Break Down, Break through

Loss of control,shattered dreams,betrayed trusts,breakdowns of one sort or another - such crises test your faith. We would prefer not to go through them, but what choice do we have? We have to carry on as does the captain who must steer his ship into the storm to find safe port or the pilot who must land a plane low on fuel. The deliverance promised on the other side gives them courage they need to get past the danger.When we feel least ready,tough times come upon us.It's like living for years with a beautiful,admired ,intact set of fine china. Suddenly one piece after another cracks and breaks.There are no replacements.We have to either live with a mismatched set or buy a new one. Has there been times, when your life was like that china set ? Perfectly together and then bit by bit cast apart,dismantled by a series of resistances that tried your faith to the limit? The only advice that made any sense was to wait and see what God was doing while you sought a new direction.It is only in due time that we understand,what really happened and why it happened.The turning point in all this is when you begin to see the light breaking through the darkness of uncertainty and insecurity. It is then that harmony is restored and you feel peace with yourself and your Creator.

God works for our own good - A true story

It was somewhere in the middle of Seventies.A young girl named Dorothy (name changed) lived in the Queen of suburbs in the city of Mumbai and she worked as a personal secretary in a well known Organization in Flora Fountain (DN Road). She was dedicated,committed and honest in her work.The Managing Director was very pleased with her.Dorothy was on the other hand in dire need of this job and with the salary she earned, she supported her widowed mother and her brother. It was that important time of the year,we all wait for it, a time where we expect rewards and increments for the hard work we have done throughout the year.Dorothy too had high expectations and so, when she was summoned to the cabin of the MD that day, she expected a good increment which would obviously help her to ease her difficulties of payments,medical expenses of her Mother and above all the tuition fees for her brother.Dorothy walked in the cabin and before she could even say a word, she was handed over the "pink slip" ( termination letter). Dorothy was shocked and had no words, at the same time the MD told her that she need not wait in the office and that her dues would be settled and the cheque sent home to her current address. Angry with God and dejected with herself,Dorothy felt that even God didn't understand her.She didn't know what has happening in her life,did she go wrong somewhere? why God,why me? Dorothy questioned. Gathering courage,she started applying for fresh jobs but even that exercise turned out to be frustrating and depressing with no replies to her so many job applications. Then one day as Dorothy was reading the Times of India and browsing through the "Situations Vacant" column, she came across something very ghastly. She saw the picture of the very building that she worked up in flames, the fire that occured had damaged building,Dorothy saw yet another image of her office totally burnt with the filing cabinets,typewriters and files strewn all over.She was speechless for the next 10 minutes or so. She couldn't believe what she saw, the news item focussed more on her office as being the "worst hit" and most of the people there were seriously burnt or had died. The next moment she was on her knees,praying and asking for forgiveness from God for her anger and for misunderstanding God's plan for her.( We all misunderstand at some point or the other,after all we are humans).She now saw clearly that God wanted to save her from this tragedy. Dorothy now came to realise that it was for her own good that she was sacked from that office without any valid reasons.She further adds in her testimony, that she got the best job which offered her a good salary, which not only helped to pay her dues but even start saving for the future! Many a times we too have failed to understand God's plan for us.He always does everything for our good.May you be blessed always.

At times it is good to detach.

You deserve a vacation….but not just any vacation. You need one that will restore your spirit, enthusiasm and energy. Spend your time far away from cell phones, computers, newspapers, radio and television. These are electronic leashes which bind you to a complicated and stressful world. Simply leave them all at home. It’s easier to do than you may think. Get close to nature. Take walks. Enjoy sunsets. Sleep in. Read a good book. Nap. Laugh. Have a long soak. Go for a drive in the countryside with no destination in mind. Have a slice of pie. Smile. Breathe. Unwind. Forget deadlines and obligations. Forget the clock. Eat only when you’re hungry. Go to bed only when you’re tired. Don’t stand in line. Steer clear of casinos, amusement parks and big cities. People who have disconnected for a week or two describe the experience as heaven. Dropping out of your workaday life is not only good for you, it’s also good for business. When you return to your work rejuvenated, you will enjoy new energy, enthusiasm, creativity and far better productivity. At first, Type A personalities (like me) have difficulty understanding and accepting this advice. Anxiety rises in them just thinking about disconnecting. However, when they get past the anxiety and think a bit further down the road, they see a big business benefit. When they consider the possibility of perhaps doubling their productivity, it all starts making sense.

The Right Leader

John Maxwell in his book,"The Right To Lead" gives us a few positive guidelines on becoming an effective Leader. I found it both interesting and challenging. However,it is so very true that the Right to Lead can only be earned and that takes time.You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go. As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow: 1. Let go of your ego. The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things." 2. Become a good follower first. Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first – and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School. 3. Build positive relationships. Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with. 4. Work with excellence. No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable. 5. Rely on discipline, not emotion. Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you – when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead – that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion. 6. Make adding value your goal. When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership – and its highest value. 7. Give your power away. One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.

Everybody Has a Dream

In one of my previous Organization I had a very senior colleague named Paul,who taught me not only to handle marketing effectively but also to deal with life cheerfully. It was one of those hectic days...management meeting,sales calls,planning my travel schedule,booking hotels,arranging appointments and the list was endless.By the end of the day,I was not only exhausted but was getting irritated with myself and everyone around me. It was at this time that Paul invited me to his house for a quiet "chill out". We made our way to Paul's house, although tired, I was all excited to chat up with Paul and share and learn through his rich experiences in Marketing. As we entered the main door to his house, Paul started singing that ABBA's all time favourite:I have a dream,a song to sing,to help me thru' in everything...... and so on.I was in no mood to listen to his song, I wanted to hear about how he handled tricky sales calls! As I leaned over Paul's shoulder to tell him just that,I was totally awe stricken at what I saw next.Two young girls aged between 17 & 20 walked upto Paul and hugged him..they couldn't walk steadily,neither could they talk properly,their faces were full of smiles but they too sang a song:"No mummy's kisses only Daddy's smiles,nobody wants us, daddy can you hug us tonight". I was still standing and watching all that was going on,totally lost in the beautiful singing, when Paul tapped me on my shoulder and asked me to sit down. Curious to know,I asked Paul, who these girls were, I knew that Paul lived in that house but I had never seen these girls. Over a much refreshing cup of tea and hot samosas,Paul went on to explain: I too have a dream, a dream to make these girls happy.They are my daughters and they were born as "Special children"{mentally challenged} and he further added,they dont have a Mother,"my wife died when they were very young" and that he is both a Mother & Father to these beautiful daughters.(of course he had a day time maid. I was moved to tears, in office this man never showed what he was going through in his personal life or ever looked for "special privileges" from his higher ups or any sympathy from his friends and colleagues,in fact he always helped us at the office and being the Head of the Department always motivated us to move forward in life. Paul's life has been an inspiration to me eversince,"If a man can smile through these so called troubles in life and yet excel in Corporate world, was there something that was keeping Paul happy and smiling inspite of his hectic schedule"? Probing a little further,I found that every night after the daughters were put to sleep,he would spend " silent time" with his creator, who not only strengthened him and gave him the courage but also helped him to move forward in life with a smile on his face. I finished my tea and was now making my way out, when Paul said to me:"All of us have dreams,and sometimes shattered ones, take it to God in prayer and He will make your dreams whole".How true I said to myself and I seen that today! As he bid me good bye and I turned to walk away from him,I heard in that distant night Paul's voice once again singing that song to his daughters: I have a dream, a song to sing, to help me through in everything.... and then the daughters singing to Paul: "No mummy's kisses only Daddy's smiles,nobody wants us, daddy can you hug us tonight". The song faded as my cab moved away into the dark and lonely streets of Mumbai.

A Humanity Race

It was a Sports Stadium. Eight Children were standing on the track to participate in a running event. * Ready! * Steady! * Bang !!! With the sound of Toy pistol, All eight girls started running. Hardly had they covered ten to fifteen steps, when one of the smaller girls slipped and fell down, Due to bruises and pain she started crying. When the other seven girls heard the little girl cry they stopped running, stood for a while and turned back. Seeing the girl on the track they all ran to help. One among them bent down, picked her up and kissed her gently And enquired as to how she was.. They then lifted the fallen girl pacifying her. Two of them held her firmly while all seven joined hands together and walked together towards the winning post........ .. There was pin drop silence at the spectator's stand. Officials were shocked. Slow claps multiplied to thousands as the spectators stood up in appreciation. Many eyes were filled with tears And perhaps even God's! YES.!! This happened in Hyderabad [ INDIA ], recently! The sport was conducted by National Institute of Mental Health. All these special girls had come to participate in this event They were special children. Yes, they were Mentally Challenged. What did they teach the WORLD.? Teamwork.? Humanity.? Equality among all.?? Successful people help others who are slow in learning So that they are not left far behind. This is really a great message... Spread it.! We rarely find this unity,teamwork amongst us, why? Is it because we have taken everything and everyone for granted?

TRUE CONCERN FOR OTHERS

There is a true story narrated by Roy Popkin of a very touching experience.An old man collapsed on a street corner in Brooklyn, New York and was rushed to kings County Hospital. The nurse on duty, after some inquiry discovered that a certain marine stationed in North carolina might be the man's son. She called the officer-in-charge and requested that the marine be sent to the hospital. When the marine arrived, she took him immediately to the bedside of the dying man and said, "Your son's here". the old man was heavily sedated but slowly he reached out his hand.the marine grasped it gently and held it for the next four hours. The nurses asked the marine to go out and relax for a while,but he didn't.After the man died, the marine asked the nurse,"Who was that man?" Wasn't he your father? the nurse questioned. "No" said the marine, but I saw that he was dying and needed a son badly, so I stayed. Here we have a beautiful example of love and Concern which is supposed to be practised by all irrespective of what religion or background we come from. Truly Love & Concern has no limits,no relatives and embraces all in a special way. True Concern has no limits and is unconditional. It recognizes every one as a human being in need of Love. After all No man can live as an Island.

The Legend of the Cap and Gown

Long ago, in ancient Greece, when formal education was for the very rich or the very determined, a wise old teacher was approached by a group of noblemen. “Our sons have completed their studies and it’s is time for them to return to their homes and live in the style befitting their station. Tomorrow we will present them at a great banquet. Be sure they are appropriately dressed in their finest robes.” The following day, the banquet hall was filled with royalty dressed in dazzling finery. The great moment came when the students entered the banquet hall with their beloved teacher. A cry of disappointment arose from the crowd, for behold their young men were dressed not in the garments of the noble but in simple robes of sackcloth, each carrying a mortarboard - the mark of a common workman! “What is the meaning of this?” cried the noblemen. “Our sons were to be dressed in their finest garments!” The wise teacher replied, “But they are! Your sons are dressed in the clothing of the mason, for their destiny is to build. Some, as architects, will build cities, some as teachers, will build lives; some as physicians, will restore bodies - but all will be builders on the solid foundation of knowledge.” And to this day all graduates wear a cap and gown - proudly symbolizing the value of education, and the fact that they are builders of their future and the future of our world. We cannot all be great and famous in the sense in which these two words are usually defined, but all of us can use what time and talents God has given us to help others. “There is no greater sermon than a sermon in shoes,” leaving a shining footprint for someone else to follow.

No Problem Lasts Forever

No problem lasts forever. No matter how permanently fixed in the center of our lives it may seem, whatever we experience in this ever-changing life is sure to pass. Even pain.

Difficult situations often bring out qualities in us that otherwise might not have risen to the surface, such as courage, faith, and our need for one another. All of our experiences can help us to grow.

But we may need patience. Some wounds cannot be healed quickly. They must be given time. In the meantime, we can appreciate the new capabilities we are developing, such as the capacity to bear up and the willingness to accept. Let us share our losses and triumphs with each other, for that is how we gather courage.

Be Blessed+

When I was eight, I moved to Sao Paulo, Brazil (from Cuiaba, Brazil) where I began to play soccer (football). I have always loved to play soccer.
I played on the Junior Team for Sao Paulo in 2000. We were in the middle of the Paulista Junior Championships when I received a yellow card. I was suspended for the following game, so I took advantage of the free weekend to visit my grandparents, who lived in Caldas Novas at the time.
My brother, my parents, my grandparents and I went to a water park. As I was coming down one of the slides into the pool, I hit my head on the bottom of the pool and my neck snapped. I fractured the sixth vertebra in my neck. At the time, I had no idea what happened.
I returned to Sao Paulo to train on Monday, as well as on Tuesday, all the while with a broken neck. On Tuesday, I called the coach and the physical trainer and told them that I couldn't bear the pain any longer. They sent me to see a doctor at the hospital where they took another x-ray. It was in this x-ray that the fracture in the sixth vertebra was shown. Everyone, including the doctors, told me I was very lucky that nothing more serious happened. They told me that I could have become paralyzed and lost my ability to walk and to play soccer. I believe it was not luck. I believe God was protecting me during that time from anything more serious.
Many people think that I became a Christian after the accident, but that is not true. My parents are Christians and they raised me with biblical values. The accident happened in October of 2000 while I was playing in the "base" position on the Sao Paulo junior team. Throughout November and December, I had to wear a cervical collar and could not play.
I began to play again in January of 2001, and after about 10 or 15 days, I was called to play for the Sao Paulo professional team. Because of this, I believe God had a purpose in that accident. It is something that happened just before I had the great blessing of starring as a professional in Sao Paulo and initiating my career as a professional soccer player.
As I said before, my parents always taught me the Bible and its values, and also about Jesus Christ and faith. I did not have a specific conversion experience, but little by little, I stopped simply hearing people talk about the Jesus my parents taught me [about], and there came a time when I wanted to live my own experiences with God. One of these experiences with God was when I was baptized at the age of 12. This was a very important step in my walk with Jesus and soon after many things began to happen in my life where I could experience God in a real way.
I need Jesus every day of my life. Jesus tells me in the Bible that without Him I can't do anything. I have the gift and capacity today to play soccer because God gave it to me. The day He wants me to do something else, I will do that something else and this is why I need Jesus in my life every day. I am successful in my financial life and in my professional life, but all this has come from God and is a gift of grace from Him for my life. All that I have, I thank Him for.
The difference Jesus makes in my life is that I know I will always have victory, I will always have joy, and I will always have success. This is independent of the situations I face or will face. This brings me great peace.
I usually tell the people who ask, that the Bible is like the user's manual that comes when you buy a product. It has everything we need in it. It makes me happy to read the Bible every day, to study it and to be in fellowship with God and learn more and more about Jesus.
I will win many matches and I will lose many matches, but I know that in all of them, God has a plan. This is why I try to understand the plan of God for me in each moment so that I can have peace during times of pressure.
Everyone wants to be a winner, but for me, the true meaning of winning is having Jesus in my life. It is a life of prayer, a life of intimacy and a lifelong friendship, knowing that God is our Father. I can say that I am a winner and I am victorious because Jesus lives in my life. No, I will never stop following Him.