Thought for today:
"If we did all the things we are capable of doing we would truly astound ourselves. We would then know that we are truly a marvel of the Almighty's creation; a unique individual whose personal offerings to the world can rival the works of Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Beethoven and all the other greats we can think of.
We may not be able to write as eloquently as Shakespeare, but we can right the wrongs that come our way. We may not have the artistic skills of Michaelangelo to make the Mona Lisa smile so gracefully, but our endevours to paint the living room of our elderly neighbour who cannot afford to pay a professional will light up her face like no other before her. As for the skills required to pen music and create one's own symphonies, far far better I say to conduct oneself as a respectful lady and gentleman among the people you daily meet!
If only we could free ourselves from the constraints of our neighbour's baseness and the more uncertain and skeptical sections of society? if only we could follow our own desires without a communal conscience that is stirred by fear; only then could we find our true selves and become the truly good person we were meant to be.
When we find ourselves unwrapped from all materialism, lacking all desire for power and prestige and unstirred by the flatery and admiration of others, only then shall we freely offer peace to the war-torn, bid welcome to the refugee, hand out soup to the hungry, give a roof to the homeless, clothe the threadbare, employ the idle, heal the ill and provide hope to the despairing. For whenever we do these things for our neighbour, we do them also for our own long-term benefit. Whenever we do all we can possibly do, only then can we truly know that we have done all that can be done!
I once recall the words of a person in church who was asking the congregation for a financial contribution towards some worthy cause. He then posed the question, 'But how much do I give, you may ask?' His answer was, ' Whatever amount you take from your purse represents the extent of your generosity and the true token of your compassion, but I tell you that only when it starts to hurt can you know that it is enough.' " William Forde: December 11th, 2014.
"If we did all the things we are capable of doing we would truly astound ourselves. We would then know that we are truly a marvel of the Almighty's creation; a unique individual whose personal offerings to the world can rival the works of Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Beethoven and all the other greats we can think of.
We may not be able to write as eloquently as Shakespeare, but we can right the wrongs that come our way. We may not have the artistic skills of Michaelangelo to make the Mona Lisa smile so gracefully, but our endevours to paint the living room of our elderly neighbour who cannot afford to pay a professional will light up her face like no other before her. As for the skills required to pen music and create one's own symphonies, far far better I say to conduct oneself as a respectful lady and gentleman among the people you daily meet!
If only we could free ourselves from the constraints of our neighbour's baseness and the more uncertain and skeptical sections of society? if only we could follow our own desires without a communal conscience that is stirred by fear; only then could we find our true selves and become the truly good person we were meant to be.
When we find ourselves unwrapped from all materialism, lacking all desire for power and prestige and unstirred by the flatery and admiration of others, only then shall we freely offer peace to the war-torn, bid welcome to the refugee, hand out soup to the hungry, give a roof to the homeless, clothe the threadbare, employ the idle, heal the ill and provide hope to the despairing. For whenever we do these things for our neighbour, we do them also for our own long-term benefit. Whenever we do all we can possibly do, only then can we truly know that we have done all that can be done!
I once recall the words of a person in church who was asking the congregation for a financial contribution towards some worthy cause. He then posed the question, 'But how much do I give, you may ask?' His answer was, ' Whatever amount you take from your purse represents the extent of your generosity and the true token of your compassion, but I tell you that only when it starts to hurt can you know that it is enough.' " William Forde: December 11th, 2014.
