MATURE WISDOM

Reporters interviewing a 104 year-old woman, "And what do you think is
the best thing about being 104?" the reporter asked. She simply
replied, "No peer pressure."
---
The nice thing about being senile is you can hide your own Easter eggs.
---
Just before the funeral services, the undertaker came up to the very
elderly widow and asked, "How old was your husband?" "98," she replied.
"Two years older than me." "So you're 96," the undertaker commented.
She responded, "Hardly worth going home is it?"
---
I've sure gotten old. I've had 2 By-pass surgeries. A hip replacement,
new knees. Fought prostate cancer, and diabetes. I'm half blind, can't
hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications
that make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts. Have bouts
with dementia. Have poor circulation, hardly feel my hands and feet anymore.
Can't remember if I'm 85 or 92. Have lost all my friends. But, Thank
God, I still have my Florida driver's license!
---
A 97 year old man goes into his doctor's office and says, "Doc, I want
my sex drive lowered." "Sir", replied the doctor, "You're 97. Don't you
think your sex drive is all in your head?" "You're damned right it is!"
replied the old man. "That's why I want it lowered!"
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LIFE’S LESSONS

An old woman died after living a long dignified life. When she met God,
she asked him something that had long bothered her. "If Man was created
in God's image, and if all men are created equal, why do people treat
each other so badly?"

God replied that each person who enters our life has a unique lesson to
teach us.

And it is only through these lessons that we learn about life, people,
relationships and God. This confused the woman, so God began to
explain.

"When someone lies to you, it teaches you that things are not always as
they seem. The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look beyond the
masks people wear if you want to know their heart. And remove your own
masks to let people know yours.

When someone steals from you, it teaches you that nothing is forever.
Always appreciate what you have, for you never know when you might lose
it. And never, ever take your friends and family for granted because
today is the only guarantee you have.

When someone mocks you, it teaches you that no two people are alike.
When you encounter people who are different from you, don't judge them by
how they look or act; instead base your opinion on the contents of
their heart.

When someone breaks your heart, it teaches you that loving someone does
not always mean that person will love you back. But don't turn your
back on love because when you find the right person, the joy that one
person brings will make up for all the past hurts put together.

When someone holds a grudge against you, it teaches you that everyone
makes mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can do
is forgive the offender without pretense. Forgiving those who have hurt
us is the most difficult, the most courageous and the noblest thing a
person can do.

When a loved one is unfaithful to you, it teaches you that resisting
temptation is a person’s greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your
resistance against all temptation. By doing so you will be rewarded with an
enduring sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure
by which you were tempted.

When someone cheats you, it teaches you that greed is the root of all
evil. Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they may
be. Do not feel guilty about your success, but never let an obsession
with achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent activities.

When someone ridicules you, it teaches you that nobody is perfect.
Accept people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not ever
reject someone for imperfections over which they have no control."

Upon hearing the Lord's wisdom, the old woman became concerned that
there were no lessons to be learned from a person’s good deeds. God
replied that a person’s capacity to love is the greatest gift (s)he has. At
the root of all kindness is love, and each act of love also teaches us a
lesson.

The woman's curiosity deepening, God once again began to explain.

"When someone loves us, it teaches us that love, kindness, charity,
honesty, humility, forgiveness and acceptance can counteract all the evil
in the world. For every good deed, there is one less evil deed. Each
person alone has the power to control the balance between good and evil,
but because the lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power
is too often abused.

When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence,
consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love or a harsh
lesson of reality?

When you die, will your life have resulted in more loving or hurting?
More comfort or pain? More joy or sadness? Each one of us has power over
the balance of love in the world. Use it wisely."
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FAIRY WIT

A fairy told a married couple: "For being such an exemplary married
couple for 35 years, I will give you each a wish"

"I want to travel around the world with my dearest husband" said the
wife. The fairy moved her magic stick and abracadabra! two tickets
appeared in her hands.

Now it was the husbands turn. He thought for a moment and said: "Well
this moment is very romantic, but an opportunity like this only occurs
once in a lifetime. So....I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a
wife 30 years younger than me." The wife was deeply disappointed but, a
wish was a wish.

The Fairy made a circle with her magic stick and - abracadabra! -
suddenly the husband was 90 years old.
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INNER WISDOM

The old monk sat by the side of the road. With his eyes closed, his
legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap, he sat. In deep meditation
he sat.

Suddenly his zazen was interrupted by the harsh and demanding voice of
a samurai warrior. "Old man! Teach me about heaven and hell!" At
first, as though he had not heard, there was no perceptible response from
the monk. But gradually he began to open his eyes, the faintest hint of a
smile playing around the corners of his mouth as the samurai stood
there, waiting impatiently, growing more and more agitated with each
passing second.

"You wish to know the secrets of heaven and hell?" replied the monk at
last. "You who are so unkempt. You whose hands and feet are covered
with dirt. You whose hair is uncombed, whose breath is foul, whose sword
is all rusty and neglected. You who are ugly and whose mother dresses
you funny. You would ask me of heaven and hell?" The samurai uttered a
vile curse. He drew his sword and raised it high over his head. His face
turned to crimson, and the veins of his neck stood out in bold relief
as he prepared to sever the monk's head from its shoulders.

"That is hell," said the old monk gently, just as the sword began its
descent.

In that fraction of a second, the samurai was overcome with amazement,
awe, compassion and love for this gentle being who had dared to risk
his very life to give him such a teaching. He stopped his sword in
mid-flight and his eyes filled with grateful tears. "And that," said the
monk, "is heaven.”
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SOULFUL MESSAGE

http://www.starspring.com/seekers/soul/soul.html
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Peace, balance, & harmony

Sir Peter of Sedona