1# The Courage Of A President
When Woodrow Wilson was the President of the United States, he was facing some difficulties with Old Mexico. In one skirmish before the American marines captured Vera Cruz, some Americans lost their lives. Their bodies were brought to New York and arrangements were made for a grand funeral.
Despite all the rumours of plots to assassinate him, the President insisted on taking part in the funeral procession. His friends tried their best to stop him from going to New York. The country cannot afford to lose its President, said one of his friends.
On hearing this, the President gave a fitting reply.
2. What is the implication of this story?
ANSWERS
The following poem would motivate one to achieve one’s goal It takes a little courage and a little self-control And some grim determination If you want to reach the goal. It takes a deal of striving, and a firm and stern-set chin, No matter what the battle, If you are really out to win. There is no easy path to glory, There’s no rosy path to fame Life, however we may view it, Is no simple parlour game. But its prizes call for fighting, For endurance and for grit.
For the rugged disposition and a don’t know when to quit. You must take a blow or
give one, You must risk and you must lose, And expect that in the struggle You
will suffer many a bruise. But you must not whine or falter If a fight you once
begin; Be a man and face the battle that is the only way to win.
2# Attribute Your Success To God
Once, when for more than a month, the crowds had been packing Glasgow’s largest auditorium to hear Billy Graham in his All Scotland Crusade, a newspaper reporter asked the young American evangelist, How do you account for your success? The only explanation I know is God, he said. But why did God choose you? asked the reporter.
Billy Graham’s
answer had the reporter in splits.
QUESTIONS
1. What was Billy Graham’s answer?
2. What is the
implication of this story?
ANSWERS
1. His answer was, “When I get to heaven, that’s the first question I am going to ask God.”
2. His answer reveals the truth that he attributed his success to the grace of God. He had totally surrendered to the will of God. One of the
principles of
Yoga is “ Pray to GOD” which means total surrender to God.
If a person surrenders everything to God, he develops the virtue of
humility. When humility is consciously practiced there is no ego and
self-centred nature.
This will result in total absence of stress and tension which leads to tremendous efficiency in whatever one undertakes. Very few people realize this simple truth.
3# Be Good And Serve Society
A Moral Science teacher once instructed her students to go out and be good. One of the students went out after school hours and walked down the streets, distributing gifts to the poor and helping whoever needed help.
The next day he told the teacher of his good deed. But the teacher was not impressed by his action.
QUESTIONS
1. Why was the teacher not impressed?
2. What is
the implication of this story?
ANSWERS
1. She told him: “I asked you to be good and not to do good.”
2. People may do good without necessarily being good. For example, people offer gifts and other material goods to the poor and downtrodden mainly for publicity and not with the genuine intention to help them.
Goodness stems from good thoughts and intentions.
4# Spend Your Time Productively And Creatively
Once, all the animals of the jungle assembled for an animal party. They began to complain that humans were always taking away things from them. The cow said that humans took away her milk, the hen added that her eggs were taken, the pigs said that their flesh was taken and the whale said that her oil was taken, and so on.
The snail was however the last one to speak, “I have something they want more than anything else in the world and would definitely take away if they could.”
QUESTIONS
1. What was the snail talking about?
2. What is the
implication of this story?
ANSWERS
1. The snail was talking about the time it has. Humans are badly in need of time, but they don’t take it from the snail.
2. Time is the most precious of our possessions. It can neither be borrowed from others, nor can it be lent to anyone. If you want to make full use of your life, you must appreciate the importance of time and self-discipline.
If you are able
to utilize your time appropriately you can enjoy both, your work and leisure.
Self-discipline means the willpower to do those things which you know should be
done, before doing the things you want to do because they are more enjoyable.
By attacking
tasks rather than procrastinating, you will often find time enough to do both.
It is your time that you are spending. You should master your time until you are
willing to master yourself.
5# True Courage Is To Live For Others
In the year 1908, Mrs. J Brookes, one of the telephone operators of Folsom, New Mexico was warned by one of the residents of the hills to flee for her life from the flood speeding to engulf the valley. More than forty families have acknowledged their lives saved by this frail woman, who displayed magnificent courage.
QUESTIONS
1. How did this woman save the lives of the people?
2. What is the
implication of this story?
ANSWERS
1. Mrs. Brookes rejected the opportunity to save herself and employed the hour between the warning received and her own death to call up subscribers by telephone and acquaint them of the danger.
2. True courage is tested in times of trouble by forgetting oneself and doing the best possible for others.
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