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from: The White Donkey Society
Here and now
It is never too late to be positive. It is never too late to let go of the anger, the fear, the worries and anxieties that have been draining you.No matter how far back you may have fallen, you still can turn around. Your current direction is far more important than your current location.Imagine how great it would feel to be moving forward. You are, this moment, just one step away.Take that step forward, and then another. Put momentum on your side, and get time working in your favor.Start giving to life, rather than fighting against it. Begin now to fill each moment with positive purpose, with meaning, with real fulfillment. No matter where you are, or what you've already done, it is never too late. The time to move forward is here and now. -- Ralph Marston Yesterday I met a stranger... Lost, but Not Forgotten A young man and woman were hiking in the mountains for the day. It felt so good to be out in the fresh air and to be getting much needed exercise, and when they took a break for a late afternoon lunch, the woman remarked at how even the food seemed to taste better in the natural surroundings. However, already six hours away from their starting point, the comfort of food and the warmth of the soft grass were beginning to make them suddenly very weary."I don't know if I can make it back," the tired young woman said. The man nodded, stating, "I'm weary too, but I think I know a short cut we can take which will be a lot easier." Heading off the regular hiking path, the couple passed through tall meadows, climbed over large boulders, and even waded through a murky swamp. Several more hours had passed and it was starting to get dark. They were cold, wet, and exhausted. The man turned to the young lady and said, "I think we are lost. I thought I knew the right way, but I was wrong."The couple spent the night in the woods. In the morning they would head off again, and they were certain it wouldn't be much farther before they were home. Sadly, the couple was wrong. Rather than heading closer to home, they spent the next day walking in what appeared to be circles. When woods are this thickly covered it is difficult to chart a course. It was not long before dark again began to cover them."I don't know if I can make it much longer," cried the young woman. "I know," said the man," my feet are covered with blisters, I'm hungry and cold too." Shivering, the couple huddled together to stay warm.Then, suddenly, from what seemed like out of nowhere, a dim light pierced the darkness. The couple looked up in fright and disbelief, but were too worn to say a word. The light was coming closer, and was getting brighter. Now they could hear footsteps and voices calling their names.The cold and wet couple jumped to their feet screaming, "We are here! We are here! Help!" At last, the frightened and worn couple was found by the rescue party which had been searching for them. In our world, many people are similarly lost. Maybe not lost in the woods, but lost in heart and soul; unsure what path in life they are taking, and not really knowing what spiritual direction they should take. They are in spiritual darkness, and like the young couple in the above story, need a bright light to help them find their way out of the woods.God's radiant love is such a light, and it is powerful enough to even pierce the bleakest of circumstances. And, like the search party in the above story, God is calling you, offering you a way out of the tangled mess. There is no darkness in Him; only truth, light and love. "And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those... who are lost." -Luke John 8 THE ONLY BASIS FOR TRUTH The native Americans asked their Chief in autumn if the winter was going to be cold or not. Not really knowing an answer, the chief replied that the winter was going to be cold and that the members of the village were to collect wood to be prepared. Being a good and wise leader, he then went to the nearest phone booth and called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is this winter to be cold?" The man on the phone responded, "This winter is going to be quite cold indeed." So the Chief went back to speed up his people to collect even more wood to be prepared. A week later he called the National Weather Service again, "Is it going to be a very cold winter?" "Yes," the man replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter." So the Chief went back to his people and ordered them to go and find every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?" "Absolutely," the man replies, "the native Americans are collecting wood like crazy!" Sometimes the one whom we regard as a "source of authority" isn't such an authority after all. That can have some serious consequences in life, but in the spiritual realm the consequences can be downright deadly. If I rely on the "expertise" of someone who doesn't know, but who is relying on the "expertise" of someone else who doesn't know, then my spiritual training has no real foundation in truth. Jesus prayed to his Father in the Therein lies the only basis for understanding that which is true. Where are you going for spiritual advice? I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
"The White Donkey Society" |
