A Soulful Journey

Two yeshiva boys set out to hike from one town to another and on the way became very hungry.   They saw a loaf of bread. The hungry boys were overjoyed at the apparent miracle. One was ready to tear the bread in half and begin eating but the other stopped and spoke. “How can a person they so anxious to eat? Before we eat, let’s look at the beauty of the loaf of bread. It is good to look at. You realize that everything on this earth can be counted as two instead of one, because there is the thing itself and thought that it exists?   It is as if there are two breads. We have the bread and have the thought of bread in our thoughts.” ”Well now that you have given me such a great philosophical explanation I think we can start eating,” the first boy said. ”You may eat,” the other responded. “As for me, I am going to look around first.”   As he walked away his friend ate the whole bread, not leaving a crumb. When the other boy returned he asked, “Where is ...

Bill Ritter tells about TV interview that caught his attention. The person being interviewed was a heroic mother who single-handedly raised a large family. In spite of all the frustrations, disappointments, and obstacles, she persevered and every one of her children had made remarkable achievements. They did well not only in school but in their vocation as well. It was inspiring story for it revealed the heights and depths of human greatness. During the interview, the mother was asked her secret. ”I suppose you loved all your children equally making sure that they all got the same treatment?” The mother replied,   “I loved them. I loved them all, each one of them, but not equally. I loved the one the most that was down until he was up. I loved the one that was most weak until she was strong. I loved the one the most that was hurt until he was healed. I loved the one the most that was lost until she was found.” -Donald J. Shelby

The inhabitants of Baghdad visited the calif to bemoan their sad plight. Each man groaned that he was more unfortunate than his neighbor, and burdened with the heaviest pack of troubles. ”What would you suggest I do?” the calif asked. “There are many wealthy people in your land who are content and carefree. We too, would appreciate a little taste of happiness. Would you grant us the privilege of interchanging our packs with theirs, since their bundles are much lighter than ours? The wise calif summoned all the people to bring forth their bundles of sorrow and pile them in one heap. Before long, a huge mass had collected. The packages were then mixed and tossed around so that no one could distinguish his from his neighbor’s. A line was formed and each man eagerly awaited his turn to choose his good fortune. Suddenly, they paused and considered the assortment of bundles. They realized that troubles are plentiful everywhere.   Each individual had brought a bundl...

Rabbi Stephen Wise was seated next to a woman who tried to impress him with her lineage.   “One of my ancestors witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Independence.” The rabbi responded, “My ancestors were present at the giving of the Ten Commandments.” Think of your heritage.  You have the stuff of greatness in you.

“Are you willing to be sponged out, erased, cancelled, made nothing?   Are you willing to be made nothing? Dipped into oblivion? If not, you will never really change.” -D.H. Lawrence , “Phoenix”

"Winston Churchill had planned his funeral, which took place in Saint Paul's Cathedral.  He included many of the great hymns of the church and used the eloquent Anglican liturgy.  At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of Saint Paul's intoned, after the benediction, the sound of "Taps," the universal sign that says the day is over. "But then came the most dramatic turn: As Churchill had instructed, as soon as "Taps" was finished, another bugler placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of "Reveille" - "It's time to get up.  It's time to get up.  It's time to get up int he morning." That was Churchill's testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be "Taps," it will be "Reveille."  The worst things in life are never the last things." -John R. Claypool, The Worst and the Last, Birmingham, AL