I have a lovely friend that I haven´t seen for six years though we´ve stayed in touch by email. Somehow, she always knows the right thing to say. Maybe this will rattle your cage - maybe not. Anyway, it is worth reading... A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present "Seven Wonders of the World.." Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes: 1. Egypt's Great Pyramids 2. Taj Mahal 3. Grand Canyon 4. Panama Canal 5. Empire State Building 6. St. Peter's Basilica 7. China's Great Wall While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help. "The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World' are: 1. To See 2. To Hear 3. To Touch 4. To Taste 5. To Feel 6. To Laugh 7. And to Love." The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous! A gentle reminder -- that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.
Exam - if you liked that, try this: http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/ It is beautiful to me, even though I do not have a religion.
WOW! I'm not in the slightest bit religious, but wowzers, That was amazingly beautiful and every word true.. If anyone has anything else like this, post it up!!
That poem is a beauty, reminding me of THE PROPHET, by Kahlil Giran. For those of you that haven't read it, it's a good book - not related to religion of any sort ( the book was a gift to me by an atheist friend ). How good? Average 5 stars rating from 191 reviews at Amazon. The link is http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...103-9528799-0027038?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 ( don't worry .. there's no affiliate link there )
Oh .. an excerpt.. ----------------------- On Love When love beckons to you follow him, Though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you believe in him, Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast. All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart. But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure, Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor, Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears. Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God." And think not you can direct the course of love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips. ----------------- by the way instead of buying the book, you guys may want read it here http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/propht.htm
it is always good to have some reflections once in a while. somehow you get to divert your attention from what you used to think of always (adult biz, sex, leisures,job, etc) to more important things we often neglect.