“CAN YOU SLEEP WHEN THE WIND BLOWS?”

The following story is a superb metaphorical exposition of the level of preparedness.

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings & crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. 'Are you a good farm hand?' the farmer asked him.

'Well! I can sleep when the wind blows,' answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk & the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. 

Then one night the wind howled loudly from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern & rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man &  yelled, 'Get up! A storm is coming!

Tie things down before they blow away!' The little man rolled over in bed & said firmly, 'No Sir! I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.  

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops & the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

REFLECTION!

When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, & physically, you have nothing to fear. You can sleep when the wind blows through your life?

The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.

The above story goes on to talk about trials & tribulations in life & if we do our best to understand, accept & implement the principles learnt by us we will experience a deep sense of security, peace & joy from within! 

We will then be able to 'Sleep when the wind blows!'

Play the Battle Drums

A king had many elephants, but one elephant was very powerful, very obedient, sensible and skillful in fighting skills. In many wars, he was sent on the battlefield and he would return only after being victorious. He was the most loved elephant of the king. Time went by and the elephant started getting old. He wasn't able to perform as before. The king did not send him to the battlefield anymore but he still remained a part of the king's team.  

The elephant once went to the lake for a drink. His feet got stuck in the mud there and he started sinking into it. He tried a lot, but he couldn't pull himself out of the mud. People knew the elephant was in trouble by the sound of his screams. The news also reached the king. The king and the people gathered around the elephant and made various efforts to get him out. But there was no way out.

An old retired minister from the King's court was passing by. He stopped on seeing the king. After understanding the situation, he spoke to the king and suggested that the battle drums be played around the lake. The listeners felt bizarre how the trapped elephant would come out by playing the drums. However, as soon as the drums of war started ringing, there was a change in the behaviour of the troubled elephant.

The elephant slowly stood up and then pulled himself out of the mud on his own, shocking everyone.

There wasn't a lack of physical ability in the elephant. Just the need to infuse enthusiasm within was required. 

To maintain enthusiasm in life, it is necessary that humans maintain a purposeful thinking & mindset and do not let despair dominate.

In today’s challenging times, we all need to infuse enthusiasm in ourselves & the people around us by playing the battle drums. We need to Celebrate Abundance of good health, Joy & Happiness.

Stop asking people how these tough times are treating them. Instead share the happy moments and the interesting things that are happening around.

There are a lot of good things happening around. Let's be grateful for those. Make sure the battle drums are played not to indicate war but to declare victory in the battle of difficult times with the support of the wonderful people around.

The First Sign of Civilisation

Years ago, an anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones. 

But no. Mead said the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur( thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for drink or hunt for  food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animals survives a broken leg enough for the bone to heal .

The broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone had taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said”

Moral of the story: We are at our best when we serve others.

Have You Earned Your Tomorrow

By Edgar Guest

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
     Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through;
     Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?
Or a churlish sort of "Howdy" and then vanish in the throng?
Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way,
Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast,
     That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said;
     Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?
     Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?
As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say,
     You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?