Monthly Archives: February 2015

Helping us laugh again

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Researchers say that children laugh around four hundred times a day, whereas adults, on average, only laugh fifteen times a day. Why is this? Do we stop laughing because we are old, or do we get old because we stop … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheerfulness, Faith, Joy, Laughter | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

You’re on your own now, Buddy

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

They tell me that in America you can buy a St Christopher statue that can be wired up to your car’s odometer, and St Christopher, who is the patron saint of travellers, promises to look after you as you drive … Continue reading →

Posted in Sin, St Christopher, Temptation | Tagged | Leave a comment

Not escape, just quiet confidence

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

When I was very small the best feeling in the whole world was to lie in bed on a stormy night all tucked up snug and warm, listening to the wind howling outside. Most of us have memories like that. … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidence, Escape, Peace, Peaceful Sleep, quietness, Spiritual Insight, Stillness, Storms of life | Tagged | Leave a comment

My little red car

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

I remember the first time I saw my little red Renault 750, sitting in a used car lot. It was my first car and I fell in love with it. It didn’t go very fast and sounded like a chaff … Continue reading →

Posted in Contentment, Disatisfaction, enjoyment, Envy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Useless, but beautiful

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

The Chinese have a story about a carpenter and his apprentice resting in the shade of a huge, gnarled oak tree. ‘Do you know why this tree is so big and beautiful?’ the carpenter asked. The apprentice shook his head. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, God's pleasure, Growth, Judgementalism, Transformation, Useless | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Spotting the one good thing amidst the failures

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Edward Steichen, one of the world’s most renowned photographers, almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures. At the age of sixteen he bought a camera and took fifty photos. Only one turned out – a portrait … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Encouragement, Failure, Positive Thoughts, Seeing the possibilities | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Everything good begins in silence

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Most of us will do anything to avoid sitting alone and quietly confronting our own inner selves, which is why Pascal, the French philosopher, said: “All men’s miseries come from their inability to sit quietly and alone.” The Danish philosopher … Continue reading →

Posted in Boredom, Calmness, Contemplation, inner peace, Rush, Silence, Stillness | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The more I have the more bored I am

Posted on February 25, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Family psychologist John Roseman has spent years researching the perennial problem of children complaining that they are bored. He reported that parents in less affluent countries tend to look at him with disbelief when he asks if their kids complain … Continue reading →

Posted in Affluence, Boredom, Contentment, Meaninglessness, Purpose in life | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Being smart for things that are good

Posted on February 25, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Sam Levenson described how his Jewish momma would always bargain with shopkeepers – even for the smallest items. He said he remembered her asking a greengrocer how much the cucumbers were. The greengrocer said they were two for five cents. … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Cleverness, Goodness, Life, Life's journey, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Exploding elephant

Posted on February 25, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

I once went on a four day hike through the mountains led by an experienced bushwalker who told us what provisions we’d need, and then told us to take a bag of rice as emergency rations in case we got … Continue reading →

Posted in Appetites, Destruction, Greed, Hiking, Judgement, Rice, Shame | Tagged , | Leave a comment