| When my son, Jonathan, was much younger,
| |
| | knowing in our hearts and souls.
|
| I would try to help him with some of his
| |
| | There have been hundreds of thousands of
|
| tasks, whether it was his homework,
| |
| | people who've read one or more of my
|
| chores or even just plain, simple advice.
| |
| | books. Among the many wonderful email I
|
| Many a time he would look at me in
| |
| | receive would be one or two short, to the
|
| exasperation and say, "I know that, dad."
| |
| | point comments saying something to the
|
| Even when he did solicit my help
| |
| | effect of, "I know all that already. I've
|
| directly, he would listen, but not "hear"
| |
| | been practicing all that stuff for years
|
| what I had to say.
| |
| | and so you haven't told me anything new."
|
| Now, mind you, I do not claim to be a
| |
| | My feeling is that there is really
|
| paragon of excellent advice or wisdom,
| |
| | nothing new. As the Book of Ecclesiastes
|
| but many of the things I told him would
| |
| | says, "There is nothing new under the
|
| have saved him tremendous amounts of
| |
| | sun." What I think is new is the
|
| time, frustration and heartaches. As
| |
| | interpretation we bring to things, the
|
| Jonathan grew older, he learned to listen
| |
| | different way we look at the information
|
| a bit more, so instead of discounting
| |
| | we receive. We can choose to see if,
|
| most of what he heard, he would evaluate,
| |
| | perhaps, there are any gems in what we
|
| weigh the merits or lack of, and then
| |
| | hear and see or any wisdom in what we
|
| make choices based on what was consistent
| |
| | read or listen to.
|
| with his idea of right and wrong or good
| |
| | By opening up our minds to new
|
| and bad.
| |
| | possibilities, we may find that we are
|
| The Universe speaks to us all the time.
| |
| | being led by that glorious, higher self
|
| It doesn't always do it in ways that we
| |
| | within us to explore possibilities that
|
| expect. Sometimes amessage comes from a
| |
| | have the potential to bring us peace,
|
| friend and at other times, it may be
| |
| | joy, wealth, success -- all good things.
|
| someone we do not really care for who
| |
| | If someone tells you that you shouldn't
|
| brings a very clear message to us. There
| |
| | do something because it doesn't work,
|
| are times when the messages are sent
| |
| | what that person is really saying is that
|
| through dreams, or books, or radio, TV,
| |
| | it doesn't work for him. Listen to your
|
| the Internet and even the more prosaic
| |
| | heart, gather all the information and let
|
| form of the telephone.
| |
| | the Universe show you how to make it
|
| If we close our minds and think that "we
| |
| | work.
|
| know that already," we may miss the one
| |
| | Jonathan listens a lot more these days.
|
| little point that could have saved us a
| |
| | He reflects and thinks about what he
|
| lot of trouble. Keeping an open mind
| |
| | hears, sees or reads. He is willing to
|
| gives us an opportunity to evaluate the
| |
| | listen to points of view that are totally
|
| communications we receive and then make
| |
| | different from his own without getting
|
| decisions based on our own true feelings.
| |
| | defensive as he used to. As a result, he
|
| The story is told about some scientists
| |
| | has become more tolerant, more
|
| who went into an apple orchard to study
| |
| | compassionate and, in many ways, more
|
| apples. They were busy with their
| |
| | successful. He has grown into a fantastic
|
| notepads and pencils, measuring the
| |
| | young man who, I am sure, will bring much
|
| dimensions of the apples they found. They
| |
| | credit to all that he chooses to do.
|
| observed and noted the size, weight and
| |
| | Let us not be like the person in the
|
| colors of the fruit while off to their
| |
| | little ditty who says:
|
| left sat one of their fellow scientists
| |
| | "In matters controversial, my
|
| under a large apple tree. He was quietly
| |
| | perception's really fine. I always see
|
| eating an apple.
| |
| | both points of view -- the one that's
|
| All the other scientists knew about
| |
| | wrong and mine."
|
| apples. The one who was eating the apple
| |
| | Let us, instead, listen to all that comes
|
| knew "apples." Knowing about something
| |
| | to our notice and after reflecting on it,
|
| does not necessarily mean knowing the
| |
| | exhibit the qualities of tolerance,
|
| thing. Knowing about God does not mean
| |
| | peace, understanding and compassion. And
|
| knowing God. Knowing about the secrets
| |
| | as Commander Spock would say, "Live long
|
| and laws of the Universe will not do us
| |
| | and prosper.
|
| much good if there is not the deep
| |
| |
|
