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WIT & WISDOM - October 20, 1998 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Human beings have always employed an enormous amount of clever devices for running away from themselves...we can keep ourselves busy, fill our lives with so many diversions, stuff our heads with so much knowledge, involve ourselves with so many people and cover so much ground that we never have time to probe the fearful and wonderful world within. . . . By middle life, most of us are accomplished fugitives from ourselves. - John Gardner [1] ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!" In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or to little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of retreating he sat next to my side And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise, "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I picked it; here, it's for you." The weed before me was dying or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need." But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, He held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind. I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play, Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day. I sat there and wondered how he managed to see A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight. Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see The problem was not with the world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine. And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man. [2] ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Can You Tell A Book By Its Author? French Population................Francis Crowded Downpour! ...........................Wayne Dwops Cloning ..............................Ima Dubble Irish Flooring ......................Lynn O'Leum Handel's Messiah ....................Ollie Luyah Personal House Construction ....Bill Jerome Home Unemployed ............................Anita Job Off to Market ....................Tobias A. Pigg Holmes Does it Again .........Scott Linyard Home Alone IV ........................Eddie Buddyhome Carroll ...................Alison Wonderland Leo Tolstoy ....................Warren Peace Neither Borrower ........................Nora Lender Bee Chef ...................................Sue Flay Tight Situation .......................Leah Tard Why Cars Stop ........................M. T. Tank Wind in the Willows ...........Russell Ingleaves Look Younger ..........................Fay Slift Mountain Climbing ..................Andover Hand It's Springtime! ..................Theresa Green No! ..................................Kurt Reply [3] ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?" The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear", she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence was broken at last by a shaken little voice saying, "The big sissy." [4] ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Following World War II some German students volunteered to help rebuild a cathedral in England, one that had been badly damaged by the Luftwaffe bombings. As the work progressed, they weren't sure how to best restore a large statue of Jesus with has arms outstretched and bearing the familiar inscription, "Come unto Me." They were able to repair all the damage to the statue except for Christ's hands which had been completely destroyed. Should the even attempt to rebuild these? Finally, the workers reached a decision that still stands today. They decided to leave the hands off and changed the inscription to read: "Christ has no hands but ours." [5] ~~~~~~~ CONTRIBUTORS: [1] (Charles Powell via DailyQuote c1997 [2] (Al Treadway, Carolyn R Bittor-Walters, Bunny) [3] (Fast Eddie's Funnies [4] (Merry-Hearts [5] (Daily Encounter |