Vision

Pluck this little flower and take it, delay not! I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust. I may not find a place in thy garland, but honour it with a touch of pain from thy hand and pluck it. I fear lest the day end before I am aware, and the time of offering go by. Though its colour be not deep and its smell be faint, use this flower in thy service and pluck it while there is time. By Rabindranath Tagore

Business executive was deep in debt and could see no way out. Creditors were closing in on him. Suppliers were demanding payment. He sat on the park bench, head in hands, wondering if anything could save his company from bankruptcy. Suddenly an old man appeared before him. "I can see that something is troubling you," he said. After listening to the executive's woes, the old man said, "I believe I can help you." He asked the man his name, wrote out a check, and pushed it into his hand saying, "Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can pay me back at that time." Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had come. The business executive saw in his hand a check for $500,000, signed by John D. Rockefeller, then one of the richest men in the world! "I can erase my money worries in an instant!" he realized. But instead, the executive decided to put the uncashed check in his safe. Just knowing it wa

If the sun by the cloud is hidden a bit, If the welkin shows but gloom, Still hold on yet a while, brave heart, The victory is sure to come. No winter was but summer came behind, Each hollow crests the wave, They push each other in light and shade; Be steady then and brave. The duties of life are sore indeed, And its pleasures fleeting, vain, The goal so shadowy seems and dim, Yet plod on through the dark, brave heart, With all thy might and main. Not a work will be lost, no struggle vain, Though hopes be blighted, powers gone; Of thy loins shall come the heirs to all, Then hold on yet a while, brave soul, No good is e’er undone. Though the good and the wise in life are few, Yet theirs are the reins to lead, The masses know but late the worth; Heed none and gently guide. With thee are those who see afar, With thee is the Lord of might, All blessings pour on thee, great soul, To thee may all come right! By Swami

Once a professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see and asked the student,"How much do you think this glass weights ?" "50 gms!"... "100 gms!"... "125 gms!"... the student answered. "I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "but, my question is: What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?" 'Nothing' ..the students said. 'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked. 'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student. "You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?" "Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!"... ventured another student & all the students laughed. "Very good." "But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?"

A father left 17 camels as an asset for his three sons. When the father passed away, his sons opened up the will. The Will of the father stated that the eldest son should get half of 17 camels while the middle son should be given 1/3rd (one-third). The youngest son should be given 1/9th (one-ninth) of the 17 camels. As it is not possible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, three sons started to fight with each other. Later, the three sons decided to go to a wise man. The wise man listened patiently about the Will. The wise man, after giving this thought, brought one of his own camel and added the same to 17. That increased the total to 18 camels. Now, he started reading the deceased father’s will. Half of 18 = 9. So he gave the eldest son 9 camels 1/3rd of 18 = 6. So he gave the middle son 6 camels 1/9th of 18 = 2. So he gave the youngest son 2 camels. Now add this up : 9 plus 6 plus 2 is 17 and this leaves one camel, which the wise man to

Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the beauteous land. And the little moments, humble though they may be, make the mighty ages of eternity. Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, make our earth an Eden, like the heaven above. So our little errors lead the soul away, from the paths of virtue into sin to stray. Little seeds of mercy sown by youthful hands, grow to bless the nations far in heathen lands. Glory then for ever be to God on high, beautiful and loving, to eternity.  By Julia Carney, 1845. 

Once upon a time, a very strong woodcutter asked for a job with a timber merchant, and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 21 trees. “Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!” Very motivated by the boss’ words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day but he only could bring 17 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he only could bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees. “I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked. “Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy tryin