Cast Your Bread!
October 7, 2009
A friend shared this story with me and I wanted to pass this onto you. I do not know who wrote it and therefore cannot give due credit to the original author. However, I trust that the inspiration he/she passes on will be of great value to him/her.
Make up your context, the story here starts off rather abruptly. And after you finish reading ask yourself what are some ways you can bless someone today and go do it! May many be abundantly blessed by you!
Story Begins Here
"The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.
"Leave me alone," he growled. To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling — her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I’ve just come from dining with the president. Now go away.
The woman’s smile became even broader.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone".
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma’am?" he asked.
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I’m just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?
The officer scratched his head. "That’s old Jack. He’s been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I’m going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile.
"Are you crazy, lady?"
The homeless man resisted. "I don’t want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up". "Let me go, officer. I didn’t do anything".
"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don’t blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What’s going on here, officer?" he asked."What is all this, is this man in trouble?
This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you’ll let me go. I didn’t want to come here in the first place.
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms.
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company …"
"Oh …"
The woman smiled again. She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma’am," the officer replied. "I’m on duty …"
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I’ll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent … Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.
"Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so — I mean you do look familiar."
"I’m a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I’ve even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma’am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn’t believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn’t find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered."
She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He’s the personnel director of my company. I’ll go talk to him now and I’m certain he’ll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you."
There were tears in the old man’s eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked. "Don’t thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.. "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And…And thank you for the coffee."
Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always and don’t forget that when you "cast your bread upon the waters," you never know how it will be returned to you. God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.
When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He’ll teach you how to fly.
God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor."
End of Story
Get ready. Open your arms to receive what has been prepared for you. Trust and continue to be a blessing. Be that flame still. See what the richest man on earth does to his bread.
Moon Cakes To The Rescue
October 1, 2009
The moon is at its fullest and roundest during the Mid Autumn Time, ie the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. This is roughly the same time as the autumn and spring Equinoxes of the solar calendar. Farmers celebrate the end of summer harvesting during the Mid Autumn Festival in ancient days.
The roundness of the moon symbolizes reunion for the Chinese and the family usually gather together during this festive time. In some countries public holiday is declared to celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival.
When I was younger, we would have moon cakes (sort of fruit cake made with lotus seed paste or red bean paste as filling with nuts and salted egg yolks), steam yam and pomelos after dinner out in the veranda as we look up to the sky and appreciate the roundest, brightest moon. I would marvel at the stars and the constellations and would have many questions. And we will chat and played with our hand-made lanterns under the moonlight night.
Moon cakes take center stage during the Mid Autumn Festival besides the lanterns. As legend has it, the common moon cakes helped bring about the revolution of the Han Chinese against the ruling Mongolians.
A Han rebel devised a scheme to over throw the Mongolians by putting messages inside the round moon cakes and passing these to friends far and wide under the pretext that these are to honor the longevity of the Mongolian Emperor. The message embedded in the moon cake has the plan and the date to fight against the Mongolians. On the 15th of the eight month, the uprising over threw the Mongolians and ended the Yuan Dynasty (as legend has it).
It’s a wonder how creativity has made use of something quite plain and ordinary to achieve great things. No wonder it is said that desperation breeds creativity! I wonder if you are faced with any sense of desperation or limitation today? Or would you be seeking to accomplish something? Perhaps the hunger for success will grant you the creativity and the force to conquer your fears and limitations.
Walk down China Town today you will notice new varieties of modernized moon cakes. Yes we even have "iced-skin" moon cakes (best kept cold in the fridge) and chocolate moon cakes (where East meets West). It just goes to show that creativity is still put to great use!
If you have a moment this season you may want to take a look at the moon and the stars and listen to the messages they have for you. The entire universe is alive with lessons to teach and guide us, when we open our ears and listen with our hearts.
Mid Autumn Festival or full moon means harvest and thanksgiving to some and reunion to others. This season, I will be lifting my eyes to the moon. And I know that my family members in faraway lands will be looking at the same moon and enjoying the same blessings. And they will know that "somewhere out there beneath the bright moon light, someone’s thinking of you and sending you lots of love tonight …"
Internet chats and video conferencing will not take the place of messages sent through nature. May nature speak to you in creative ways, everyday.
Have a wonderful Moon Cake or Mid Autumn Festival and long live creativity!
The Richest Man’s Profile
September 13, 2009
What does the riches man and philantropist has to say about abundance?
What lifestyle does he has?
He pledges to give away 85 percent of his fortune to a foundation that enhances the healthcare and education of others.
He enjoys a simple life yet live it to the fullest and is appreciative of what he has
He manages his riches and is not a slave to it
He is not on 24/7 but has a beautiful work life balance
See what Warren Buffet has to say
I wonder what else you see? And how would your life style be when you achieve the abundance you want?
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