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WITandWISDOM(tm) - July 26, 2004 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: "The development of moral and spiritual values is a painful, continual, and difficult work to be done by kindness, by watchings, by warnings, by precept, and by praise, but above all -- by example." - John Rushkin Submitted by John Bechtel ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: It was a raw, wintry day. The north wind was cold and blustery along the Thames. The city seemed almost deserted. Down one of the cheerless thoroughfares moved a stooped, poorly clad blind man. In his hand he carried a cheap, cherry-colored violin. With his knotty old fingers, now numb with cold, he attempted to play the instrument. Under the windows of the tenements he lingered, hoping some of the people inside would throw him a coin or two. Two well-dressed gentlemen happened along, and one of them greeted the blind man. "This is a bad day, friend." "It is a stormy day," the would-be violinist replied, "and the people will not open their windows." "Why don't you make them open them? Play so that they will have to listen." "I would that I could play that well," the aged man replied. Patting the discouraged musician on the back, one of the gentlemen reached for the violin. "Let me play it," he said. As he moved the bow gently across the strings, there floated out onto the wintry air music that seemed almost heavenly. People raised creaking, frost-covered windows and thrust their heads out to see whence came this wonderful music. Children rushed out of the doors to listen. Coins came tinkling down to the street. The gentleman continued his playing, and more coins were thrown to the pavement. The second gentleman picked them up for the blind man. The blind man asked him, "Who is this playing my old violin? He must be a master." "A master he is, indeed," came back the answer, "He is Paganini." What a change had come over the old violin in the hands of the great master! Cheap instrument that it was, the music was touching, moving, entrancing. You and I may be only ordinary people. We may not look very imposing. Our names may not be in "Who's Who." But oh, what music, what blessing, what uplift may come from our lives, if we yield ourselves to the great Master of the universe. By James Wallace Source: Our Times, Copyright (c) May 1949, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Philosophy of Housecleaning: 1. I don't do windows because... I love birds and don't want one to run into a clean window and get hurt. (I am compassionate.) 2. I don't wax floors because... I am terrified a guest will slip, hurt themselves, I'll feel terrible and they may sue me. (I am careful and poor.) 3. I don't mind the dust bunnies because... they are very good company. I have named some of them, and they agree with everything I say. (I am imaginative.) 4. I don't disturb cobwebs because... I want every creature to have a home of their own and my family loves spiders. (I am kind.) 5. I don't Spring Clean because... I love all the seasons and don't want the others to get jealous. (I am fair-minded.) 6. I don't plant a garden because... I don't want to get in God's way, He is an excellent designer. (I am courteous.) 7. I don't put things away because... my family will never be able to find them again. (I am considerate.) 8. I don't do gourmet meals when I entertain because... I don't want my guests to stress out over what to make when they invite me over to dinner. 9. I don't iron because... I choose to believe them when they say "permanent press". (I am trusting.) 10. I don't stress much on anything because... "A-Type Personalities" die young and I want to stick around and become a wrinkled up crusty old woman!!! Submitted by Orvie Jensen ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A fellow was sitting in the doctor's waiting room, and said to himself every so often, "Boy, I hope I'm sick!" After about the fifth or sixth time, the receptionist couldn't stand it any longer, and asked, "Why in the world would you want to be sick, Mr. Adams?" The man replied, "I'd hate to be well and feel like this." Source: The Funnies, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/andychaps_the-funnies ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Teenage burglars who broke into Leonard Meek's house in Volusia County in Florida noticed a webcam after two minutes, and covered it up. But his friend in Kentucky was watching Leonard’s webcam and saw that they were stealing electronic equipment, and called the police. "I would have called 911, but I'm calling from out of state," the unnamed woman told police. "I'm watching a friend's home from a webcam, and two men just broke into his house. They're in the house right now." Police rushed to the scene, and although the two teenage burglars had fled, they were later caught hiding in nearby bushes. She had given the police a good enough description so that the police could arrest them. Source: Ananova http://www.ananova.com |