Footprints on the sand

Once a devotee was deeply grieved and was praying to God with tears in his
eyes. While he was weeping uncontrollably, he sort of fell into a trance,
and all his past memories came flooding into his mind. He saw that he was
walking along a sandy beach while his past life unfolded before his eyes.
The devotee saw that besides his own, there was another set of footprints
moving along with him.
He called out, "Who is walking along with me?God replied, "It is Me, My child."

ALEXANDER - The Great's Last 3 Wishes

Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way,
he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his
face, Alexander realized how his conquests,his great army, his sharp sword
and all his wealth were of no consequence.

He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last
adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not
permit him to reach his distant homeland.

So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to
breathe his last. He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this
world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without
fail."
With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their
king's last wishes.
1) "My first desire is that", said Alexander,
*"My physicians alone must" carry my coffin."
2) After a pause, he continued,
*"Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the
path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious
stones which I have collected in my treasury".*

A tale of Two Seas

Sitting in the Geography class in school, I remember how fascinated I was
when we were being taught all about the Dead Sea.

As you probably recall, the Dead Sea is really a Lake, not a sea (and as
my Geography teacher pointed out, if you understood that, it would guarantee
4 marks in the term paper!)

Its so high in salt content that the human body can float easily. You can
almost lie down and read a book! The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35%
- almost 10
times the normal ocean water. And all that saltiness has meant that there is
no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No vegetation. No sea animals.
Nothing
lives in the Dead sea.

And hence the name: Dead Sea.

While the Dead Sea has remained etched in my memory, I don't seem to
recall learning about the Sea of Galilee in my school Geography lesson. So
when I heard about the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea and the tale of the
two seas - I was intrigued.

Turns out that the Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. Both the
Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from river Jordan. And
yet, they
are very, very different.

Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with
rich,colorful marine life. There are lots of plants. And lots of fish too.
In fact, the sea of Galilee is home to over twenty different types of
fishes.


Same region, same source of water, and yet while one sea is full of life,
the other is dead. How come?

Bouncing Back Quickly to Win

In 1938, Karoly Takacs of the Hungarian Army, was the top pistol
shooter in the world. He was expected to win the gold in the 1940
Olympic Games scheduled for Tokyo.

Those expectations vanished one terrible day just months before the
Olympics. While training with his army squad, a hand grenade exploded
in Takacs’ right hand, and Takacs’ shooting hand was blown off.

Takacs spent a month in the hospital depressed at both the loss of his
hand, and the end to his Olympic dream. At that point most people
would have quit. And they would have probably spent the rest of their
life feeling sorry for themselves. Most people would have quit but not
Takacs. Takacs was a winner. Winners know that they can’t let
circumstances keep them down. They understand that life is hard and
that they can’t let life beat them down. Winners know in their heart
that quitting is not an option.

Takacs did the unthinkable; he picked himself up, dusted himself off,
and decided to learn how to shoot with his left hand! His reasoning
was simple. He simply asked himself, “Why not?”

Instead of focusing on what he didn’t have – a world class right
shooting hand, he decided to focus on what he did have – incredible
mental toughness, and a healthy left hand that with time, could be
developed to shoot like a champion.

For months Takacs practiced by himself. No one knew what he was doing.
Maybe he didn’t want to subject himself to people who most certainly
would have discouraged him from his rekindled dream.

* IN THE FENCE ** *

There once was a little boy who had a bad  temper.His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.Finally the ! day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

*As Tall as You Want to Be by Denis Waitley*

* *

When he was two years old, this adopted child of two college professors
suddenly and inexplicably stopped growing, and his health started to fail. A
team of doctors gave him six months to live after they diagnosed him as
suffering from a rare disease that inhibits digestion and nutrients in food.
Intravenous feedings of vitamins and supplements allowed him to regain his
strength, but his growth was permanently stunted.



Confined to hospitals for long periods of time, until the age of nine, he
quietly plotted his revenge on the kids who taunted him and called him
“peanut.” He recalled many years later that subconsciously “the whole
experience made me want to succeed at something athletic.” Sometimes his
sister, Susan, went ice skating at the local rink, and he would go along to
watch. There he stood, a frail, undergrown kid, with a feeding tube inserted
through his nose and down into his stomach. When he wasn’t using it, one end
of the tube was taped behind his ear.

Choices in Life!!! *Two Choices

-

*What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line,
there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the
same choice?
**
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning
disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that
would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and
its

Dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is
done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot
understand things as other children do.
**
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
**
 The audience was stilled by the query.
 The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was
mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to
realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other
people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing
baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most
of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father
I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a
much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others
in spite of his handicaps.
 I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if
Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing
by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our
team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'
 Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a
team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart.
The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was
still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right
field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to
be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him
from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on
base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
 At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win
the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but
impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much
less connect with the ball.



However, as Shay stepped up to the

Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning
aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball
in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

What goes around usually comes around :An Amazing true story.

Amazing True Story

This is a true story that had happened in 1892 at Stanford University. It's
moral is still relevant today.

A young, 18 year old student was struggling to pay his fees. He was an
orphan, and not knowing where to turn for money, he came up with a bright
idea. A friend and he decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise
money for their education.
 They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy
J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2,000 for the piano recital. A deal
was struck. And the boys began to work to make the concert a success. The
big day arrived. Paderewski performed at Stanford. But unfortunately, they
had not managed to sell enough tickets.

The total collection was only $1,600. Disappointed, they went to
Paderewski and explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1,600,
plus a cheque for the balance of $400. They promised to honour the cheque
soonest possible."No" said Paderewski. "This is not acceptable" He tore up
the cheque, returned the $1,600 and told the boys "Here's the $1,600.
Please deduct whatever expenses you have incurred. Keep the money you need
for your fees. And just give me whatever is left" The boys were surprised,
and thanked him profusely.

It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a
great human being. Why should he help two people he did not even know? We
all come across situations like these in our lives. And most of us only
think "If I help them, what would happen to me?" The truly great people
think, "If I don't help them, what will happen to them?" They don't do it
expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it's the right
thing to do.

Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a
great leader, but unfortunately when the World War began, Poland was
ravaged. There were over 1.5 million people starving in his country, and no
money to feed them. Paderewski did not know where to turn for help. He
reached out to the US Food and Relief Administration for help.

Courage

An excerpt from
Walk the Talk
by Eric Harvey and Steve Ventura*

*Courage*

QUESTION: What does "courage" have to do with being a person of good
character...with someone who stays true to their principles and their
values?

ANSWER: EVERYTHING!

You see, being values-driven means two things:

Doing what's right - following our conscience; refusing to compromise our
principles, despite pressures and temptations to the contrary, and

Taking a stand against what's wrong - speaking out, whenever we see others
do things that are incorrect or inappropriate.

Courage is...

•

Following your conscience instead of "following the crowd."

•

Refusing to take part in hurtful or disrespectful behaviors.

•

the power of concentration

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=jJrzIdDUfT4&vq=medium

Being Kicked Out of Your Comfort Zone

The birth of a baby giraffe is quite an earth-shaking event. The baby falls
from its mother's womb, some eight feet above the ground. It shrivels up and
lies still, too weak to move.

The mother giraffe lovingly lowers her neck to kiss the baby giraffe. And
then something incredible happens. She lifts her long leg and kicks the baby
giraffe, sending it flying up in the air and tumbling down on the ground.

Before Complaining

A King went out to sea when a great storm arose. One of the slaves
on board began to cry out and wail in fear, for he had never been on a
ship before. His crying was so loud and prolonged that it annoyed
everyone in the ship, and the maharaja wanted him thrown overboard.
But his chief advisor, who was a sage, said, ‘No. Let me deal with the
man. I think I can cure him.’ With that he ordered some of the sailors
to hurl the man into the sea. No sooner was he in the sea than the
poor slave began to scream in terror and thrash out wildly. In a few
seconds the advisor ordered him hauled back in. Now the slave lay
quietly in a corner. When the King asked his advisor for the
reason he replied, ‘We never realize how lucky we are till the
situation gets worse.’

The fern and the bamboo(live the power)

I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality… I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
“God”, I asked,
“Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”.
His answer surprised me…
“Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”
“Yes”, I replied.
“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
“In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit.” He said.
“Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Monica Seles

ON APRIL 30, 1993, WORLD NO. 1 TENNIS STAR MONICA Seles, nineteen, was
stabbed in the shoulder by deranged spectator Gunther Parch. She spent only
two days in the hospital, but the psychological wounds lasted much longer.
She had nightmares, mental anguish, depression—all aggravated when the
German courts found Parch not guilty in October of that year. Her sponsor,
Fila, sued Monica during her convalescence, saying it had lost income due to
her time away from the game.

Brooklyn Bridge: A Story of vision and determination

In 1883, a creative engineer named *John
Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York
with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world
thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the
idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been
done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He
thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be
done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much
discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up
and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts
of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome.
With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge
before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a
tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was
injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in
him not being able to walk or talk or even move.

“We told them so.”

“Crazy men and their crazy dreams.”

“It’s foolish to chase wild visions.”

Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be
scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge
could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged
and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still
as sharp as ever.

He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but
they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital
room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew
the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops
of the trees outside for just a moment.

It seemed that there was a *message for him not to give up*. Suddenly an
idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the
best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication
with his wife.

He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted
her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her
arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was
under way again.

*For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his
wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular
Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one
man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by
circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work,
and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It
stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who
for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the
engineers what to do.*

Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that
overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.

*Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very
small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge
shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realized with determination
and persistence, no matter what the odds are.*

*MORAL OF THE STORY:
Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and
persistence.

The Story of a Wallet

The Story of a Wallet
From 'Dipika'
A publication by Sri Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa

Once an old man was travelling by train on a pilgrimage to Brindavan. At
night, whilst he was asleep, his wallet fell from his pocket. A co-passenger
found it the next morning and enquired as to whom the wallet belonged. The
old man said it was his. A picture of Sri Krishna inside the wallet was
proof that the wallet really belonged to him.

The old man then began to relate the story of the wallet. He soon had a
group of eager listeners around him. Lifting up the purse for all to see,
the old man said: This purse has a long history behind it. My father gave it
to me years ago when I was a mere schoolboy. I kept my little pocket money
in it and also a photograph of my parents.

Years passed. I grew up and began studying at university. Like every youth,
I became conscious of my appearance. I replaced my parents’ photograph with
that of my own and I would look at it often. I had become my own admirer.

Then came marriage. Self-admiration gave way to the consciousness of a
family. Out went my own picture and I replaced it with that of my wife’s.
During the day I would open the wallet many times and gaze at the picture.
All tiredness vanished and I would resume my work with enthusiasm.

Then came the birth of my first child. What a joy I experienced when I
became a father! I would eagerly rush home after work to play with my little
baby. Needless to say, my wife’s picture had already made way for the
child’s.

The old man paused. Wiping his tearful eyes, he looked around and said in a
sad voice: Friends, my parents passed away long ago. My wife too died five
years ago. My son- my only son- is now married. He is too busy with his
career and his family. He has no time for me. I now stand on the brink of
death. I do not know what awaits me in future. Everything I loved,
everything I considered my own, has left me.

A picture of Lord Krishna now occupies the place in my wallet. I know He
will never leave me. I wish now that I had kept HIS picture with me right
from the beginning! He alone is true; all others are just passing shadows.

Sri Sarada Devi, the holy mother, says: Don’t be afraid my child, these
earthly ties are transitory. Today they seem to be the be-all and end-all of
life, and tomorrow they vanish. Your real tie is with God. God is one’s very
own. It is the eternal relationship. He is ever looking after you. Call on
the Lord who pervades the entire universe. He will shower His blessings upon
you

FAITH

I don't know why, but I am reminded of a certain friend, many years ago now, who was concerned about the lack of rainfall in the region and I felt I needed to share this story with you. 


Everything in the country was drying up, from a drought. The water resources were dwindling and even the levels in the wells were out of reach. Cattle and other livestock were thin and crops were withered in the dry dusty heat.What to do? He told me that prayers were to be held at a near by temple and thousands of people were going to assemble there and earnestly pray for rain.

We miss God's blessings!

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had
admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his
father could well afford it,
he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father
had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father
called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to
have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son
a beautiful wrapped gift box.

All you need is a link

An elderly man and a youngster were waiting for the bus. It was a long
wait and both were impatient to reach their destinations. Finally the
bus arrived jampacked. It seemed that there was place for only one
more person to squeeze in. The young man thought to himself, "I am
busy. The old man is hardly likely to have anything important to do.
So I should take the bus first."  At the same time, the old man
thought, "I am old. The youth has the stamina to wait longer. So I
should get in first." They both edged to the front and as the bus
stopped, they began jostling one another. In the middle of their
argument, the bust left and they were left behind.

          In the course of their altercation, the young man said, "Who
do you think I am! I am the son of Mr. Lalchand, the rice merchant. My
car broke down today and my father had already left by then. There is
an auto-rickshaw  strike today. So I was forced to take a bus. It is
indeed my
ill luck that I had to meet someone like you!" As soon as the old
heard these worlds, his scowl faded and in its place emerged a broad
smile. He said, "Then you must be Harish! I am so glad to see you.
What a small world it is! I am Hirachand, your father's uncle. Back in
our village, we are so proud of your father for making it big in
Delhi." The minute Harish heard there words he immediately apologized
to Hirachand. The old man brushed aside the apology graciously.

          When the next bus came, the story was delightfully
different! The Hirachand said, "Get in. You are already late. I will
take the next bus!  Harish replied, "No, uncle. It is hot today. You
must be tired. You take the bus. I will get into the next one!"

          *In the above story, initially the old man and the youth
were mutually hostile. What happened to change the situation?  Nothing
actually happened in terms of a physical event. When they realized
that they were related, both of them experienced a sense of identity,
a feeling of oneness.

The same two people in the same situation underwent a tangible change
in attitude. Each was willing to give up his chance to board the bus
for the sake of the other. Each one felt that the other was "his so-
and-so" and this realization alone was enough to change a hostile
situation to a friendly, loving one! The feeling of oneness lightens
many problems and soothes many a ruffled feather in human relations.*

*          In our lives too, we miss out on joy friendship and love
because we do not give ourselves a chance to feel for others as we
would for ourselves and our families. We forgive ourselves very easily
for our faults or for those of our families, but how critical and
unforgiving we are when
it comes to others' faults! What makes the difference? It is lack of
oneness with others that is born of a narrow vision of life.*

*          To love others, to see them in ourselves and to feel for
their joys and sorrows as we would our own gives a sense of oneness.
It gives us the ability to enjoy the happiness of others and work to
alleviate their suffering. This is the first step towards a life of
true beauty and
fulfillment.*

Soar high, beyond any fear, for it is your nature to fly:

Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons from
Arabia. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he had ever
seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be trained.

Months passed and one day the head falconer informed the king that though
one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the sky, the
other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had arrived.

The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to the
falcon, but no one could make the bird fly. He presented the task to the
member of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the palace
window that the bird had still not moved from its perch. Having tried
everything else, the king thought to himself, "May be I need someone more
familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this problem." So
he cried out to his court, "Go and get a farmer."

In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high above
the palace gardens. He said to his court, "Bring me the doer of this
miracle."

The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the king.
The king asked him, "How did you make the falcon fly?"

Kill the enimity not the enemy

Two countries were at war for the last so many days. Many soldiers had died
in both the armies. The border areas were scenes of death and destruction.
Each night the soldiers would return to their barracks, some wounded, some
disillusioned and some vengeful. Others were dead and never did return.

One such night, a wounded soldier, knocked at a lonesome cottage in the
sinister darkness. An old woman opened the door. Without any questions,
hesitations or semblance of fear she let the young fellow in. He said
brusquely, "I have a bullet in my arm. I need help." She said, "Look son, I
am all alone here. My son too is in the army, but he is not here. I'll do
whatever I can to help you. Sit down by the log fire and make yourself warm.

She brought him some hot tea and a few slices of bread. "Eat," she said
simply.

The young man sipped the tea, looking around uneasily. He wasn't even sure,
if he was in his own territory. Should he ask the old woman? If it was enemy

territory, she would surely find a way to kill him! Poison him perhaps! He
was totally helpless. He had lost a lot of blood.

The best place to be!

The nicest place to be is in someone's thoughts!

The safest place to be is in someone's prayers!

And the best place to be is in God's hands!

~~Marilyn Austin

A fighter called siddharth:a story of a cerebral palsy child!

http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/mar/30spec.htm

Just Stay (a heart touching story)

 
 A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. 

"Your son is here," she said to the old man..
 She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
 The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
 He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
 Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
 "Who was that man?" he asked.
 The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.