I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS

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"Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters. This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting."

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
1749-1832, Poet, Dramatist and Novelist

This is a quote by Goethe but it could just of easily been from "Think and Grow Rich." Napoleon Hill believed the same thing, perform faithful service,necessary service.

"First do what is necessary, then do what is possible and suddenly you will be doing the impossible." Some people blame themselves for things they cannot do, or the disappointment of others, or their own failings; but in their distress they forget that God does not expect us to be successful...only faithful. We must remember this when the necessary seems impossible. From the sorrow some strength will come." This is an excerpt from a movie with Cheech Marin in it as a Mexican Priest, as i mentioned yesterday. (and in the movie, pigs fly)

We are the likeness of God...God-like and as such, we must act like God. We should be "going about our father's business." I was fortunate enough to catch "The Loretta Young Show" on EWTN through my Comcast Service, and I remembered how much I used to love watching her when I was a child. What I didn't remember was that every show had a lesson and her favorite phrase was, "I must be about my father's business." She played a Nurse in a Catholic hospital where many of the nurses were Nuns. Every time she ran across a needy patient, she would go to the chapel to pray for guidance and while there, they would call her over the loud speaker to attend to an emergency or a patient. She always managed to accomplish what was needed. In one of the shows she was handed a $5.00 bill as a Christmas gift from a young girl that volunteered at the hospital because her only sister and family had moved and she was all alone for the holidays. The Nun put the $5.00 into the pocket of her habit and "went about her father's business," she was paged over the loud speaker to attend to a very disturbed patient who had been burned severely, and lost his sight. She managed to help calm him down and give him a morphine shot to ease the pain. A short time goes by and it is time to begin to ween him off the morphine, and he is screaming so they page her and she tries to convince him that he is going to have to go much longer without the medication or it will just be more difficult to get off it later, as she begs him to hang on a little longer. He gets really angry and she decides that he is not going to listen to her and as she is leaving, to get the shot for him, even after telling him it is only going to be worse the next day, he stops her when she reaches the door. When she goes back to his bedside he says "just five more minutes right, Butch?" He doesn't realize that she is a Nun because he has his eyes bandaged from the burns. When he agrees to wait, she reaches into the pocket of her habit and finds the $5.00 bill, she calls one of the nurses and hands her the money and tells her to go across the street and buy some magazines for men about sports, fishing, etc..She begins to read to him and they manage to stretch it our for an hour, without the medication. The story goes on to where he is about to get his sight back and he tells her he can't wait to see her (like he is coming on to her) and she apologizes, and tells him that she is a Nun, which makes him very angry (again). The day that they take off the bandages, she asks the young girl that gave her the money to be at his bedside with her as they take off his bandages. Well naturally, the first thing he sees is the pretty young girl and the rest is history, so to speak.

The point to why I just rambled on about these shows is this, (I am addicted to television, just kidding)if we are made in the image of God, then we treat others as we would have them treat us, even with the smallest of tasks. What takes place then is God responds with the tools we need to help with this small task, answer the question,or the prayer so we can "go about our father's business." We can offer faithful service. Faithful service is believing that our prayers will be answered, and it doesn't matter who or what we are praying for, he will answer. (It just
might not always be "YES") So be sure to take the time to listen. I like to do my listening through meditation. Have you listened for the answers from God?" )or if you prefer the term "The Universe?) Take the time to listen and the answers will come.

This is actually a pep talk for me, I just thought it might be of benefit to others...I hope it does.

BE THE VALLEY OF THE UNIVERSE!

Image via WikipediaIt seems to me that all the messages from the Universe to me today, are all saying the same thing. I listened to The DTAlpha Talkback today, where Stephen Pierce always gives me the right word, every time. In his talk today, he mentioned Napoleon Hill, and those that know me, know my feelings about Napoleon Hill. He was the most selfless human on the planet, but he knew exactly what he wanted out of life. Money was never his purpose, it was knowledge. He was not only willing to work many years for Dale Carnegie for no pay, he was obsessed doing it, and humbled when asked if he would. Really, how many people do you know like that? I have to say that only in the past year have I come into contact with people like that. People who do with no expectations. Expectation of knowledge is nothing like expectation of reward, money, glory, or fame. Knowledge is something we should all be burning inside for. Choosing to learn something new everyday should be our purpose in life.

I had an appointment at the Dentist today, I'm having some oral surgery done and while I was there I was reading a chapter of "A New Earth", this is what caught my eye "Instead of trying to be a mountain, teaches the ancient TAO Te Ching, "Be the Valley of the Universe." In this way, you are restored to wholeness and so, all things will come to you." Am I right or what, that is how Napoleon Hill thought. He knew that focus on his work was where his reward would come from. He did not live everyday trying to learn how to be rich, he spent everyday learning...and then, thank God, teaching others through his writing. I am blessed to have that knowledge and it got me through this day with a smile on my face. It certainly did not hurt my day when I got to my Dentist's office and everyone there was so sweet. They were just all so happy with their work. I mentioned that to the hygienist and she said, "yes, we are like one big family here." It really shows, and it becomes so infectious. How many times have you left your Dentist's office smiling and singing. I did today! What a great day!

MOTIVATION VS BATHING?

Image via Wikipedia"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."
Zig Ziglar

My computer, lately has developed a mind of it’s own. I do not know how they do that, but every computer I have ever owned, eventually, controls me more than I control it. Being obstinate this weekend, it gave me some time to catch up on some significant reading.

Reading is an essential tool in any phase of life. Not all people share that idea, but more should. The more knowledge we acquire the more direct our life becomes. I have been criticized for not always knowing what I want out of my life. Luckily I have learned that “what other people think of me is not my business”. I think that has become my motto because I use it at least once a day. My friends and I have made it part of our “SAD”.
“SAD” is single action daily, like in the quote above by Zig Ziglar. Having inspiration daily can come in different ways. I get several quotes in my emails daily that I pass along with a joke to keep my family’s spirits high each day. As a leader I have always had the need for knowing exactly how to motivate others and words of inspiration seem to be the most direct way to do that. I have a collection of affirmations that I am attempting to commit to memory. There is one for every day of the year.

Success in everything you ever do, can only be claimed through motivation, and motivation can be received from inspiration. Napoleon hill refers to it as DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE. I have never heard anyone becoming successful by accident. There may be success through inheritance, if we are talking about money or business, but personal success starts from within and moves without….The inspiration that I share is both within and without. I like to share my inspiration, my joy, my love for all things beautiful, there is no joy in just keeping them for myself. The real joy is in what you give “without” from “within.”