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Start your day off right with a collection of 4 quality quotes.
Often it's hard to put our thoughts and feelings into words,
that's where we come in. You're sure to enjoy! Always
interesting, humorous, or thought provoking. To subscribe
visit: http://www.curiousquotes.com or send a blank
email to: CuriousQuotes-subscribe@topica.com
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by Kevin Eikenberry

The sun is in my face, a gentle breeze at my back. As
I look to the water I see my family in the waters of Lake
Michigan. I am on a beach with the greatest sand I've
ever seen or experienced. It just so happens that this sand
is in the county I grew up in Mason County, Michigan.
The scene is a nearly perfect one; my family laughing and
playing, in great conditions in a beautiful place.

As I sit on the beach I think about the sand. Sand from
nearby was once used to make automobile glass. This sand
defines this community in the summer - this beach and
the Lake provide a constant stream of vacationers, and
therefore revenue. My thoughts of the sand are different
though, more metaphorical...

As I sit in the sand, I think about how the sand is like life.
The sand is always shifting, driven by the wind. In a small
area, it seems to change rapidly - dig a small hole and watch
how quickly it is erased by the wind. But look at the whole
beach and the sand seems to not change at all. So it is with
our lives. While things change everyday, sometimes with
frightening speed, in the big picture, the world doesn't
change that quickly - people are still people and their
reactions to situations are the same. History does tend to
repeat itself, even if the circumstances seem different. Small
changes seem fast but the big picture changes more slowly,
like the beach as a whole.

The sand is powerful in large amounts. I bury my foot in
the sand and it is difficult to remove, yet each individual
grain is so small as to be barely seen or noticed. The sand
is powerful in large amounts. Ideas become powerful as
many people believe and apply them. People become
powerful when they band together in a common cause.
Individually they may not be able to make a huge difference,
but when one becomes ten becomes ten thousand, the power
is obvious.

My son and I build a pyramid made of sand. Much like a
goal, it takes time to build it and tend it. And much like a
goal, when the tending stops, forces deteriorate the pyramid,
not maintain or build it. Wind and waves (and even people's
feet!) strive to reduce the pyramid to a mere memory. Our
goals are much the same way. Many people may act as the
wind and water, tearing at our goals, downplaying them as
"pie-in-the-sky" and "crazy". If we don't tend them, work on
them, believe in them, they will crumble or become less
than they once were. We must be diligent in maintaining
and nurturing our goals, just as we must mend our sand
castles if we want them to remain strong and effective.

A beach is a wonderful place, able to provide us with many
memories. A beach, I found is also a place that helps me
reflect on life and myself. I encourage you to go to a beach
soon. Put your feet in the sand! Enjoy the warmth and
comfort it provides! And think about how your life is like
the sand. That trip to the beach will be a double blessing
for you.

(c) 2000, Kevin Eikenberry.  All rights reserved.

Kevin Eikenberry
kevin@discian.com

Send Kevin an email and let him know what you thought of his story!

Kevin Eikenberry is a speaker, trainer, author, and President of the Discian
Group ( http://discian.com ) - a learning consulting company.  He authors a monthly article on learning from life's events called Vantagepoints.  If you liked
this article, you can read more or subscribe for free at:
http://discian.com/vp.htm

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Wanted to share the following link with everyone!
Be sure to check out this inspiring website!

Hands4Him: A Story
http://www.Hands4Him.com/hands4him.html

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Thought For The Day:

"Sin has many tools but a lie is the handle which fits them all."
(Oliver Wendell Holmes)

 

Verse for the Day:

"A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin."
Proverbs 26:28

 

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"Above all else, make sure you always know where the bathroom is."

 

Parent's Thought For The Day

"If you wonder where your child left his roller skates, try walking around the house in the dark.
(Leopold Fechtner)

 

Coach's Thought For The Day

"We must be silent before we can listen.
We must listen before we can learn.
We must learn before we can prepare.
We must prepare before we can serve.
We must serve before we can lead."
(William Ward)

 

Deep Thought For The Day:

"If I had to choose one incident that sparked my love, study, and eventual career in astronomy, it would be the first time I saw a picture of that planet--you know, the one with those neat space-rings around it."

  _
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\  /    THUNDER27@aol.com  
/_/  \    "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \   Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body I live for the Son
   \_\/   of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Galatians 2:20 

Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)

"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least!  Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too.  They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!!  You did such a beautiful job!  They were so surprised and so touched---they really, really, really loved it.  Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all.  My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too!  Thanks again!"
        
Kelli  (RKaGe@aol.com)    College Station, TX

Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
 Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html

Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
 The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html

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