masterwordsmith-unplugged

The past four months have been quite an experience for me. Having faced a variety of challenging situations and meeting even more challenging characters, I have harvested many precious lessons that have taught me so much more than what I have learned in my entire lifetime.

Sometimes in life, we may meet toxic characters; conversely, some may find us toxic! Being alienated by those whom we do not like is not as painful (in fact, to me it is a big relief!!) as being alienated by those with whom we can connect. Now, under the latter circumstance, do we just alienate ourselves like other toxic people who like to ex-communicate those who do not meet their 'standards' or do we struggle within ourselves to continue to love despite unfavorable situations?

For me, I would certainly keep my distance from obnoxious characters lest we ourselves be tainted by their negativism. Being nice to them would be akin to throwing pearls to the swine and a total waste of time for they would not receive it in good faith but would continue to write essays and create tea-time conversations about us!! So, for such "I'm better than you" characters, the best thing to do is to stay away as far as possible! Out of sight, out of mind, out of any potential danger! This is insurance that is good for the soul.

For those whom we may have inadvertently hurt or disappointed, however, I believe we should not just give up; perhaps we should move in tandem with their body language or lack of it and keep a distance if they are keeping theirs...but I believe we should still think of them fondly with no grudges.

From my experience, thinking and caring about others allows a person to learn more about life than thinking and caring about himself or herself alone. Finding an interest in helping others can teach us about how other people live and how difficult life can be in many circumstances. Caring about others opens up your world to new friends and provides a sense of satisfaction in life. More importantly, I believe that we need to teach our children about the value of giving.

I have learnt that teaching our child the value of giving is an important lesson to learn in life. Children who are willing to give a helping hand or think about another person’s situation in life can really make an impact on the world. In business, a caring individual will help others succeed and this can make a great work environment. In the home life, a caring individual will help his or her family to love and be loved. The value of giving can be seen in every aspect of goodness. Ah, if only more in our country can practise this habit of giving instead embarking on fault-finding missions.

Sometimes, when we give, the recipient may not be grateful, worse still, may complain about us but does that matter? I used to get hurt but heck, now I realize that when I give with an open heart and the receiver does not value the gift or my friendship or gesture, if he/she wants to gripe over minor issues, then it is his/her problem. Attitude is very important and as parents, we have to show exemplary behavior and teach our children to give from our hearts.

There are many opportunities for our children to give. They can give their toys away to children without toys or can give money to a child without food. They can volunteer their time helping neighbors take out their trash or carry in their groceries. There are many organizations that provide ways for children to give of their time and assets.

The value of giving can be experienced anywhere you are located: in the home to other family members or in a homeless shelter to people they don’t know. We can sponsor food or stationery and other stuff for orphans. I did this before with my care group in my church and mobilised our kids to perform for the orphans while the adults gave away the freebies. Finding ways to give of oneself offers so many rewards for a child and an adult. In short, parents should support their children in any activity that they decide they want to pursue.

Another very important part of being a parent is ensuring that our children must realize their self-worth and build self confidence. As parents, we need to continually seek ways to show and tell our child how important and valuable he or she is and to guide them into doing what is right, but not at the cost of making your child feel that he or she is always wrong. If you feel like you are continually going after your child to clean his or her room or pick up his or her toys, make sure that you remind your child how much you love him or her and how important he or she is and then emphasize that it is his/her responsibility to take care of his toys. Then, the change will begin...

Children build self confidence when their parents and friends recognize that they are of value. Parents who never miss to attend any of their child’s school activities send a signal to their child that he or she is important. Watching all competitions they play in will give them confidence that they always have a cheering section. Gaining confidence in oneself can be aided by their parent’s constant reminders of love. Almost everyday, I will tell my boys that I love them be it at bed-time, on the phone or just a bear-hug after dinner. To me, those are priceless moments!

Some children have difficulty accepting that they are unique individuals and that it is all right to be different from their siblings and friends. Avoiding comparison of siblings can help to alleviate any thoughts that someone else is better than they are. I made the mistake in the past when I compared my two boys and I have learnt from that mistake, thank goodness! Always recognize the efforts of all children so they know that the part they play in the family is just as important as the other children.

A child who knows that he or she is important will be able to pursue anything he or she put his or her mind to in life. This child will do what’s right for himself or herself and what’s right for others. When children build self confidence, it will follow them throughout their lives and will enrich everything they do.

So, let's continue to give of ourselves to those whom we love and even to those who may not love us that much....As for those who dislike us, we can only keep our distance and pray for them and bear no ill feelings or grudges. No matter how painful it is sometimes, there is value in giving...this much I believe. I should know because my life has been blessed richly by friends and loved ones who gave of their time, love and energy to me...Thanks and may you be greatly blessed as you give...without thinking of receiving...Have a great day!

The CIA had a special mission for a special agent. After an intensive program of selection, there was a shortlist of three top agents – two men and one woman. They were taken to a secret location for the final stage of the selection process.

In the reception room, they faced three locked and windowless rooms. The first agent – a man - was told: “We have to be sure that you will do whatever we tell you to do. Here’s a gun. In that first room, you will find your wife seated, blindfold and handcuffed. Kill her!”

The man looked incredibly shocked and insisted: “There’s no way I could kill my wife”. He was told; “Then you’re not the man for this job. Leave here and never say anything about what you have seen”.

The second man was given the same instructions in relation to the second room. He entered the room and, for a long time, there was silence.

Then he came out, his eyes streaming with tears. “I tried to do it”, he said, “but I just couldn’t”.

“Then you haven’t got what it takes”, he was told. “Go immediately and forget you ever applied for this job”.

There was only the female agent left and she was told that her husband was in the last room. She went in as instructed. At first there was silence.

Then there was a loud bang, then another, then yet another. Next there was loud shouting, fierce screaming and incredible banging.

Finally the woman emerged from the room wiping the sweat from her face. “That damn gun was full of blanks”, she screamed. “I had to kill him with the chair”.

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD , the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent )

Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young fella. Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . . . GOD . . .
Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer)

Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer)

Professor : Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever seen GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD,smelled your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor : Yet you still believe in HIM?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.
Professor : Yes, faith. And that is the problem science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as cold?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No, sir. There isn't..

(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega Heat, white Heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the Lecture Theatre )

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Professor : Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?
Student : You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light . . but if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical premise is flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor : If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going )

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?

(The class broke out into laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? . . .
No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable)

Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir . . . exactly ! The link between MAN & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.


NB: I believe you have enjoyed the conversation . . . and if so .. .you'll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won't you? Forward them to increase their knowledge . . . or FAITH.

That student was Albert Einstein.

A mother, wishing to encourage her son's progress at the piano, bought tickets to a performance by the great Polish pianist Ignace Paderewski. When the evening arrived, they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and eyed the majestic Steinway waiting on the stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to, and the boy slipped away.

At eight o'clock, the lights in the auditorium began to dim, the spotlights came on, and only then did they notice the boy - up on the piano bench, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." His mother gasped in shock and embarassment but, before she could retrieve her son, the master himself appeared on the stage and quickly moved to the keyboard.

He whispered gently to the boy, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the other side and improvised a delightful obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice held the crowd mesmerized with their blended and beautiful music.

In all our lives, we receive helping hands - some we notice, some we don't. Equally we ourselves have countless opportunites to provide helping hands - sometimes we would like our assistance to be noticed, sometimes we don't.

Little of what we all achieve is without learning from others and without support from others and what we receive we should hand out.