Traits in human behavior reveal that man has an unbeatable
natural love for the good and therefore may be guided to recognize things that
are noble as against ignoble, the beauty of the universe as against its ugly
forms.
One is then able to appreciate the qualities of things
within one’s own environment; or criticize them constructively. “Things
are not always what they seem”
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home
of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in
the mansion’s guestroom. Instead the angels were given a small space in the
cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a
hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older
angel replied, “Things are not always what they seem”.
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very
poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food
they had the couple let the angles sleep in their bed where they could have a
good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the
farmer and his wife in tears.
Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay
dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel
how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you
helped him, he accused. The second family had little but was willing to share
everything, and you let the cow die.
“Things are not always what they seem”, the
older angel replied.
“When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed
there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed
with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he
would not find it”.
“Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel
of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead.”
“Things are not always what they seem”
Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don’t
turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that
every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until sometime
later…
“Some people come
into our lives and quickly go… some people become friends and stay awhile… leaving
beautiful footprints on our hearts… and we are never quite the same because we
have made a good friend!.
According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the
appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to
appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeem social condition; to
know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have
succeeded”.
“Things are not always what they seem”
Can you look deeply into a beautiful painting and ‘lose
yourself?’ Can you walk through an art gallery and appreciate the inspiration
and feeling that originated the brush strokes?
The Master (God), the greatest, has painted and sculptured a
masterpiece, that can never be equaled YOU.
He has created hills, canyons, mountains, rivers; but His greatest work is
man. And to some men and women He has given the gift of artistry. I think this
life is special… live and savour every moment…
