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~pt.2~DONKEY TRACKS" ~~
from: The White Donkey Society
November 24, 2004
~TRAILS OF LIVING~
LED AROUND BY YOUR "GOTTA HAVES"
Two women who had just met at a health spa were talking about their
lifestyles and how they hope to stay healthy. One asked the other to
detail her daily routine.
"I eat moderately," she replied, "I exercise moderately, I drink
moderately, and I live moderately."
"Is there anything else you do?" her new friend asked.
"Yes," she said, "I lie extensively."
I sometimes say I subscribe to the precept that all things should be
done in moderation. Trouble is, I often follow THAT principle in
moderation, too.
Not that we should be overly rigid. But self-imposed discipline is an
absolute necessity if we are to be in control of our lives. And
success and happiness is simply not possible without inner control.
A few years back, two Tennessee convicts dug under a fence and escaped to freedom. Within hours they were recaptured and returned to prison,
where they both had several years added to their sentences. Strangely
enough, at the time they dug under the fence, one of the men would
have been released in 30 days. He was asked why he risked extra years
in prison when he could have been out in a month, and he replied, "I
couldn't wait."
One hospital patient aptly described the problem. When visiting with a
chaplain, this patient, who was being treated for venereal disease,
said, "Reverend, my trouble is I've been led around by my 'gotta
haves' all my life."
Self-discipline is vital to any successful and happy life. Without it,
we're led around by our "gotta haves" all our lives. Whatever we think
we gotta have this moment is what we follow. We gotta have more
pleasure or less discomfort or this experience or that new thing or
another glass.... You fill in the blanks.
On the other hand, happy and successful people usually feel in control
of themselves. They are self-directed and self-disciplined. If they
overdo, it does not become a lifestyle. If they deviate from the goals
they've set, they soon get back on course. They know how to have fun
without being led around by their gotta haves.
Writer Peter DeVries has said, "I write when I'm inspired, and I see
to it that I'm inspired at nine o'clock every morning." He has learned
that creativity, too, needs discipline.
I like the words of Bernard Baruch. "In the last analysis," he said,
"our only freedom is the freedom to discipline ourselves." Discipline
is deciding not to be led around by our gotta haves. It is the task of
a lifetime, an indispensable prerequisite to success, and the only way
to be truly free! --Steve Goodier
~TRAILS of LIFE~
Power of One
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference,
You see it's up to you!
--author anonymous
In the words of Edward Everett Hale: "I am only one. But
still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I can do
something. And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the Something that I can do."
~TRAILS of SCRIPTURE~
"For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance
to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully
developed, you will be strong in character and ready for
anything" (James 1:3-4, nlt).
I happened to grow up in a part of Australia that was
subject to cyclones (the Southern Hemisphere equivalent of
hurricanes). I've seen the roof of a neighboring house
ripped off by the ferocious winds. But I never experienced
the velocity of the recent hurricanes that have plagued
Florida and the Caribbean.
King Duncan reported how he had always thought of
hurricanes as something mankind could do without. "But,"
said Duncan, "recently I learned that they are necessary to
maintain a balance in nature. These tropical storms, with
winds up to 150 miles an hour and accompanied by torrential
rains, glaring lightning, and rumbling thunder, can be
devastating. Yet scientists tell us they are tremendously
valuable. They dissipate a large percentage of the
oppressive heat which builds up at the equator, and they
are indirectly responsible for much of the rainfall in
North and South America. Meteorologists therefore no longer
use cloud-seeding techniques to prevent them from being
formed. They are convinced that hurricanes actually do more
good than harm."1
Forest fires are also necessary for the health of forests.
And often we need hard times in our lives, even though they
bring temporary distress, as God allows them to help us grow
and become stronger Christians--"strong in character and
ready for anything."
~TRAILS of PRAYER~
Dear Lord, help us to pause to recall our nation's first Thanksgiving as we too give You thanks for our many blessings. ... Our Pilgrim forefathers had sacrificed much and had weathered a hazardous ocean-voyage to find freedom to worship You! ... On that first Thanksgiving they had much for which to thank You -- their safe crossing, a welcome from two Indians who could speak some English, and an introduction to a nearby tribe of Indians, with whom they shared their first Thanksgiving. ... Later the Pilgrims learned from the Indians that they had landed on the only coastal area where there were no hostile Indians, so they had one more reason to thank You, their Lord and Provider!* ... Help us today to recognize our blessings and to realize that You are our Provider also! ... You have watched over our nation, and it is because of Your divine love and care that we have survived this far. Thank You, Lord, and help us each to strive to be worthy of Your amazing grace. In Jesus' holy name we pray. Amen. * (From "Celebrations of A Nation," by Lucille Johnston) � 2001 by D. L. Hammond
~TRAILS of a RIDER of GRACE~
I hope that you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you so much for your prayers. We have so much to be thankful for. We pray especially for our soldiers and President Bush. I hope that you received a blessing from today's Donkey Tracks newsletter. I talked to the doctor's nurse yesterday. He is supposed call back today. God bless you all. http://www.youens.com/mccoy/
"The White Donkey Society"
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