people differentiate between “real friends,” and “Facebook friends,” but I don’t. If you are my friend here, it is because you have been part of my amazing adventure. Your love and support, whether I ask for it openly, or not, have helped me celebrate and mourn. Here’s to another safe trip around the sun! Sending love!” – Excerpt from a note from Sharon Johnston to Friends on her birthday.
Story Line: In July 1997, I attended the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People class in the work environment where some people took pride in: Five Habits of “Constructive Confrontative” People. Sharon had seen the great need for this type of training. She was a co-sponsor and also one of the teachers. During those five days, I recognized that we had many similar ideas and values. We have been friends since.
Reflection: I believe in similar views about Friendships as Sharon had expressed in her note on her birthday. I am happy to share significant milestones in my life’s journey with someone I call “A Friend” and I am equally delighted to see or hear about the events and things that are happening in their lives.
There are so many friends from my last place of work who were single when I met them. I got an honor to witness the next phases of their lives; them getting married and then becoming parents. During this year it was so nice to see their little kids, whom I saw in cradle, wearing graduation gowns and then flying off to colleges; while some others are busy preparing for admissions for the next cycle.
With the power of social networks, my good fortune reconnected me with the childhood friends. Many are grandparents now but became a child again while describing their encounters with grandchildren; just like we used to have with one another when we were kids. A friend I had not seen since 10th grade visited our home. Also I found two school friends to whom my apologies were long overdue. In one case, I convinced him to help carry some plant from a neighbor’s nursery that was leaning in our side of the fence; justification being that the seeds came from our side. When we got caught, he got in much bigger trouble because he was older. And he was just helping. In the other case, a school cricket teammate was bowling(pitching) against the star player from the defending champion team. The star player got fooled by the clever pitch and the ball came flying in my direction. I was not paying attention and dropped the ball. Had I caught it, the course of the game could have changed and resulted in the headlines for the bowler’s mastery. My apologies were accepted with kindness and grace with only a mild laughter and no sermons.
A Young Man out of college that we had hired in our team about 20 years ago and now running his own successful business asked if I would be The Best Man for his wedding. I was touched and felt honored. The Scottish Wedding in Edinburg was a beautiful experience.
The five days reunion with my old teammates(friends) in Oregon was nostalgic and created many more memories. Many friends from university days, my work places since 1975 and once we met during our travels stopped by or kept in contact through modern communication channels.
And the Humble Warrior who hit our car (and was honest to tell us) three years ago has become a close family friend, big supporter of our family ventures/adventures and continues to provide regular feedback and encouragement for Friday Reflections.
Thanks to All of You, Dear Friends, for travelling with me in this journey, sharing your stories and photos, listening to and reading my stories, forgiving my mistakes, and showering your unconditional love. It’s A Wonderful Life, which coincidently is the topic for the next reflection. With Love and Warm Wishes.
Note: Thanks to Sharon for pointing out an error in the spelling of Failure in the Title of the reflection. Changing it now will disable all the links to the article that is sent out to thousands of readers. So for now, please accept my sincere apology for missing this.
