Can Any Banker Answer It?

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An old man came into the bank and asked for a loan of 500 dollars. The bank employee started filling out the papers.

Banker: What are you going to do with this money? 
Old man: I will go to the city to sell the jewellery that I made.
Banker: What do you have for the security of the loan?
Old man: I don’t know, what is a security? – the man said.
Banker: Well, security is something that has value and can cover the cost of the loan. Do you have a car?
Old man: Yes, a 1949 year truck.
Banker: No, it won’t suit, Maybe you have livestock?
Old man: Yes, I have a horse.
Banker: How old is it?
Old man: I don’t know because it doesn't have teeth anymore to tell.

In the end the papers for the loan were filled and the man was given 500 dollars.

After a couple of weeks the man came to the bank again, the same clerk, with a package of money. He counted the ones belonging to the bank and hid the other ones.

Banker: What are you going to do with the other money?
Old man: I will keep them in my house.
Banker: You can make a deposit in our bank.
Old man: I don’t know, what’s a deposit? 
Banker: Well, you give the money to the bank, bank takes care of it, and when you need money, you can take it.

The old man thought about it and asked:
Does the bank have something to give me in security for the money?

The Farmer and The Hunter

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In the days of ancient China, there was a farmer who has a hunter neighbor with his careless fierce dogs. The dogs often jump the fence and chase the farmer’s sheep. The farmer asked the hunter to keep the dogs but he didn't care.

One day, the dogs were jumping the fence and attacked some sheep so badly injured. The farmer lost his patience, then he went to town to consultation to a judge.

Judge said, “I could punish the hunter and order to confine the dogs to be chained. But, you will lose a friend and gain an enemy. Which one you choose, a friend or enemy of your neighbor?” the farmer prefers to have a friend and the judge tell the solution.

The farmer went home and took his best three ships to give it to the hunter’s children. The hunter’s children are very welcome that they have sheep as toy and pet and play with sheep. To keep the children’s sheep, the hunter keeps the dogs into cage. Since that, the dogs never interfere the farmer’s sheep.

In addition to the gratitude, the hunter often give the farmer the prey that he got. In return, the farmer sends the hunter lambs and homemade cheese. In a short time, the neighbors become good friends.

As ancient Chinese idiom says, “The best way to beat and influence people is with virtue, goodness and compassion.”

It is almost same with American expression that says, “A person can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”

The Old Man's Shoes

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One day an old man will be traveling on a city bus. He want to visit his grandchildren that he loves. At the moment he set foot to the bus stairs, one of the shoes came off and fell into the street. But unfortunately, the door has been closed and the bus was speeding. This bus will only stop at the next stop which is quite far away.

Of course he can not levy shoes apart earlier but the old man calmly took off his onother shoe and threw it out the side window of the bus.

Feeling wonder, a young man who sat next to him asked, “excuse me Sir, why you threw your shoe?” The old man cools replied, “Ooo.. That’s for whoever who find my shoes had been able to use it”.

The young man was silent and brooding, learns to understand the meaning and nature of the sentence that he had just heard. The old man attitude in the story above is an example of a free and independent people. He has been able to let go of a thing or property. He was very different from most people who maintain something solely because it wanted to, or even because they do not want anyone else to have it.

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).

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.

Rise Above Humiliation

                                                   Pic source: historicalstockphotos.com

When Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) was a young lawyer, he often consulted with other lawyers on the case. One day, he sat in the waiting room to see a senior lawyer. But when it came time, the lawyer only sees Lincoln glance and shout, “What’s he doing here? Get rid of him! I’m not going to deal with a stiff monkey!” Lincoln pretended not to hear. Even though he knew it was deliberate insult. Although shy, he remained calm. Then when the trial took place, Lincoln ignored. But the lawyer who had insulted Lincoln so cruel, he can defend his client with brilliant. Handling of the case was made Lincoln fascinated. He said to himself, “His reason is very nice. The arguments were precise and very complete. Well organized and prepared! I’ll go home and really be keen to learn the law again.” Time flies..

Lincoln becomes president of United States in March 1861. Among the main critics, there is Edwin M. Stanton, a lawyer who once insulted and hurt Lincoln so deeply, but Lincoln lifted him in important positions as a Secretary of War. He never forgot that Stanton is a smart-witted lawyer, which is needed by country. When Lincoln died, Stanton said, “He is the pearl belonged to civilization.  

Only a person who has character and forgiving like Lincoln can rise and succeed in humiliation! So, keep the mood. Do not let other people’s bad attitude determines how we act. Select to continue to do well and learn to forgive. Make ‘junk’ as ‘fertilizer’ or ‘fuel’ for forward-both within the family, work or where we live.

Life like a Hedgehog

                                                         Pic source: petinfoclub.com

In an area, living similar group of hedgehog. Because the extreme cold, they decided to stay in groups in a cave to keep warm. They are closer to each other. But when it started to close together, their thorns hurt their next friends.

After a while, they decided to keep their distance from each other. As a result, they begin to feel freezing, cold and finally threatened with death. So they have decided: accept others thorns or die!

Wisely they decide to get back together. They also learn to live with minor injury result of a great distance companions in order to close to feel   the warmth. A way that makes them ultimately survives.

Message in the story is, best relationship is not a relationship that brings perfect people in group. But when each person learn to live with others imperfection, also able to “appreciate” all the warmth that given by others.

That what makes our lives become more “alive” (meaning) and “enduring” the situation or extreme environments.

Mother Answers

                                                             Pic source: azmega.com

There was a boy who asked his mother, “Mom, my friend told me that his mother always let his own hand to bitten by a mosquito until filled with blood so the mosquito will not bite my friends’ hand. Would you do the same like his mom?” The mother laughed and answers frankly, “No. But I will repel the mosquito all night so it did not bite you and our family.” Hearing the answer, the boy smiled and went back to playing activities.

Not long after, the boy turned back to his mother. It turned out that he suddenly remembered something. “Mom, I’ve heard a tory that there was a mother who would not eat so her children can eat well. It she was you, what are you going to do?” the boy asked the almost same question. This time his mother replied with more assertive voice, “I will work hard so that we can all eat and were filled. So, you don’t have to be difficult to swallow because I saw your mother starve”.

The boy smile and then embrace her lovingly, “Thanks, Mom. I can always rely on you”. She rubbed her son’s hair and replied, “No, son! But I will educate you to be able to stand firmly on your own feet, so you will not fall down when I’m no longer on your side. Because I’m not going to always on your side.”

How many of parents who often to feel willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of her children? Don’t we realize that such attitudes could blunt the child’s mentally braveness? So, it is wise to all parents to not only made themselves a resting-place for their children but also makes that backrest is no longer needed in the future. It is wise if the parents form their children to be independent as a person when the parents can no longer accompany the children in the world.

A Child's Flower

                                                       Pic source: flickrhivemind.net

A man stopped at the florist to order a bouquet of bunch flowers to be delivered to his mother who lived 250 KM from him. Once out from his car, he saw a little girl standing on the pavement as she sobbed. He asked why she’s crying. The little girl replied, “I want to buy a red rose for my mother. But I only have 5 dollars, while it’s ten dollars.”

He smiled and said, “Come with me, I’ll buy you flowers you want.” Then he bought her a rose, as well as ordering a bouquet to send to his mother.

When finished and about go home, he offered to take the little girl home. The little girl was rejoicing. She said, “Yes, of Course. But would you like to take me to my mother’s place?”

Then the two of them go to the place that designated by little girl, the public cemetery. Arriving there the little girl is laying her flower on a grave which still wet. 

Seeing that, the man’s heart be touched and thought of something. He hurried back to the florist earlier and cancels his delivery. He took the wreath that had been ordered and driving his car to the 250 KM his mother’s place.

Unexpected Sustance

                                                     Pic image: mastermarketingla.com

Jan Koum, founder of WhatsApp, born and raised in the Ukraine from a poor family. At the age of 16 years, he was desperate to move to USA, in pursuit of what we know as the “American Dream”. At the age of 17, he could only eat from the government allocation. He almost became a bum. Sleep roofed sky, paved ground. To survive, he worked as a cleaner in supermarket. “Life is so bitter”, Koum thought.

His life is increasingly steep when his mother was diagnosed cancer. They survive only with government health benefits. Koum then studied at San Jose University. But then he chose to drop out, preferring to learn programming autodidact.

Because of his skills as a programmer, Jan Koum accepted to work as an engineer at Yahoo. He worked there for 10 years. In that same place, he friends with brian Acton. Both make application WhatsApp in 2009, after resigned from Yahoo. Both had applied for Facebook, which was raising popularity at the time, but rejected by Facebook. Facebook may deeply regret ever reject their application.

After the official WhatsApp bought up at 19 billion dollars a few month ages, Jan Koum does a touching ritual. He came to the place where he used to be, at the age of 17 years, every morning to stand in line to get food rations from the government. He head to the wall where he had rested queue. Remembering the difficult moments, where even he didn’t have money to buy food. Slowly, his tears melt. He never thought his company was purchased by high price.

He then recalled his mother who was died by cancer. His mother who was willing to sew clothes for him to save. “No money, boy...”. Jan stunned. He regretted that he never tell this happy news ti his mother.

Sustenance came from unexpected way and form. Poor young man who was get free meal now becomes a billionaire.

Circus Snake

                                                            pic source: wpclipart.com

A circus performer went into the forest to look for a little snake which will be trained to play in circus. A few days later, he found a little snake and started to train.

At first, the little snake wrapped around the performer’s leg. Then the snake became bigger, he trained to perform more dangerous game, including twisting his trainer’s body. After successfully trained the snake well, the circus began the public show. Day by day the audience getting more and more. The circus receives more and more money.

One day, the show is about to begin. Things to do for the sake of the attractions it turn. All audiences are satisfy and couldn’t stop clapping hands. Finally, comes the thrilling events, named the Snake Show. As usual the snake does what he ordered. The snake began wrapping his body of his master. Increasingly hard windings. Circus performer is in pain. Then the master ordered the snake to release him but the snake didn’t obey. Instead, the snake is getting wild and winding stronger. The audience getting panic, when they hear a very sad screaming of circus master and finally he slumped dead.

Sometimes sin seen no harm. We feel disturbed and may even we feel that we control it and trained to handle it. But in fact, if it had started to twitch sin in our lives, it’s hard to escape.

Freedom Mind

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The inventor of modern toothbrush is an Englishman named William Addis. He wears bones that he was perforated into small pieces, then fills with fur and glued it into one. William became a millionaire after the idea was developed into a hairy nylon toothbrush and manufactured by the American Company named Du Pont in 1938.

Did you know that when William Addis find the concept of a toothbrush, he was languishing in jail? His body was in prison but his mind was not imprisoned. While many people, who are not in prison, often imprison his mind self. That jail forms into the words:

“No way”

“Never”

”Would not”

“Don’t want”

“Do not brave” and others “no” words, which is often a barrier us to evolve. The Creator gives us the potential to be developed, positively and as much as possible. So, do not allow any state to imprison our minds.

A Touring King

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A king will be touring the country to see his people condition. He decided to walk alone. Just a few meters walk outside the castle, his legs hurt because he was stumbling stone. He thought, “Apparently the streets in this country very bad. I have to fix it”. The king then called all the ministers of the palace. He was ordered to coat all the roads in the country with the best cow leather. Immediately, the minister does the preparations. He collects cows from all over the country.

In the midst of that busyness, come an ascetic to the king and said, “O my lord, why Your Majesty wanted to make many cowhide for covering the streets in this country, when Your Majesty only needs two pieces of cowhide for coat Your Majesty’s feet”. Since then, the world found leather to cover the feet which called ‘slippers’.

There is a valuable lesson from the story. To make the world a comfortable place, sometimes, we have to change our view, our heart and ourselves. Not by changing the world or may even regret the fate that has happened in this life. Because we are often mistaken in interpreting the world.

World, in our minds, sometimes just a personal form. World, we define as our own, which are our own players. No one else is involved there, because that world is a shadow of us.

Yes, indeed, the way of life that we take is still steep and rocky. Which we could choose, lining every road it with furry rug so we never felt hurt. Or, coat our hearts so that we can survive the streets it?

The Anxious Small Fish

                                                             Pic source: zastavki.com

One day, a father and his son were sitting and chatting on the riverbank. The father said to his son, “Look at my son, the water is so important in this life, without water we all will die.”

At the same time, a small fish is listening the conversation from the bottom surface of water. Small fish was suddenly nervous and wanted to know whether the water, which he said is so important in this life. That small fish swim upstream while asking every fish he met, “Hey do you know where water is? I’ve heard human’s conversation that without water, life will die.”

It turns out that all of fish that have been asked not know where the water was. The small fish was getting confused, and then he swam to the spring to meet with old fish that have been experienced, the grand old fish. The small fish asked the same question, “Where is water?”.

The elder replied wisely, “Do not be anxious, boy! The water is surrounding you, so that you do not realize it. It is true, without water, we all will die.”

So, what is the meaning of the story for us?

Humans sometimes experience the same situation as small fish, looking to and from about life and happiness, while he was living it, even happiness are surrounded to the extent that he himself was not aware of it.

The Conqueror

                                                          Pic source: summitpost.org

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first conqueror of Everest in the Himalayas, was once asked by a reporter what is most feared by him for exploring the natural. He said that he did not fear the beast, a steep ravine, giant ice shelf or even the vast deserts and arid.

“Then what, sir?”. He replied, “A grain of sand tucked in between the toes”. Reporters were surprised, but Sir Edmund continued his words. “If grains of sand come in between the toes, it is often the beginning of a disaster. They could get into skin foot or infiltrate through the nail. Then the foot could get infection and rot. Unwittingly, legs could not be moved. Well, that’s a disaster for explorers, because they had to be stretchered”.

Sometimes a lot of great things we do not fear and we prefer to ignore things that seem trivial, but it can make a fatality in our life.

An Indian Rickshaw Man

                                                            Pic source: bbc.co.uk

Whose hearts have not been touched to see a man pull a rickshaw on a hot day while carrying a baby? This is really happened in India. This man caring for his baby because his wife died after giving birth and no one is willing to take care of the baby.

This man’s name is Bablu Jatav, 38 years. He was blessed with a baby girl named Damini after married for 15 years with his wife, Shanti. Mr. Bablu said that he was very happy to be blessed a put but he kept a deep sadness because his wife died shortly after birth. “Shanti died shortly after giving birth at the hospital on September 20, 2014”, said Bablu. Since that, no one was willing to take care of my daughter, so I was looking after her, even when I pull a rickshaw,” he added.

Bablu is a daily rickshaw man in Bharatpur city. He did not have any brother or sister who can take care his baby, so the only way is taking care of his daughter while working. Bablu holds his baby with cloth wrapped around his neck. He was forced to do it, even in the middle of a very hot day. It is very worrying, especially for very young Damini. The heat of the sun and road conditions make it had to be rushed to hospital Jaipur some time ago. The baby suffered from septicemia, anemia and acute dehydration. Fortunately, the baby’s condition improved after treatment. The news quickly spread in India, so many offers of assistance received by Bablu. It is probable that the local Indian government is processing a way to help care for the baby. Hopefully the aids come soon, so this baby girl got better treatment.

The Ugly Duckling

                              Pic source: angeline-valentius.deviantart.com

Do you still remember the ugly duckling story? Told there was a goose that lives together with ducks and has different colors of feathers. Therefore, because the feathers color different, the little goose was often ridiculed and treated differently. It takes such a long time until this little goose is realized that he’s not ugly.

He just did not from that ducks bus he’s a swan. Yep, that’s about the story of the ugly duckling. DO you know who the author is? He is a well-known children’s writer from Denmark, Hans Christian Andersen or popularly known as HC Andersen. However, later it was found that the story of the ugly duckling is a personal story of HC Andersen. Apparently, through his story, HC Andersen tells of for years, he embarrassed himself. He hates his nose which is too high and pointy and his ugly sharp face. HC Andersen was a very insecure child. However, eventually writing a story changing ability of everything. At the end of story, HC Andersen, the insecure boy, changed into one of great writer especially in child’s world.

Learn to accept and make peace from yourself then try to focus on the strengths and develop strong suit rather than shortcomings. Look at what happened with HC Andersen. If only he constantly discouraged and embarrassed, perhaps he will not to be a great writer forever.  Stop criticizing yourself and start focusing on the good things you can do.

Source: www.chechouthungerok.org