Thoughts for a day for a year.

Castles in the Sky. Today a tale about spiders.  Spiders are usually born on the lower branches of bushes or trees. Some for one reason or another decide to stay right there in the lower branches when old enough they leave the web of their parents and move over to another corner and build their own web. There in the safety, they catch the odd fly and have enough on which to live, not fat but enough for them to survive. Others decide to climb to the higher branches and build their webs on the exposed branches of the trees and bushes. These are the webs that get torn and battered by wind and rain. They are also the webs that are up where most of the flies are, so the captures they make are more frequent. In turn, these spiders eat better, are stronger and bigger.  One day one such spider met a very small young spider on the branch of a bush. The young spider looked at the big one in awe. The large spider asked the youngster what he was looking at. “Your size,” said...

A Foot Has No Nose There is a thought-provoking tale of a mother and her son. The mother called her son and sent him down to the main road a short distance from his home. She instructed him to take with him a bucket and to collect some dry cow dung on his way, this would be used to make a fire. He was to invite a group of seasonal workers to share a meal he would cook for them. The thought of making an open fire outside at midday, cooking in a large three-legged pot in that intense heat, was sufficient to upset even an angel. The son did not manage to conceal his feelings from his mother and, after serving the group, she called him to the veranda where she usually sat sewing and knitting. Looking straight into the eyes of her son she said "Tsholofelo, why did you sulk when I requested you to prepare a meal for those poor destitute people?" Despite his attempt to deny her allegation, or to make any excuses for his behaviour, his mother, gave him a firm look, and said ...

Wealthy Disciples There was a wise sage who had many followers. Some of these disciples questioned the master about how it was that he allowed rich people to become his followers. They saw this as a contradiction.  It intrigued them that the Master who lived so simply would not condemn these wealthy followers. So, they asked him about it. "It is rare but not impossible for someone to be rich and holy," he said one day. "How?" asked his followers. "When money has the effect on his heart that the shadow of that bamboo has on the courtyard." The disciples turned to watch the bamboo's shadow sweep the courtyard without stirring a single particle of dust. Until we have found the ability to move through life without causing a stir or harm it is wise to keep our counsel.  True riches are not the wealth we have but what we do with them.

Puppies for Sale There was a sign in the window of the pet store that read "Puppies for Sale."  A young boy entered the store to inquire about the cost of the puppies. The store owner replied, "Anywhere from £20 to £40." The boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have £3," he said. "Can I please look at them?" The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?" The store owner explained that the vet had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame. The boy became excited. "That is the puppy that I want to buy." The store owner said, "No, you don't w...

Hope The lady wondered whether to dye her hair black or blonde? Her friend said to let it grow natural. She replied, "I am not yet ready to embrace being grey as yet." Two oncologists, talking about a test they had both been involved in, hoping to help people beat dreaded cancer. One complained bitterly, "You know, Bob, I just don't understand it. We used the same drugs, the same dosage, the same schedule and the same entry criteria. Yet I got a twenty-two per cent response rate and you got a seventy-four per cent.  That's unheard of for metastatic cancer. How do you do it?" His colleague replied, "We're both using Etoposide, Platinum, Oncovin and Hydroxyurea.  You call yours EPOH. I tell my patients I'm giving them, Hydroxyurea, Oncovin Platinum and Hydroxyurea.  I call it “HOPE.” Auburn, Blonde or Grey?  Real beauty comes from the inner being and is seen by all it shines from the face and the eyes. 

The Carpenter An elderly carpenter was ready to retire, h e would miss the wages he earned each week, but he wanted to spend more time with his wife. They would manage on his pension; it might be a more frugal existence, but he was ready to retire.  The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal  favour . The carpenter agreed, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.  

 When he had finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house, my gift to you." 

 The carpenter was shocked!  

 What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.  
 
 So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often pu...