THE WHEELBARROW

     THE WHEELBARROW 

At the end of a long work day, an employee was leaving his factory, pushing a wheelbarrow through the gate to head home. Inside the wheelbarrow was a small box.

The security guard stopped the man and said, “What have you got in your wheelbarrow?”

“I’ve got a small box,” he said.

“I know you’ve got a small box,” the guard said. “What’s in the box?”

The worker replied, “The sawdust from the floor. At the end of the day, it gets swept up and is thrown away. I needed some, so I put it in the box, and I’m taking it home.”

The guard looked inside the box and sure enough it was filled sawdust. He sent the worker on his way.

The next day, the same thing happened.

The third day, same thing.

And the fourth day.

On the fifth day, the worker again came through with a wheelbarrow and a box of sawdust. This time the security guard said, “It’s you again with your wheelbarrow and your sawdust. I’ve got a feeling that you’re up to something. I think you’re actually stealing something. Look, why don’t you tell me what you’re stealing, and I promise I won’t report you.”

The worker said, “All right. I’m stealing wheelbarrows.”

Our lives are often a bit like that. We’re so focused on a small box of sawdust that we never notice the wheelbarrow carrying it. In other words, we can be so distracted by the little things in life that we miss the bigger picture.

KNOW THY SELF!

             KNOW THY SELF

We are triune beings. We each have a physical, emotional and spiritual aspect to our identity. To be happy, it is important to be healthy in each if these areas. We need to maintain balance in these three areas. To create and maintain balance I suggest we ensure that our needs in each of the three areas are being met. To meet our spiritual needs we can cultivate a relationship with our creator. We can read and study the holy scriptures on a daily basis. We can regularly worship and pray. 

For our physical needs (that's needs not desires) we can keep ourselves in the best possible physical condition for our age and physical dexterity. 

To meet our emotional needs, we ought to get to know ourselves, we should ensure that we are only in healthy relationships. If not healthy, we need to change the relationship or end it. We can maintain a calm, focused and balanced emotional life. When we are feeling down, negative, stressed, anxious, out of sorts, or out of balance, I recommend taking two simple and specific actions. 1) Change your environment! Go outside, go for a walk, go for a drive, go to a different room, etc. when we change our physical environment we change our mental state which results in a change in our feelings both physical and emotional. 

2) Change your thinking process. Keep this simple. Instead of thinking about what you want or need, take a few moments and think of at least 10 things for which you are grateful. Change your point of view or perspective in a situation. Ask yourself,"what can I learn from this?"We can also change our thinking process by asking,"what would _________ do in this situation?" Think of a mentor, or a hero, someone you respect and admire. What would they do?  These two simple actions help restore emotional balance and help us to get to know ourselves better. 

1) Change your environment. 

2) Change your thinking process. 

It is by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass. 

DEFINING MOMENTS

         DEFINING MOMENTS

The caterpillar goes about its business, and lives the life that it knows, the life of the caterpillar. At some point in its life, it begins to build a cocoon around itself. It closes itself off from the outside world for a little while... closes itself off from outside influences and opinions. And while it is inside the darkness, it becomes acquainted with its true self, and out of this true self, without anything being added from the outside, without any special education from the external, comes the butterfly!

We each have within us the potential of greatness! To be someone totally unique with amazing and specific talents. There comes a time in our lives when we must choose. Whether to be what circumstances, opportunities or the lack thereof, and those around us say we should be, or... we can become still, and listen. Seek within ourselves and discover the unequaled person we are meant to be. It's a DEFINING MOMENT in our life!

A GREAT DAY

       A GREAT DAY

I enjoy a great day!  I would imagine that most people enjoy having a great day. The best days I've ever had all have one thing in common. I was totally focused, completely absorbed in what I was doing. I wasn't stressing or worried about tomorrow, I wasn't regretting yesterday, I was in the present day. When we invest ourselves in today, completely, we create the environment and conditions for joy. 

“Look To This Day 

For it is Life, the very Life of Life. In Its brief course lie all the Verities and Realities of your existence; 

The Bliss of Growth;

The Glory of Action;

The Splendor of Beauty;

For Yesterday is but a Dream,

And tomorrow is only a Vision: 

But Today well lived makes every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness, and Every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope. Look well, therefore, to This Day!”

PAIN, A NOT SO GENTLE REMINDER

PAIN, A NOT SO GENTLE REMINDER

I enjoy a clear sun shiny day, it lifts my spirit and invigorates my soul. When I am met with a day that is overcast, dreary, dark and cloudy, I remind myself that the sun is still there. Time does not stand still or stagnate. Time continually moves on, moves forward and in doing so constantly creates conditions for change, growth, progress and joy. I was recently thrown into a situation that reminded me of the importance of these principles. I was awakened early last Sunday morning by the most severe abdominal pain I have ever experienced. For hours I suffered trying everything I knew to relieve the pain but to no avail. Every passing minute seemed to be unending. Time was not my friend! Finally, my sweet wife took me to the hospital emergency room. My wife being an ICU nurse facilitated my getting rather timely attention and assistance. Then began the questions, the examinations, the diagnostic tests of blood work, x-rays, CT scan, ultrasound and physical examinations all the while giving me dose after dose of the strongest pain medications yet relief was not found. During this process the OnCall surgeon was brought in to consult as well. This amazing and gifted man was so gentle and concerned. I knew by reputation that I could trust him.  I've never before experienced a doctor like this. He was truly what one thinks of when you think of a physician. He genuinely expressed concern and would with a gentle touch reassure me that he would not rest until I was okay.  All the activity culminated in an emergency surgical procedure to find the cause of such intractable abdominal pain. With patience, confidence and skill, the gifted and intuitive surgeon finally located the unique and obscure condition within my  abdomen causing the severe pain and intervened with the surgical procedure to correct it. As I have passed through the minutes, hours and now days of recovery I have been in awe of the healing process. Feeling a little better each hour and day I can envision my return to good health. No longer is my vision of health impaired by the storm clouds of severe pain. I know that beyond the clouds restored health is shining brightly. When the disasters strike. When the challenges arrive. When the impossible is dropped right in front if us blocking our path, let's remember that we have not changed. Life has not changed. A temporary situation or conditioned has simply occurred. That same eternal physician who was there with us on the sunny day is still there with us when the clouds arrive. The great physician will help us through whatever spiritual, emotional or physical surgery we need if we will but remember He is there and call upon Him for help, wisdom, relief and peace. 

A CRUISE

                 A CRUISE

 

I recently had the opportunity to go, accompanied by my wife, on a cruise for the first time in my life. I've had a week now since our return to collect my thoughts. 

In the early hours of this morning I was reflecting on one night in particular of the cruise. My wife and I had strolled up to one of the upper decks of the ship. We walked outside and sat together on one of the deck chairs. Holding my sweetheart in my arms, we both sat silently as the sea breeze blew into our faces. I looked at the reflection of the moon on the water and gazed all around me where I could see nothing but ocean as far as my eyes could see. For a moment I felt so small, aware of my nothingness compared to the great Atlantic Ocean. I then recalled the words of the psalmist who wrote,"When I consider thy heavens the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him?"

It was a humbling and almost lonely feeling that crept into my soul. I continued gazing out at that now dark and ominous looking sea. I thought of a stormy and tumultuous sea commanded,"peace, be still." by the Master. I thought of his teachings, the worth of a soul, we are literal spirit children of a Heavenly Father, 'what I have done Ye shall do and more.' I felt such a warmth and peace. I no longer felt so small. I was reminded of the great worth and potential that rests within each of us by virtue of our spiritual DNA.  Regardless of the temporal circumstances of our birth or any earthly obstacles, we are each capable of great things. Let's live like we believe it!

A MOMENT

           A MOMENT

Have you paused at all today, to appreciate the simple things? We frequently hear reference to the importance of being grateful. We are presented with lists filled with examples of the things for which we should be grateful. I have recently been impressed with the importance of pausing and briefly meditating on the things in my life THIS DAY for which I am grateful. The things in our present day and even the present moment. Things like; the sunrise, knowing I have a Heavenly Father, the feeling of clean socks on my feet, a warm shower, fresh clean towel, the smell of a dryer filled with recently dried clothes, smell of freshly baked cookies, a vehicle that starts up immediately, a vehicle with air conditioning, the smile, laughter and hug when greeted by a grandchild, a tiny child napping in your lap, a spouse's smile, a hug, a personable and polite employee at a drive through window, a comfortable chair, the sense of taste, the ability to read, living in a free country, the powerful gift of thinking, and pondering. 

These are but a few of the things in THIS DAY for which I am grateful that I have written down in the moment. 

There are so many more things for which we can be grateful in this very day. There is power in gratitude. There is learning in being grateful, there is peace, and healing. 

Take a moment, pause, ponder, heal.