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THE MONKEY STORY And God looked down and saw that all the little monkeys were cold and shivering. One bat of His eye and a streak of lightning split the sky and struck a tree right in the middle of the forest. As the tree began to burn, the little monkeys were very happy. They all gathered around the great fire and warmed their hands, then their ears. They held up their feet and turned around and wagged their tails. But then, the fire started to die down. This made the monkeys crowd closer until there wasn't any room to be comfortable. Then fights started---name calling, shoving, pushing; the less fire, the more conflict. Rocks were thrown, bloody noses, black eyes and twisted tails were all over the place. Finally, the fire died down to an ember. Soon that, too, went out and the remaining two monkeys separated and shivered on off into the cold, cold forest. Laying all around on of the forest floor were bits and pieces of bark, tree limbs, leaves and other readily burned material. Had there been just one monkey who knew how to put one piece of wood on the fire, the fire would have remained with them. Another ending to this tale is that one monkey KNEW what to do. Grabbing a stick of wood he ran toward the fire. The other monkeys, thinking he was going to hurt them, mistook his intentions and would not let him near the fire, but rather beat him up and left him worse off for his knowledge. Love is very much like that fire, and many times we are just like the little monkeys. Instead of fussing and fighting, we should put some wood (kindness, kind words, surprise gifts, attention, etc.) on the fire to keep it burning. Hark! One person knew that to put wood on the fire keeps it burning, but security of other relationships (relatives and friends) sometimes seemed threatened by his efforts. Some even became jealous. Wishing to protect themselves, they mistook his intentions and not only rebuffed him, but joined forces in vilifying his name and efforts. The poor soul was then confused and worse off for all his knowledge. With no wood, the fire died... and he was left standing with a stick of wood in his hand. |
SAINTS AND SINNERS When some fellow yields to temptation We look for no good in his makeup, No one asks, "Who did the tempting?" His name becomes food for the jealousy, I'm a sinner, O Lord, and I know it. I am tossed on life's stormy ocean I am willing to trust in Thy mercy, But deliver me, Lord, from the judgment And breaks a conventional law, Oh Lord, how we look for the flaw! Not allows for the battles he's fought The saints who have never been caught. I am weak, and I blunder and fail, Like a ship that is caught in a gale To keep the commandments Thou'st taught Of the saints who have never been caught. --Veda Ponikvar. |
The City of Light. MEDITATION OAKWOOD, JT'44-'45. (1) I heard of a city, Down where the Jordan roll. A city called heaven, Where we shall ne'er grow old.
(2) For that heavenly beauty, My heart is filled with love. For my dear Redeemer, Who lives and reigns above.
(Chorus)
A city of light, Down where the Jordan roll. Where angels are waiting, And we shall ne'er grow old. |