Down with the Flu

My nose is constantly stuck, though I'm thankful to Actifed that at least they are not running. This makes breathing difficult, and it seems to make me tired much more easily. This is compounded by the problem of not sleeping well because of the constant discomfort. I'm thinking of getting a flu jab soon.

This reminds me of a story. When I had my operation to correct my jaws, they bound my teeth together to fix the positions. Unfortunately, all the bleeding and sinus issues had led to a lethal combination of bloody blocked nose. So every breath of air required a tremendous amount of effort. These were my exact thoughts for every single seconds after I awaken from my operation:
"Should I take a long breath or 2 short breaths?"
"long breath or 2 short breaths?"
"Long breath or 2 short breaths?"
"What's that smell? I think the patient beside me just farted or pooped in his pants."
"God, I'm ready, take me away."
"long breath or 2 short breaths?"

Carrots, Egg or Coffee Bean?

Here's a wonderful story I read online: (So which one are you?)

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Heaven's Grocery Store

I was walking down life's pathway
Not so very long ago
When I looked up and saw a sign,
Heaven's Grocery Store.

I got a little closer
And the door swung open wide.
The next thing I knew
I was standing there inside.

I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said,
"My child, now shop with care.'

Everything a Christian needed
Was in that Grocery Store,
And what you couldn't carry out
You could come back next day for more.

Well, first I got some patience,
Love is in the same row.
Further down was understanding.
You need those everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of wisdom
And a bar or two of faith.
You couldn't miss the Holy Ghost
He was all over the place.

I didn't forget salvation
For salvation'that was free.
I wanted to get enough of that
To save both you and me.

There was meekness, longsuffering and gentleness
I saw these at a glance.
I knew I'd better get some.
I would never have a better chance.

I stopped to get some courage
To help me run life's race.
Then my basket was getting full
And I remembered I needed grace.

Then I started for the counter
To pay my grocery bill
I thought I had most everything
To do the Father's will.

And I saw prayer,
I just had to put that in.
I knew when I stepped outside the door,
I'd run right into sin.

Source Unknown

An update

I have been busy but the tough parts are manageable now. I still have a script to complete by this week. But life has been good to me and I am loving the moment. What I learn from experience is that as long as the work is meaningful, tough is not a problem.

Here is a good story about the work of Wits and Wagers. I hope you like it too. Also, if you are a reader, please drop a comment once in a while.

A good true story to share

For my millions of readers, this story is for you.

It is about going the extra mile to help somebody in need.

WoW13: When it comes to religious lay people, all religions are the same.

I have been reading this. It is a Buddhist book of fables. I have found that when it comes to understanding profound truths, all religions have the same problem. The general masses have difficulty understanding and appropriating wisdom.

The first fable is about this fool who went for a meal. He blamed the food for being tasteless so the host added some salt, and he found it tasty. He thought "the taste comes from the salt, if I add more, it will be even better". He shallowed a whole cup of salt, and upon realising his foolishness, spit them out. What is the moral of the story?

※....笨人吃盐....※

....从前有一个笨人，到朋友家里去作客，主人留他吃饭，他嫌菜没有味道，主人就在菜中加了一些盐，他吃起来味道就觉得很好了。笨人心里想∶『菜的味道好是从盐中得来，不多的就已这样好吃，那麽多吃些，味道一定格外好了。』这样想了以後，笨人就向主人索取了一杯盐，一口吞进嘴里去，不料咸得要命，就急忙把盐从嘴里吐出来。

....这故事比喻∶修行人适当地节量饮食，少欲知足，是对於身体和修行都有好处的；但一般外道宣传，矫枉过正，索性提唱不进食，认为这样就可以得道，因此有断食七天或十五天的，结果影响身体，困饿而死，对修行却一点儿没有益处，这是错误的。那种作法和笨人吃盐一样，是可笑而愚蠢的举动。