A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

  The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the young percussionists as they banged their way down the street. Stopping them, he said, "You kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you express your exuberance like that. Used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I'll give you each a dollar if you'll promise to come around every day and do your thing."

  The kids were elated and continued to do a bang-up job on the trash cans. After a few days, the old-timer greeted the kids again, but this time he had a sad smile on his face. "This recession's really putting a big dent in my income," he told them. "From now on, I'll only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans." The noisemakers were obviously displeased,

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  but they did accept his offer and continued their afternoon ruckus.

  A few days later, the wily retiree approached them again as they drummed their way down the street. "Look," he said, "I haven't received my Social Security check yet, so I'm not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents. Will that be okay?"

  "A lousy quarter?" the drum leader exclaimed. "If you think we're going to waste our time, beating these cans around for a quarter, you're nuts! No way, mister. We quit!" And the old man enjoyed peace and serenity for the rest of his days.

  Gentle Spaces News

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  8

  ECLECTIC WISDOM

  Life is a succession of lessons which

  must be lived to be understood.

  Helen Keller

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  Wisdom

  Three cowboys had been riding the range since early in the morning. One of them was a member of the Navajo Nation. Being busy with herding stray cattle all day, there had been no time for the three of them to eat. Toward the end of the day, two of the cowboys started talking about how hungry they were and about the huge meals they were going to eat when they reached town. When one of the cowboys asked the Navajo if he was also hungry, he just shrugged his shoulders and said, ''No."

  Later that evening, after they had arrived in town, all three ordered large steak dinners. As the Navajo proceeded to eat everything in sight with great gusto, one of his friends reminded him that less than an hour earlier he had told them that he was not hungry. "Not wise to be hungry then," he replied. "No food."

  Author Unknown

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  Napoleon and the Furrier

  Do not look back in anger, or forward in fear, but around in awareness.

  James Thurber

  During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, his troops were battling in the middle of yet another small town in that endless wintry land, when he was accidentally separated from his men. A group of Russian Cossacks spotted him and began chasing him through the twisting streets. Napoleon ran for his life and ducked into a little furrier's shop on a side alley. As Napoleon entered the shop, gasping for breath, he saw the furrier and cried piteously, "Save me, save me! Where can I hide?" The furrier said, "Quick, under this big pile of furs in the corner," and he covered Napoleon up with many furs.

  No sooner had he finished than the Russian Cossacks burst in the door, shouting "Where is he? We saw him come in." Despite the furrier's protests, they tore his shop apart trying to find Napoleon. They poked into the pile of furs with their swords but didn't find him. Soon, they gave up and left.

  After some time, Napoleon crept out from under the furs, unharmed, just as Napoleon's personal guards came in the door. The furrier turned to

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  Napoleon and said timidly, "Excuse me for asking this question of such a great man, but what was it like to be under those furs, knowing that the next moment would surely be your last?"

  Napoleon drew himself up to his full height and said to the furrier indignantly, "How could you ask such a question of me, the Emperor Napoleon! Guards, take this impudent man out, blindfold him and execute him. I, myself, will personally give the command to fire!"

  The guards grabbed the poor furrier, dragged him outside, stood him up against a wall and blindfolded him. The furrier could see nothing, but he could hear the movements of the guards as they slowly shuffled into a line and prepared their rifles, and he could hear the soft ruffling sound of his clothing in the cold wind. He could feel the wind tugging gently at his clothes and chilling his cheeks, and the uncontrollable trembling in his legs. Then he heard Napoleon clear his throat and call out slowly, "Ready . . . aim . . ." In that moment, knowing that even these few sensations were about to be taken from him forever, a feeling that he couldn't describe welled up in him as tears poured down his cheeks.

  After a long period of silence, the furrier heard footsteps approaching him and the blindfold was stripped from his eyes. Still partially blinded by the sudden sunlight, he saw Napoleon's eyes looking deeply and intently into his owneyes that seemed to see into every dusty corner of his being. Then Napoleon said softly, "Now you know."

  Steve Andreas

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  Footprints

  One night I dreamed a dream.

  I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

  Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

  For each scene, I noticed two sets

  of footprints in the sand,

  one belonging to me

  and one to my Lord.

  When the last scene of my life shot before me

  I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

  There was only one set of footprints.

  I realized that this was at the lowest

  and saddest times of my life.

  This always bothered me

  and I questioned the Lord

  about my dilemma.

  "Lord, you told me when I decided to follow You,

  You would walk and talk with me all the way.

  But I'm aware that during the most troublesome

  times of my life there is only one set of footprints.

  I just don't understand why, when I needed You most,

  You leave me."

  He whispered, "My precious child,

  I love you and will never leave you

  never, ever, during your trials and testings.

  When you saw only one set of footprints

  it was then that I carried you."

  Margaret Fishback Powers

  Copyright ©1964 by Margaret Fishback Powers

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  Through a Child's Eyes

  An old man sat in his rocker day after day.

  Fixated in his chair, he promised not to remove himself from this spot until he saw God.

  On one fine spring afternoon, the old man rocking in his chair, relentless in his visual quest of God, saw a young girl playing across the street. The little girl's ball rolled into the old man's yard. She ran to pick it up and as she bent down to reach for the ball, she looked at the old man and said, "Mr. Old Man, I see you every day rocking in your chair and staring off into nothing. What is it that you are looking for?"

  "Oh, my dear child, you are yet too young to understand," replied the old man.

  "Maybe," replied the young girl, "but my momma always told me if I had something in my head I should talk about it. She says to get a better understanding. My momma always says 'Miss Lizzy share your thoughts.' Share, share, share, my momma always says."

  "Oh, well, Miss Lizzy child, I do not think you could help me," grunted the old man.

  "Possibly not, Mr. Old Man, sir, but maybe I can help just listening."

  "All right, Miss Lizzy child, I am looking for God."

  "With all due respect, Mr. Old Man, sir, you rock back and forth in that chair day after day in search of God?" Miss Lizzy responded, puzzled.

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  "Why, yes. I need to believe before my death that there is a God. I need a sign and I have yet to have seen one," said the old man.

  "A sign, sir? A sign?" said Miss Lizzy, now quite confused by the old man's words. "Mr. Old Man, sir, God gives you a sign when you breathe
your next breath. When you can smell fresh flowers. When you can hear the birds sing. When all of the babies are born. Sir, God gives you a sign when you laugh and when you cry, when you feel the tears roll from your eyes. It is a sign in your heart to hug and to love. God gives you a sign in the wind and in the rainbows and the change in the seasons. All of the signs are there, but do you not believe in them? Mr. Old Man, sir, God is in you and God is in me. There is no searching because he, she or whatever may be is just here all of the time."

  With one hand on her hip and the other hand flailing about the air, Miss Lizzy continued, "Momma says, 'Miss Lizzy, if you are searching for something monumental, you have closed your eyes because to see God is to see simple things, to see God is to see life in all things.' That is what Momma says."

  "Miss Lizzy, child, you are quite insightful in your knowledge of God, but this that you speak of is yet not quite enough."

  Lizzy walked up to the old man and placed her young childish hands over his heart and spoke softly into his ear. "Sir, it comes from in here, not out there," pointing to the sky. "Find it in your heart, in your own mirror. Then, Mr. Old Man, sir, you will see the signs."

  Miss Lizzy, walking back across the street, turned to the old man and smiled. Then, as she bent down to smell the flowers, she shouted, "Momma always says, 'Miss Lizzy, if you are looking for something monumental, you have closed your eyes.' "

  Dee Dee Robinson

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  A Sense of a Goose

  Next fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying along in "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

  People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

  When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it aloneand quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

  If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are.

  When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

  It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

  Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

  What messages do we give when we honk from behind?

  Finallyand this is importantwhen a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of

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  formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their group.

  If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

  Author Unknown

  Page 309

  I Know He Goes to War

  I can't tell you of ever finding God in church

  and I can't remember feeling He was near me

  when I went there.

  I do remember seeing a lot of friendly smiling faces

  and people dressed in all their nice clothes.

  Somehow, I always felt uneasytoo many people, too close.

  No, I don't remember seeing God in church

  but I hear His name there constantly.

  Some ask, "Have you been born again?

  If so, when?" And I don't understand!

  I did feel God in Vietnam

  almost every day.

  I felt Him when, after an all-night fire fight,

  He sent the sun to chase the rain away; and the rain

  would return with majesty the very next day.

  He was there when I collected Sergeant Moore's body parts to put in a body bag.

  He was there when I wrote a letter to his widow explaining how he died.

  He was behind me when I heard Sergeant Sink's last dying gasp.

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  He helped me carry Sergeant Swanson down a hill in the An Loe Valley.

  I caught a glimpse of God when I felt the heat of napalm

  called on our own position, May 27, 1967.

  I felt Him around me when

  the chaplain would hold field services for our dead.

  I saw His reflection in the faces of my men

  when I told them to save one bullet for themselves

  as we were about to be overrun one hot steamy day in a 'Nam far away.

  He led me in the Lord's Prayer on every air assault

  as we stood on the skids coming in at treetop level.

  When we set up our night ambushes

  and I couldn't see my own hands because of the darkness,

  I would feel His hands.

  He sent loneliness to guarantee the fond memories

  that always appear later in life.

  I'll always remember the strength God gave to the orphans

  the children of war.

  He made them strong, but they didn't understand.

  I know after 25 years, we sleep under the same star.

  He sent boys to war. They returned young men;

  their lives forever changed,

  proud to protect the land

  of the free.

  I don't know if God goes to church,

  but I know He goes to war.

  Dr Barry L. McAlpine

  First Squadron

  Ninth U.S. Cavalry

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  The Bike Ride

  Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you stop pedaling.

  Claude Pepper

  U.S. Congressman

  At first I saw God as an observer, like my judge, keeping track of things I did wrong. This way, God would know whether I merited heaven or hell when I died. He was always out there, sort of like the President. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn't really know Him at all.

  But later on, when I recognized my higher power better, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride, on a tandem bike, and I noticed God was in the back helping me pedal.

  I don't know when it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. . . . life with my higher power, that is, making life much more exciting.

  When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable. It was always the shortest distance between the points.

  But when He took the lead, He knew delightful cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds; it was all I could do to hang on!

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  Even though it looked like madness, He kept saying, ''Pedal, pedal!"

  I worried and became anxious, asking, "Where are you taking me?" He just laughed and didn't answer, and I found myself starting to trust. I soon forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure, and when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand.

  He took me to people with gifts that I needed; gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey. Our journey, that is, God's and mine.