Category Archives: Life

A message to deliver

Posted on March 24, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old Jewish tradition that God sends each of us into the world with a special message to deliver and with a special act of love to bestow, which only we are equipped to do. That’s why comparing ourselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Called and Chosen, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Purpose in life | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Crown of splendour

Posted on March 22, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Someone once said there are four ages of man: the first is when you believe in Santa Claus, the second is when you don’t believe in Santa Claus, the third is when you are Santa Claus and the fourth is … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, old age, Opportunities | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Add some applause and watch things grow

Posted on March 21, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

One of the most difficult musical instruments to learn is the violin, but in recent times the Suzuki method has taken much of the pain out of it. The first thing it teaches children is a proper stance, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Kindness, Affirmation, Applause, Appreciation, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Motivation | Leave a comment

Succeeding at things that don’t really matter

Posted on March 21, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Time magazine once did a famous with George Harrison, one of the Beatles. Speaking about their meteoric rise to fame George said: ‘At first we all thought we wanted the fame. After a bit we realized that fame wasn’t really … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Ambition, Disappointed, Disatisfaction, fame, Futility, Life, Success | 2 Comments

When the fog disappears the truth appears

Posted on March 20, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

It’s said that the outcome of the epic Battle of Waterloo was communicated by a system of flashing lights in church steeples, stretching from Waterloo to Calais and across the English Channel to Dover and on to London. The message … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Death, Defeated, Despair, Faith, Jesus, Life, Resurrection, Victory | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

All sunlight makes a desert

Posted on March 20, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old Arab proverb that says: ‘All sunlight makes a desert.’ Most of us love the sunshine and find more than a day of rain and overcast skies quite depressing. But when the rain doesn’t come, the sunshine becomes … Continue reading →

Posted in Endurance, Faith, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Tested, Trials and testings, tribulation and trouble | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Losing one’s perspective

Posted on March 20, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

One stifling summer day in San Antonio, Texas, a baby was accidentally locked in a parked car. The mother and the aunt ran around the car in near hysteria, while a neighbour tried to unlock the door with a clothes … Continue reading →

Posted in Gratitude, Ingratitude, Life, Life's journey, Perspective | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Chosen people

Posted on March 12, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

I got a letter from an international credit card company recently telling me that because of my high status and salary they are offering me the opportunity to have their credit card. Well, as a retired clergyman, it’s strange they … Continue reading →

Posted in Called and Chosen, Faith, God, Life, Life's journey, Living simply | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Who is the real VIP?

Posted on March 12, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Charles Francis Adams was an important political figure in the nineteenth century. He kept a diary and one day he made this entry: ‘Went fishing with my son today – a day wasted.’ His son, Brook Adams, also kept a … Continue reading →

Posted in children, Family, Kingdom of God, Life, Life's journey, Priorities, Putting first things first, Raising Children, re-evaluating life, Regret, Remembering the past, Remembrance, responsibility | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The eternal harmony

Posted on March 12, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Sir Michael Costa, the celebrated conductor, during a rehearsal, stopped the music and said, ‘Where is the piccolo?’ It turned out that the piccolo player, thinking that his contribution would not be missed amid so much sound from dozens of … Continue reading →

Posted in Giving, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Making the most of what you've got, Self giving, Spiritual Insight | Tagged , | Leave a comment