Sunday, December 28, 2003
Lateral Thinking
Many years ago, when a person who owed money could be thrown into jail, a
merchant in London had the misfortune to owe a huge sum to a money-lender.
The money-lender, who was old, ugly and wicked, fancied the merchant's
beautiful teenage daughter. He proposed a bargain. He said he would cancel
the merchant's debt if he could have the girl instead.
Both the merchant and hisd aughter were horrified at the proposal. So the
cunning money-lender proposed that they let Providence decide the matter. He
told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty
money-bag and then the girl would have to pick out one of the pebbles. If
she chose the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt
would be cancelled. If she chose the white pebble she would stay with her
father and the debt would still be cancelled. But if she refused to pick out
a pebble,her father would be thrown into jail and she would starve.
Reluctantly, the merchant agreed. They were standing on a pebble-strewn path
in the merchant's garden as they talked and the money-lender stooped down
to pick up the two pebbles. As he picked up the pebbles, the girl,
sharp-eyed with fright, noticed that he picked up two black pebbles and put
them into the money-bag. He then asked the girl to pick out the pebble that
was to decide her fate and that of her father.
Imagine that you are standing on the path in the merchant's garden. What
would you have done if you had been the unfortunate girl? Refuse to take a
pebble? Point out that there are two black pebbles in the bag and expose the
money-lender as a cheat ? Take a black pebble and sacrifice yourself in
order to save your father from prison?
None of the suggestions is very helpful, for if the girl does not take a
pebble her father goes to prison, and if she does take a pebble, then she
has to marry the money-lender.
NOW, THINK LATERALLY!
The girl in the pebble story put her hand into them oney-bag and drew out a
pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall to the path,
where it was immediately lost among all the others.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said, "but never mind - if you look into the
bag you will be able to tell which pebble I took by the Colour of the one
that is left."
Since the remaining pebble is of course black, it must be assumed that she
had taken the white pebble, since the money-lender dare not admit his
dishonesty. In this way, using lateral thinking, the girl changes what seems
an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one!
Many years ago, when a person who owed money could be thrown into jail, a
merchant in London had the misfortune to owe a huge sum to a money-lender.
The money-lender, who was old, ugly and wicked, fancied the merchant's
beautiful teenage daughter. He proposed a bargain. He said he would cancel
the merchant's debt if he could have the girl instead.
Both the merchant and hisd aughter were horrified at the proposal. So the
cunning money-lender proposed that they let Providence decide the matter. He
told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty
money-bag and then the girl would have to pick out one of the pebbles. If
she chose the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt
would be cancelled. If she chose the white pebble she would stay with her
father and the debt would still be cancelled. But if she refused to pick out
a pebble,her father would be thrown into jail and she would starve.
Reluctantly, the merchant agreed. They were standing on a pebble-strewn path
in the merchant's garden as they talked and the money-lender stooped down
to pick up the two pebbles. As he picked up the pebbles, the girl,
sharp-eyed with fright, noticed that he picked up two black pebbles and put
them into the money-bag. He then asked the girl to pick out the pebble that
was to decide her fate and that of her father.
Imagine that you are standing on the path in the merchant's garden. What
would you have done if you had been the unfortunate girl? Refuse to take a
pebble? Point out that there are two black pebbles in the bag and expose the
money-lender as a cheat ? Take a black pebble and sacrifice yourself in
order to save your father from prison?
None of the suggestions is very helpful, for if the girl does not take a
pebble her father goes to prison, and if she does take a pebble, then she
has to marry the money-lender.
NOW, THINK LATERALLY!
The girl in the pebble story put her hand into them oney-bag and drew out a
pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall to the path,
where it was immediately lost among all the others.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said, "but never mind - if you look into the
bag you will be able to tell which pebble I took by the Colour of the one
that is left."
Since the remaining pebble is of course black, it must be assumed that she
had taken the white pebble, since the money-lender dare not admit his
dishonesty. In this way, using lateral thinking, the girl changes what seems
an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one!
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Holding Love
I once had a friend who grew to be very close to me. Once when we were
sitting at the edge of a swimming pool, she filled the palm of her hand with
a little water and held it before me, and said this:
You see this water carefully contained on my hand? It symbolizes Love. As
long as you keep your hand caringly open and allow it to remain there, it
will always be there. However, if you attempt to close your fingers around
it and try to posses it, it will spill through the first cracks it finds.
This is the greatest mistake that people do when they meet love... They try
to posses it, they demand, they expect... and just like the water spilling
out of your hand, Love will retrieve from you.
For love is meant to be free, you can not change its nature.
If you have people you love, allow them to be free beings. Give and don't
expect. Advise, but don't order. Ask, but never demand. It might sound
simple, but it is a lesson that may take a lifetime to truly practice. It is
the secret to true Love. To truly practice it, you must sincerely feel no
expectations from those who you love, and yet an unconditional caring.
I once had a friend who grew to be very close to me. Once when we were
sitting at the edge of a swimming pool, she filled the palm of her hand with
a little water and held it before me, and said this:
You see this water carefully contained on my hand? It symbolizes Love. As
long as you keep your hand caringly open and allow it to remain there, it
will always be there. However, if you attempt to close your fingers around
it and try to posses it, it will spill through the first cracks it finds.
This is the greatest mistake that people do when they meet love... They try
to posses it, they demand, they expect... and just like the water spilling
out of your hand, Love will retrieve from you.
For love is meant to be free, you can not change its nature.
If you have people you love, allow them to be free beings. Give and don't
expect. Advise, but don't order. Ask, but never demand. It might sound
simple, but it is a lesson that may take a lifetime to truly practice. It is
the secret to true Love. To truly practice it, you must sincerely feel no
expectations from those who you love, and yet an unconditional caring.
A Letter From God
As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me,
even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for
something good that happened in your life yesterday. But I noticed you were
too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear.
When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few
minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy.
At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit
in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk
to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip
instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all our activities I guess
you were too busy to say anything to me.
I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to
talk to me,that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four
tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly
before they ate, but you didn't. That's okay. There is still more time left,
and I hope that you will talk to me yet.
You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few
of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not,
just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front
of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited
patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you
didn't talk to me.
Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family
you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may
not realize that I am always there for
you..
I've got patience, more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you
how to be patient with others as well.
I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought, or a
thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.
Well, you are getting up once again. Once again I will wait, with nothing
but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time.
Have a nice day!
Your friend, GOD
As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me,
even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for
something good that happened in your life yesterday. But I noticed you were
too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear.
When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few
minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were too busy.
At one point you had to wait fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit
in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk
to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip
instead. I watched patiently all day long. With all our activities I guess
you were too busy to say anything to me.
I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to
talk to me,that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four
tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly
before they ate, but you didn't. That's okay. There is still more time left,
and I hope that you will talk to me yet.
You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do. After a few
of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not,
just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front
of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited
patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you
didn't talk to me.
Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family
you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may
not realize that I am always there for
you..
I've got patience, more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you
how to be patient with others as well.
I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought, or a
thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.
Well, you are getting up once again. Once again I will wait, with nothing
but love for you. Hoping that today you will give me some time.
Have a nice day!
Your friend, GOD
