Thursday, May 17, 2007

CANADA GEESE

Today (May 17), I went for my routine lunch hour jog around Wascana Lake. As I run past the the majestic Legislative Building, I met my usual 'friends.' The Canada Geese were out there staring at me as if to say, "What fun is in running?" Usually, they scatter about as my footsteps get closer to them. Today, they chose to remain put! They all raised their heads as I approached.They were not even quacking! They were about 6. Naturally, I stopped. Strangely, they took to their feet when I stopped. I wondered why they felt threatened when I stood there motionless but not when I was running.

The Canada Geese in Wascana Park are certainly a natural wonder and yes, they are from the same stock as the famous Loon that people associate with the Canadian one dollar coin. My encounter with these creatures did not leave a very impressionable memory. I however learnt that weak things are often chosen to shame the wise and teach us a simple lesson that being the greatest startss from being humble. I wouldn't have imagined that a great countyr like Canada would choose a quaking duck to be a national bird that for generations to come will remain on the face of the Canadian dollar. In their simplicy and lack of intelligence, I am beginning to respect the Canada Geese around Wascana Lake inspite of the mess that they leave behind as droppings!

Thursday, May 10, 2007

LILI'S STORY

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li gotmarried & went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalitieswere very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of hermother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress. Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr.Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said,"Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you." Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whateveryou tell me to do." Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Everyother day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you, when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her."Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen."Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially prepared food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months had passed, the whole householdhad changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with. The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li hanged, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother anddaughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li went to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again She said, "Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law. She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her." Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li,there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her." HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others isexactly how they will treat you? There is a wise Chinese saying: "The person who loves others will also be loved in return." God might betrying to work in another person's life through you.

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