Building Your House
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you."
The carpenter was shocked!
What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.
But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!

Sri Sri Speaks at Ashram

‘There is no rest deeper than meditation’

Bangalore (India), May 22:

Today, India has a new government. There are two pieces of advice for the new government:

First, advice for those who won. They should think that ‘We won, people have trusted us. So, we should be humble.’ Increase humility. See those who lost with love. Sympathize with them. When a war is fought, it's a different situation: you fight. But when the war is over, the situation becomes different. Embrace the enemy. Start the process of healing wounds.

20 dollar bill

$20.00.
Sometimes we just need to be reminded!
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill.
In the room of 200, he asked,
"Who would like this $20 bill?"
Hands started going up.
He said,
"I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.
He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.
He then asked,
"Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

Well, he replied,
"What if I do this?"
He dropped it on the ground
And
Started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.
"Now, who still wants it?"
Still the hands went into the air.

My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson.

No matter what I did to the money,
You still wanted it because it did not decrease in value.
It was still worth $20.
Many times in our lives,
We are;
Dropped,
Crumpled,
And
Ground into the dirt
By
The decisions we make,
And
The circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless.
But, no matter what has happened or
What will happen,
You will never lose your value.
Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased,
You are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know,
But by WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE.
You are special -
Don't EVER forget it"

If you do not pass this on,
You may never know the lives it touches,
The hurting hearts it speaks to,
Or
The hope that it can bring.
Count your blessings,
Not your problems.
"And remember:
Amateurs built the ark ..
Professionals built the Titanic.
If God brings you to it -
He will bring you through it.