Month: September 2023

When the waters are rising

Once upon a time there was a huge flood. A man climbed onto his roof to escape the rising waters. A rescue boat appeared with a lifeguard in it, urging him to come on board.

‘God will protect me,’ the man replied, ‘I have lived all my life as a devout believer.’

The waters continued to rise. Twice more the rescue boat returned and twice more the man refused to climb aboard. The boat left to rescue others.

Eventually the flood engulfed the whole house. The roof disappeared beneath the waters, and the man was drowned.

In heaven he encountered God.  Furious that God had not rescued him, he complained loudly: ‘All my life I have been devout. I have obeyed all the commandments. I have given large sums to charity. And the only time I asked for anything you abandoned me.’ 

‘But I sent a boat three times,’ God explained. ‘Why didn’t you get in?’

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Words of wisdom

For centuries wisdom was handed down from one generation to another in the form of simple sentences   which were taught to children and grandchildren. It can be a fruitful practice to take one of these maxims as one’s thought for the day, reflecting on it at intervals. 

Here are some of these words of wisdom:

When one door shuts another opens.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
A stitch in time saves nine.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Never judge a book by its cover.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
An empty vessel makes much noise.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Never put off to tomorrow what you can do today.
People who live in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones.
Actions speak louder than words.
All good things come to an end.
A ship in harbour is safe; but that is not what a ship is for.
Opportunity did not knock until I built a door.

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