Category Archives: Life’s journey

Proving myself before advertising myself

Posted on April 8, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

I was taught the importance of proving myself before advertising myself. However, the current emphasis on self confidence seems to have had the opposite effect. A recent survey discovered that seventy percent of students rated themselves as above average leaders … Continue reading →

Posted in humility, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Pride, Self Image | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

We are what we are, not what people call us.

Posted on April 8, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Shakespeare once said: ‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.’ A thing is what it is because that’s what it is, not what someone calls it. And we are … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidence, God in us, God with us, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Self Image | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Maintaining our balance

Posted on April 8, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

For fifteen years Jim Fixx, author of the jogger’s bible ‘The Complete Book of Running’, ran more than one hundred kilometres a week. Yet at age fifty-two he died of a massive heart attack while running alone on a Vermont … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Futility, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Perspective | Tagged , | Leave a comment

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

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