3 Questions

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One day there is a man who hurriedly ran to Socrates. So, with gasping he said that he had important information to be conveyed to him.

Socrates whom well known of his wise said, "Brother, before you tell the information, I have three questions for you. First, do you think the news you want to tell is the TRUTH or not? "The man replied," How could I know, it’s a gossip, I do not know if it’s true or not!

Then Socrates asked another question, “Is the information that you will tell, is it good or bad?”. The man replied, “Not really because it speak about other’s badness”.

Last, Socrates asked him, “Well this is my third question, Will you tell the USEFUL?" The man replied, "I think not useful anyway!" "Then do you think you still want to tell that  to me?" Finally, the man cancel his intention to tell Socrates.

Sometimes you should also have to filter the information that delivered to you. In story above, Socrates taught three ways to test the information that come to you. So there are four important test that you can do.

First test is the background source (who told it, are they credible and trustworthy?). Second is test contains (is it sense/rational or not? Is it opposite with your believes or your principle?). Third is benefit test (will it be useful, beneficial or will it hep you or not). Las is the test result (if it is done, what will happen).

Only One String

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A famous violist in the 19th century, named Niccolo Paganini, played a concert in a room fulled with his fans. At that time he played the violin with  full orchestra accompaniment.

Suddenly one of his violin strings broken off, then a cold sweat began to wet his forehead, but he continued to play the song. Very surprising moment, then the others strings was broken off one by one until only one string only. Paganini still continued to play the violin. When the audiences realized that Paganini only has one string and he kept playing, they shouted, "Great, great."

Paganini then told them to sit down after the applause and cheers. The audiences realized that he could not possibly play again with a string. Paganini salute to the audience and give cues to the orchestra conductor to resume the final part of the song. With sparkling eyes, he shouted, "Paganini with the one string!" He then put the violin on his chin and began continue the final part of the song so beautifully.

It is true that sometimes our live are filled with problems, fears, disappointments and a lot of things are not good. To be honest, we often devote too much time concentrating on our broken string and everything that we feel can not be changed.

Do we still think of strings that broke up in our lives? Is the tone of last string not beautiful anymore?

If so, do not look back, keep going and play the only string. Nicely play the one string.

A Story of Big Stones in a Bucket

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A teacher was giving a lesson of good time management for his students. 

The teacher with the spirit is standing in front of the class and said, "Now it's time for a little test." Not long after, he took an empty bucket and put it on the table. Then he filled the bucket with a rock the size of an adult fist. He filled continuously so that no more stones that can be inserted into the bucket.

He asked his students, "Is this bucket full?"

All of the students replied, "Yes." Teachers were also asked, "Really?"

Then from the basket which he prepared earlier, he pulled out a small bag of pebbles. He poured gravel into a bucket, shaking the bucket so that all the gravel down into the cracks between the rocks. Then he once again asked the students, "Well, Is this basket full?"

The students thought for a moment and paused. one student replied, "Maybe not full, sir." "Yes, very good," said the teacher. Then he took out a bag of sand and poured it into a bucket. And he also asked the students again, "All right, Is this basket full?"

The students answered quickly, "Not yet!"

Teachers also responded, "Good. Very good." Then he poured a bottle of water into the bucket up to the brim. Furthermore, he asked, "What is the meaning of that illustration?"

A student vigor answered, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is owned by us, if we try as hard as possible then surely we can do it." "Oh, not really," replied the teacher, "That's not the point."

The point is if we do not enter a "big rock" in advance, then we'll never get them all. 

"What is meant by 'big rock'? Our children, our spouses, our education, the most important things in our lives , teach useful things for other people, doing the work we love, time for ourselves, our health, our friend, our friend or all are precious to us all. 

So, every morning or evening, when we will reflect on this story, ask to yourself, "What is the 'big rocks' in my life?", then Work on it the first time.

A Letter from God

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WHEN you wake up in the morning, I look at you and hope you will talk to me, even though only one word asking my opinion or thanking me for something wonderful things that happen in your life today and yesterday.

However, I see you are so busy preparing to go to work. I returned awaits you when you're ready, I know there will be little time for you to stop and say hello to me, but you're too busy. Somewhere, you sit in a chair for fifteen minutes without doing anything. Then I saw you move your feet. I thought you would talk to me, but you ran to the phone and call someone to listen to the latest news.

I saw you when you go to work and I waited patiently all day. With all your activity, I think you are too busy to say something to me. Before lunch I saw you look around, maybe you feel lazy to talk to me. That's why you do not bow your head. You are looking at three or four tables around you and see some friends talking and calling my name softly before they eat the food that I gave.

But you do not do it. For me it's okay, there's still time left and I wish you would talk to me, even when you go home it seems there are still many things that you must do. Then after your job is finished, you turn on the TV and you spend a lot of time to watch it. Back I waited patiently while you watch TV and enjoy your food, but you forget to talk to me. When you sleep, I think you feel too tired. After saying goodnight to your family, you jump into bed and fall asleep without a word in my name you call. That's okay, because you may not be aware that I am always there for you.

I have to be patient for longer than you ever realized. I even want to teach how to be patient with others. I love you so much. Every day I look forward to a word, prayer, grateful of mind or heart.

Well, you get back up and back I am looking lovingly that today you will give me a little time to greet me. I myself wonder, if one of my thee? Sustenance which I bestowed, health which I give, I treasure Relax, I serve food, children who I rahmatkan? Does it not make you remember me?

Believe me I have always loved you and I still hope one day you will greet me, begging my protection, and prostrate towards me.

Signed,

The always with you at all times,

God the Creator

Beat Your Fear

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There is a worker who always pass the cemetery area every time he go to work and home. One night, when he got home from work, past the graveyard area, suddenly he fell into a deep pit. Tried to rise, but did not succeed because he always stumble back. Finally he thought, "forced to settle overnight in this hole until dawn tomorrow get help."

A moment later, unfortunately fell again a pedestrian who is passing there. The hole is big and dark. He also tried to climb out, but still failed. Then there was a voice that said (the first person), "Dude! don't climb again, it's better to spend the night here." When he heard a voice speaking to him, he suddenly stood up, chilling fear. He thought there''s a ghost talking to him. With fear, he is trying hard to jump and climb out of the pit, it worked. After the exit, he scuttled.

REFLECTION:
How much force the man in disguise? No one can tell. Only when the need is urgent, the outward force that will flow out, sometimes it can be more discreet. If someone can use a rogue-hidden powers, the results obtained will be very useful.

The Real Friend

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There is a big tree which has a lot of big golden fruits.

A starling perched came into the tree. "What a very lush and pretty with yummy fruits." After hearing the praise of starlings, and the tree replied, "Friend, stay in me!" .

Then, a canary flew into the tree, facing the tree, singing; "This tree is very green, very fragrant fruit, very nice like an angel. "The tree replied the canary singing," If you want to eat my fruit, just take it, friends! "


A woodpecker perched also to this fruitful tree, he pecks here and there, on the whole body of the tree, making the tree was in terrible pain. Then the woodpecker said; "I saw there is a disguisting caterpillar in you, I would like to bite him out. If not, you will be in pain eaten by worms." The tree was angry and said, "Nonsense, you peck me, deliberately wanted to kill y, get out of here! " The woodpecker finally gone.

Before long, the trees ill, fall it leaves turned yellow. Then the branches withered, can not bear fruit again. The starlings gone away, the canary is also never sing and back again.


One day, woodpecker come to him again, although the tree cried out in pain, she does not care, continuously pecking until all the worms in the body of the tree inedible exhausted. Two weeks later, the leaves of this tree grows back, the green starts to look, dense and fruitful lg like
originally.


Compassionately the tree said with emotion; "It turns out that we sing and praise is not a real friend, but who that thinks and willing to point out our flaws and help us, that's a true friend."