Touches of Wisdom

Catch a Falling Star ...
The star catcher grinned and whispered a plan, “I’ll catch all the stars that I possibly can. Then give them to all of my friends so they will truly see how sparkling and special they are to me.”

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their heart to us. Show your friends how much you care ...

Oh God forgive me when I whine!
Today on a bus I saw a lovely girl with golden hair. I envied her. She seemed so young. I wished I were half as fair. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle. She had one leg and used a crutch. As she passed, she flashed a smile.

Oh God forgive me when I whine! I have two legs. The world is mine.

And when I stopped to buy some sweets, the lad who sold them had such charm. I talked with him. He seemed so glad. If I were late, it would do no harm. And as I left he said to me, “I thank you, you have been so kind. You see” he added, “I am blind.”

Oh God forgive me when I whine! I have two eyes. The world is mine. With legs to take me where I want to go, with eyes to see the sunset glow.

Oh God forgive me when I whine! I’m blessed indeed. The world is mine.

Just Pedal ...
At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president ... I recognized His picture when I saw it, but really didn’t know Him.

But later on, when I met God, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was in the back helping me pedal. I don’t know when it was that He suggested that we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable ... it was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long-cuts ... up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, “Pedal!”

I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are You taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the world of adventure, and when I’d say “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, my Lord’s and mine. And we were off again.

He said, “Give the gifts away, they’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light. I did not trust Him, at first, to control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it, but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal to the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful, constant companion, God.

And when I’m sure I just can’t do anymore, He just smiles and says, “JUST PEDAL!.”

Three Little Trees ...
Once upon a mountaintop, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up.

The first little tree looked up at the stars and said, “I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean and said, “I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. The little tree said, “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world!”

Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall.

One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.

The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. “Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said.

The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. “Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. “I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But, the woodcutter never even looked up.

“Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold or with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river; instead, she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. “What happened?” the once tall tree wondered. “All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God ...”

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby into the feedbox. “I wish I could make a cradle for him,” her husband whispered.

The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth, sturdy wood. “This manger is beautiful,” she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening, a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped, as quickly as it had begun and suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry, jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hands and feet to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong, and every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

So next time you feel down because you didn’t get what you wanted, just sit tight and be happy, because God will have something better to give you.

Brain Food ...
The more you give, the more you get;
The more you laugh, the less you fret;
The more you do unselfishly,
the more you live abundantly;
The more of everything you share,
the more you’ll alvvays have to spare;
The more you love,
the more you’ll find life is good and friends are kind.
For only what you give away
enriches you from day to day.

More Brain Food ...
Last Sunday I voted to close the Church -- not maliciously, but thoughtlessly.

I voted to close its doors so its witness & testimony would be stopped. I voted to close the Bible on the pulpit -- the Bible given to us by the blood of martyrs. I voted for our priest to stop preaching the Holy truths of the Gospel. I voted that children no longer be taught the stories of the Bible & the songs of salvation and God’s love.

I voted that the voice of the choir & congregation be hushed, no more to sing the great hymns of the Church. I voted for every missionary to be called home. I voted for the darkness of superstition, the degrading influence of sin, the blight of ignorance & the curse of selfishness.

I could have gone to Church last Sunday, but I didn’t. I stayed away. By my laxity and indifference, I voted to close the Church.

The Church is ...
a door into an opportunity for service.
a door into the most useful life.
a door into the best of life’s experiences.
a door into the most hopeful future.

an armory to get power to fight evil.
an armory to get inspiration to keep doing right.
an armory to get an uplifting influence.
an armory to learn how to use spiritual weapons.
an armory to get a vision of Christ.

an anchor to steady me in the storm.
an anchor to keep me from the breakers.
an anchor to guide me in the strenuous life.
an anchor to hold me lest I drift from God.
an anchor to save me in the hour of temptation.

Different Pews ...
In most churches the pews look alike. But they are really very different.

The critical pew: - This pew watches the priest with an eagle eye. The singing is too soft or too loud. The building is always too hot or too cold. The critical pew finds everything but the blessing of God.
The irregular pew: - Sometimes the irregular pew is full, sometimes it’s empty. The problem is you never know what to expect from this pew.
The cordial pew: - This pew is always radiant like the sunshine. This pew greets other pews with genuine cordiality & extends a handshake to every visitor & listens with joy to the sermon.
The prayerful pew: - This pew spends a moment or two with bowed head in silent prayer on entering the church. This pew comes to worship and brings the spirit of worship with it into the church.

Which pew will you occupy next Sunday?

Movie Reviews ...
Thinking of taking your child to the movies but aren’t sure of how it is rated; well, help is only a phone call away. The Catholic Communication Campaign’s toll-free number is 1-800-311-4CCC. You will hear an evaluation of the week’s top box office hits by the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting. Also you will hear about the “Video of the Week” for family viewing. This is an excellent resource for parents who want to make more informed choices for their families.

Sentence Sermons ...

One thought driven home is much better than 3 left on base!

Anyone all wrapped up in themselves, is over dressed.

We all admire the wisdom of those people who come to us for advice.

Give your time to improving yourself, and you’ll have little time left for criticizing others.

People who say it’s impossible should not interrupt those who are managing to get it done.

You never know how much you have to be thankful for until you pay taxes on it.

Ask God’s blessings on your work, but don’t ask Him to do it for you!

The smallest deed is better than the greatest invention.

Where God Ain’t ...
He was just a little lad,
and on the week’s first day.
He was wandering home from Sunday School,
and dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass;
he found a caterpillar;
He found a fluffy milkweed pod,
and blew out all the “filler”.

A bird’s nest in a tree o’er head
so wisely placed on high,
Was just another wonder
that caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zigzag course, and
hailed him from the lawn;
Asked him where he’d been that day,
and what was going on.

“I’ve been to Bible school,” he said, and
turned a piece of sod.
He picked up a wiggly worm and said,
“I’ve learned a lot of God.”

“M’m a very fine way,” the neighbor said,
“for a boy to spend his time.”
“If you’ll tell me where God is,
I’ll give you a brand new dime.”

Quick as a flash his answer came!
Nor were his accents faint.
“I’ll give you a dollar, Mister,
if you’ll tell me where God ain’t!”

----- author unknown

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