A little boy selling magazines for school walked up to a house that people rarely visited. The house was very old and run down and the owner hardly ever came out. When he did come out he would not say hello to neighbors or passers by but simply just glare at them.

The boy knocked on the door and waited, sweating from fear of the old man. The boy’s parents told him to stay away from the house, a lot of the other neighborhood children were told the same from their parents.

As he was ready to walk away, the door slowly opened. ” What do you want?” the old man said. The little boy was very afraid but he had a quota to meet for school with selling the magazines.

“Uh, sir, I uh am selling these magazines and uh I was wondering if you would like to buy one.” The old man just stared at the boy. The boy could see inside the old man’s house and saw that he had dog figurines on the fireplace mantle. “Do you collect dogs?” the little boy asked. “Yes, I have many collectibles in my house, they are my family here, they are all I have.” The boy then felt sorry for the man, as it seemed that he was a very lonely soul. “Well, I do have a magazine here for collectors, it is perfect for you, I also have one about dogs since you like dogs so much.” The old man was ready to close the door on the boy and said, “No boy, I don’t need any magazines of any kind, now goodbye.”

The little boy was sad that he was not going to make his quota with the sale. He was also sad for the old man being so alone in the big house that he owned. The boy went home and then had an idea. He had a little dog figure that he got some years ago from an aunt. The figurine did not mean nearly as much to him since he had a real live dog and a large family. The boy headed back down to the old man’s house with the figurine. He knocked on the door again and this time the old man came right to the door. “Boy, I thought I told you no magazines.”

“No, sir I know that, I wanted to bring you a gift.” The boy handed him the figurine and the old man’s face lit up. “It is a Golden Retriever, I have one at home, this one is for you.” The old man was simply stunned; no one had ever given him such a gift and shown him so much kindness. “Boy, you have a big heart, why are you doing this?” The boy smiled at the man and said, “Because you like dogs.”

From that day on the old man started coming out of the house and acknowledging people. He and the boy became friends; the boy even brought his dog to see the man weekly.

Technorati Tags: Inspirational

They say that once upon a time, there lived a man who wanted to achieve everything he was capable of achieving. He was obsessed with this desire. He ate, slept, and walked with one and only dream: to die, having accomplished every single thing he was able to accomplish. There were so many things he could do. He felt like the whole world could be his, if he only set his mind to it. At times, he was even horrified by the powers hiding in his mind and heart. He was certain-in fact-he knew that his potential had no limits. He knew that he could accumulate power that would dwarf the power of ancient kings; he knew that he could write books that would shake the minds of generations to come; he knew that he could invent things that would forever change the lives of millions of people. He lived, constantly feeling the power within-and that power knew no bounds.

There was only one obstacle: having such a potential, but only one life, he had to make a choice. He had to decide where to apply all of his enormous abilities. Making that decision was extremely hard, for any choice meant cutting off some future achievements. And so in the meantime, he went to school, graduated, found a respectable well-paid job, married, and bred children. And he spent every minute of his spare time trying to decide where he should apply all his might. Even though he was not interested in applying it to his work, his power was impossible to hide. He was successful in everything he touched, and he earned great respect of the people who worked with him. And all the while, he thought to himself: Imagine what I would achieve once I concentrate entirely on the area of my choice.

Time went by, and he grew older. Some roads he used to dream about became closed to him. But there was still so much he could accomplish. And he kept thinking hard while working, raising children, dealing with everyday problems, and knowing that his potential had no limits. And most people who knew him were of the same opinion, for it was impossible not to realize this, being around him for a while.

One day, a sudden chest pain made him come home early. He dragged his feet to the bathroom. There, feeling weak and empty, he looked in the mirror. A worn-out, gray-haired man stared back at him. But his eyes, though red and tired, were still full of unrealized potential. He peered into these eyes and, all of a sudden, realized one simple truth. The next moment, the pain pierced his heart again, and it stopped beating forever.

Everybody cried, even those who knew him only slightly. The pain of this loss was staggering. Not only had he been a good man but they also knew what great potential had died with him. True, he had spent his life trying to make the choice, but imagine what would’ve happened had he made it. After all, he was so close to making it, and he hadn’t been that old. He could not have had this feeling of unlimited potential for nothing. His potential was truly unlimited. The choice was about to be made, and very soon he could have achieved anything. His life could have become a shining monument, which would have forever inspired future generations. What a loss! What a tragedy! They cried and cried and cried. And they didn’t know what he had realized the moment before he died.

The truth that came upon him was rather simple. People only flatter themselves by thinking that they could have achieved this or that if not for such-and-such circumstances. Yet this is nothing but delusion. At any given moment, as long as you’ve been healthy and haven’t been thrown into the midst of war, crime or forces of nature, you always achieve everything you can. You simply lack something that is necessary for achieving that goal you’ve never reached-a talent, a skill, willpower, a set of priorities, or something else. Like it or not, realize it or not, believe it or not, but you simply lack it. You just think you’ve got what it takes, and only these insurmountable difficulties have prevented you from reaching the ultimate heights. But in reality, what you don’t achieve is something you’re not capable of achieving.

Technorati Tags: Inspirational, Life, people

It was a cold winter’s day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car that fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked to the church.

As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you couldn’t see his face.

He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet, with holes all over them, his toes stuck out. I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the Church.

We all enjoy fellowship for a few minutes, and then someone brought up the man who was laying outside. People snickered and gossiped, but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place, and to give us The Word, when the doors to the church opened. In came the homeless man, walking down the aisle with his head down.

People gasped and whispered and made faces. He made his way down the aisle and up onto thepulpit. When he took off his hat and coat my heart sank. There stood our preacher… he was the “homeless man.”

No one said a word… the room was silent and still.

Then the preacher took his Bible and laid it on the stand.

“Folks, I don’t think I have to tell you what I’m preaching about today.” Then he started singing the words to this song…

“If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody that he’s traveling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.”

——–

If you want to please God, send this story to people you know and care about!
It will mean something to them, and a lot to you.

Remember…

Justice – When you get what you deserve.
Mercy – When you don’t get what you deserve.
Grace – When you get what you don’t deserve.

Technorati Tags: Help, Inspirational, Service

The man once grew tired of waiting,
Of sitting back and watching others spinning
Their tales of mist and gold dust,
While slowly, his own heart and mind turned to rust.

“Why do you believe so easily?” he asked his friend.
“Why’re you filled with a fervour to give and lend?
I only wish I could believe too …
That like you I could find so much to say and do.

“But I’ve seen the world outside,
A rough and dangerous place with nowhere to hide.
Filled with dark alleys and shady corners,
A wild and vivid tapestry of grey areas,
Where people turn and kill in the street,
Filled with anger and rage and heat.
If you are gone today, would you even be missed?
And look – where are the miracles we were promised?”

His friend listened to what the man had to say,
Then took his hand and said with laughter both merry and gay,
“Use your heart to see the truth, and not your eyes,
Think carefully before you strip away all outer artifice.
Only then, with the world before you in all its glory,
Can you realize that there is still so much to see.
For how can you say there are no miracles any longer,
When they still exist, in every form and shape and colour?

“Look around you, dear friend, at the beauty of the sky,
Or marvel at the wonder of the wind’s soft sigh.
Now and then, stop to admire the birds in their trees,
Their gracefulness of flight in the gentle breeze.
A miracle lies dormant within every stone and pebble,
How million of years was needed, just to make this bit of rubble.
For maybe then, in this way,
You will understand all I have to say.

“Bend down and scoop a handful of sand from the shore,
Let the golden grains trickle from your fingers to the floor.
Or stand upright and gaze at the crashing blue-green waves,
Foaming madly as the ocean seems to rant and rave.
Look at a candle in the velvet depth of night,
See how the flame flickers and wavers but never disappears outright,
And how each drop of wax trickles down the side before it freezes
Into eternity and for one moment both fantasy and reality are blurred.

“Appreciate the solitude within the quiet green wood,
The feeling of rest in the air both peaceful and good.
Listen to the tinkling of the brook winding its way through,
Sparkling, crystal waters an inviting clear blue.
Look at field after field of pure, swaying gold,
Shining in the sun with a brilliance shy and bold.
Rolling hills, dappled with sunlight yet scattered with shadow,
Cast against a greyish sky hanging cloudy and low.”

“In this way, only then can you understand,
All of the world, so beautiful and grand.
Maybe then you can see that a child’s lost cry,
Is as much of a wonder as the sun’s daily good-bye.
And when you do, well, my friend,
I guess you’ll have finally grasped and reached the end.”
Those were the words that his friend said,
And with it the man saw his last doubts fade.

“I cannot thank you enough for all you’ve done for me,”
He said. “For clearing my eyes and letting me see,
Beyond the darkness and into the light …
I feel as if I’ve just gained a second sight.
If at any time I can ever help you,
Anything you require me to say or do,
And don’t worry if it’s too much to bear,
For no matter what I’ll be there.”

His friend smiled one last time, saying,
“It is enough for me, bringing
The truth to yet another man’s heart.
I need no reward, and now we must part.
For within this world there are many like you,
People whose awakenings should be due.
It is my duty, to spread what I know,
To make people happy, for the seeds of love I sow.”

As the man watched him walk away,
He felt more content than he had any other day.
For he knew that right before his eyes,
There had been a miracle, which wiped away all the lies.

Technorati Tags: Inspirational, Life, Miracles