Belief vs. Trust - by Gan Chennai

Belief vs. Trust

by Gan Chennai

Belief is Doubtful, Trust is Certain

Belief is from Mind, Trust is from Heart

Belief is lip service; Trust is heart felt

Believe many; Trust only a Few

Believing is Easy, Trusting is Hard

Belief scores 50%, Trust scores 100%

Belief is Ordinary; Trust is Extra-ordinary

Belief is start point; Trust is end point

Belief is limited; Trust is infinite

Belief is shaking hands, Trust is embracing

Belief keeps control; Trust gives up control

Belief is jumping opportunities; Trust is staying

Belief is not time tested; Trust passes tough times

Belief is Partial; Trust is Complete

Believe in Thoughts; Trust your Intuition

Belief in God is attempting; Trust in God is surrender

Belief is Important; Trust is Essential

The Road Less Traveled - by Kit McCallum

How often we must bear the challenges of life;

The endless roller coaster between happiness and sorrow;

The constant ups and downs of daily strife.

And always the question remains .... why?

Life is not an easy road for most;

It twists and turns with many forks in the road,

Although always, and inevitably, we are given a choice ...

Do we turn to the right ... or the left?

Do we take the high road ... or the low road?

Do we take the easy path ... or the difficult one?

Decisions are not easy for those struggling for direction ...

And sometimes the many choices and signs become overwhelming.

While standing at a crossroads in life,

The urge is to take the most comfortable path;

The road with least resistance ...

The shortest or most traveled route.

And yet, if we've been down that comfortable road before;

Have gleaned its lessons in life, and learned from our experiences;

Do we yet again follow the known?

Or does our destiny lie in another direction?

The fear of the road less traveled is tangible and all too real;

It manifests itself in many ways,

And tends to cloud the issues that might otherwise be clear.

It is in these times of confusion,

That we must seek peace and solitude;

Time to contemplate on our life,

Our experiences and our choices past;

Time to look back, and reflect on what we have learned

Without fear or confusion.

For only each of us knows our own personal thoughts;

Our unique past and personal history;

The experiences that brought us to the crossroads we now face.

We can always learn a small degree from others experiences,

And yet ... no one person can walk in our shoes,

Others know not, the trials and tribulations faced in private ...

For each is individual ... unique ... and personal.

And that is why ... while standing at a crossroads,

Only "we" can formulate the decision for ourselves;

The true direction that lies within;

The choices we must deliberate on with clarity and wisdom.

For it is only through personal reflection,

That we can now choose our destiny;

... Our next adventure;

... And the future we will embrace.

Change in My Life - Leap of Faith

Standing cold and scared on top of blue hill,

There came one moment, when I lost my will.

I prayed for mercy, please lord take me away.

Oh give me sunshine where I only see grey.

My past had a hold on me, it can't be denied,

And the changes don't come easily.

I've been lonely, I've been cheated, I've been misunderstood

I've been washed up, I've been put down,

And told I'm no good

But with you I belong, cause you help me be strong,

There's a change in my life, since you came along.

Now I don't mind working so hard every day.

And I don't pay no mind to what people say.

'Cause after all the pain I've been through

Lord knows I'd give up everything just to love only you

All my life I'd held my head bent in shame,

But now I've found you, and with you

I'll remain.

A man gets crazy when his life is all wrong,

And a heart gets weary when it doesn't belong.

When the road gets rocky Lord

You've got to keep on.

Let the new light come shining on through.

I've been lonely, I've been cheated, I've been misunderstood

I've been washed up, I've been put down,
And told I'm no good
But with you I belong, cause you help me be strong,
There's a change in my life, since you came along.

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee - Author Unknown

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

For more Spiritual Stories, click here: http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com/

How Much Do You Make an Hour?

How Much Do You Make an Hour?

- Author Unknown

With a timid voice and idolizing eyes, the little boy greeted his father as he returned from work, "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?" Greatly surprised, but giving his boy a glaring look, the father said: "Look, son, not even your mother knows that. Don't bother me now, I'm tired." The boy insisted, "But Daddy, just tell me please!? How much do you make an hour?"

The father finally giving up and replied: “Twenty dollars per hour." Then the boy asked, "Okay, Daddy? Could you loan me ten dollars?" Showing restlessness and positively disturbed, the father yelled: "So that was the reason you asked how much I earn, right?? Go to sleep and don't bother me anymore!"

It was already dark and the father was meditating on what he had said and was feeling guilty. Maybe he thought, his son wanted to buy something. Finally, trying to ease his mind, the father went to his son's room.

"Are you asleep son?" asked the father. "No, Daddy. Why?" replied the boy partially asleep. "Here's the money you asked for earlier," the father said. "Thanks, Daddy!" rejoiced the son, while putting his hand under his pillow and removing some money. "Now I have enough! Now I have twenty dollars!" the boy said to his father, who was gazing at his son, confused.

Then his son said, "Daddy, here is twenty dollars, could you sell me one hour of your time?"

I make it a point that no matter how tired I am, how angry, frustrated and stressed out I may be when coming home from work; I still find time for my kids. I work to make a living, and my family is what I live for.

Be Unsinkable - by Lead Out Loud

Be Unsinkable

At times life brings us challenges,

How you deal with those challenges determine how long the pain will last.

It doesn't have to be so "hard",

It's OK to feel the sadness, anger and frustration,

Release it.

Don't resist what is happening,

It will only last longer...

Accept it.

You may be unable to see the bigger picture right now,

Have faith...Believe...

It's all happening for a reason,

This too shall pass.

Learn the lessons,

and grow.

Great things are waiting for you around the corner.

The journey will be worth it,

Be patient.

Be unsinkable and be happy.

Don't Quit - Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow--

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,

It seems to a faint and faltering man,

Often the struggler has given up,

When he might have captured the victor's cup,

And he learned too late when the night slipped down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Turning Two

Teddy bears and seas of blue, Smiling in honor of you

An infant, not long ago, Now, two candles are aglow

You are growing up so fast, How quickly time has passed

You are special, sweet, and wise, A present before our eyes.

For two years, I've watched you shine, An angel I can call mine

Sent from Heaven, just for me, Filled with hope and dignity

A blessing, now and always, You brighten all of my days

Precious child, I love you so, More than anyone could know.

Baby's breath and sun-filled skies, Ladybugs and lullabies

Starry nights and bright moonbeams, Tender hearts and lasting dreams

Each, a gift within your view, During this time, made for you

May only good things come your way, On this, your 2nd birthday.

(Anonymous)

Smile Kian, you're turning two!!!

The Value of A Smile - Anonymous

The Value of A Smile

by

Author Anonymous

A smile cost nothing, but gives much.

It enriches those who receive,

without making poorer those who give.

It takes but a moment,

but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it.

A smile creates happiness in the home,

fosters good will in business,

and is the countersign of friendship.

It brings rest to the weary,

cheer to the discouraged,

sunshine to the sad,

and is nature's best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen,

for it is something that is of no value to anyone

until it is given away.

Some people are too tired to give you a smile.

Give them one of yours,

as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

Dream of Me - Kristen Dunst

Let me sleep
For when I sleep
I dream that you are here
You're mine
And all my fears are left behind

I float on air
The nightingale sings gentle lullabys
So let me close my eyes
And sleep

Per chance to dream
So I can see the face I long to touch
To kiss
But only dreams can bring me this

So let the moon
Shine softly on the girl I long to see
And maybe when she dreams
She'll dream of me

I'll hide beneath the clouds
And whisper to the evening stars
They tell me love is just a dream away

Dream away
I'll dream away

So let the moon
Shine softly on the girl I long to see
And maybe when she dreams

She'll dream of me...

Dream of Me:

I Carry Your Heart with Me - by E.E. Cummings

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)

I am never without it

(anywhere I go you go, my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling)

I fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)

I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing, is you

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;

which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)



The Invitation - by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living;
I want to know what you ache for,
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool;
for love,
for your dream,
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow.
If you have been opened by life’s betrayals,
or have become shrivelled and closed,
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain;
mine or your own without moving to hide it,
or fade it,
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own;
if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you,
to the tips of your fingers and toes, without cautioning us,
to be careful,
to be realistic,
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another;
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure;
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake,
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live;
or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up,
after the night of grief and despair,
weary and bruised to the bone,
and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know;
or how you came to be here.
I want to know
if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you from the inside,
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself;
and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Life Is Fine by Langston Hughes

I went down to the river, I set down on the bank.
I tried to think but couldn't,
So I jumped in and sank.

I came up once and hollered!
I came up twice and cried!
If that water hadn't a-been so cold
I might've sunk and died.

But it was Cold in that water! It was cold!

I took the elevator
Sixteen floors above the ground.
I thought about my baby
And thought I would jump down.

I stood there and I hollered!
I stood there and I cried!
If it hadn't a-been so high
I might've jumped and died.

But it was High up there! It was high!

So since I'm still here livin',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love--
But for livin' I was born

Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry--
I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.

Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine!

Anyway - by Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

A Dream Within A Dream - by Edgar Allan Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away

In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand--
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep--while I weep!

O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

Footprints in the Sand - Mary Stevenson

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord, that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied, "The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you."