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High Tech World
VS People
In spite of our high tech world and efficient
procedures, people remain the essential
ingredient of life. When we forget that,
a strange thing happens: We start treating
people like inconveniences instead of assets.
This is an encounter told by Robert Henry
a professional speaker when he went to a
large discount store to buy a pair of binoculars.
As he walked
up to the appropriate counter he noticed
that he was the only customer in the store.
Behind the counter were two salespersons.
One was so preoccupied talking to “mama”
on the telephone that she refused to acknowledge
that Robert was there. At the other end
of the counter, a second salesperson was
unloading inventory from a box onto the
shelves. Growing impatient, Robert walked
down to her end of the counter and just
stood there. Finally, she looked up at Robert
and said, “You got a number?”
“I got a what?”
asked Robert trying to control his astonishment
at such an absurdity. “You got a number?
You gotta have a number.” Robert replied,
“Lady, I’m the only customer in the store!
I don’t need a number. Can’t you see how
ridiculous this is?” But, she failed to
see and insisted that Robert take a number
before agreeing to wait on him. By now,
it was obvious that she was more interested
in following procedures than helping the
customer. So he went to the take-a-number
machine, pulled number 37 and walked back
to the salesperson. She took the number
and went to the number counter, which revealed
that the last customer waited on had been
holding number 34. She screamed out, “35!…35!…35!…36!…36!…36!…37!
“I’m number
37”, said Robert.
“May I help you?” she asked, without cracking
a smile.
“No,” replied Robert, and he turned around
and walked out.
A
minister, a priest, and a rabbi are sitting
around a dinner table having a heated argument
about religion. Suddenly an angel of the
Lord appears and says, “I will grant one
wish to each of you!” The minister jumps
to his feet and shouts, “I wish for the
destruction of all Catholics!” Then the
priest jumps to his feet and shouts, “Well,
I wish for the destruction of all Protestants!”
The angel turns to the rabbi and says, “What
do you wish for, rabbi?” And the rabbi says,
“Well, if you’re going to grant their wishes,
then I’ll just have another cup of coffee!”
Beggars
Or Choosers
Every day you must decide if you are a beggar
or a chooser, for you will act and create
results according to the identity you assume.
If you believe you must grovel, plead, or
struggle to achieve your dreams, the road
to success can seem overwhelming, even frightening.
But if you realize that every decision is
an invitation to remember who you are the
process of choosing becomes exciting, and
courage follows naturally. Every time you
say “yes” to one path and “no” to another
life rushes to support your decision. Often
it does not matter so much what you choose,
but that you do choose. Will Rogers said,
“If you sit in the middle of the road, you
will get hit by traffic from both directions.”
A group of spiritually friends spent a day
in New York and were driving toward the
George Washington Bridge trying to decide
if they wanted to see a movie or go home.
“What do you guys want to do?” asked the
driver. “I need to know which road to take.”
“I’m OK either way,” one fellow said. Another
echoed, “I’m not attached,” Another reported,
“I am easy.” My response was, “I will go
with the flow.” At that point, the driver
pulled the car onto the shoulder. He abruptly
turned toward the back seat and with an
air of authority announced. “Okay, you New
Age flakos, this is one of those times when
everyone is just going to have to tell the
truth about what you really want – or else
we are going nowhere.” One person spoke,
“I’d rather go home.” “Me too,” said the
second. “I’m not really in the mood for
a movie,” I admitted. “Thank you” said the
driver and he stepped on the gas. Thoreau
advised: “Go confidently in the direction
of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
Until
we meet again, may God hold you in the palm
of his hand. Love & Blessings - Mary
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hope you enjoy this excerpt from our bi-monthly
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