Category Archives: Uncategorized

Treat yourself to a dose of awe

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

The Oprah Magazine recently talked about our need for a sense of awe. ‘Awe,’ it said, ‘Is what we feel when faced with something sublime, exceptional, or altogether beyond comprehension.’ Dacher Keltner of the University of California describes the feeling … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciation, Awareness, Uncategorized, Wonder, Worship | Leave a comment

Judged for failing to enjoy

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old Jewish saying that we’ll be judged for all the good things God has given that we failed to appreciate. It reminds me of the traveller who met an old priest high in the mountains, who told him … Continue reading →

Posted in Blessings, enjoyment, Gift of God, Gratitude, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Our own special message

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old Jewish tradition that God sends each of us into the world with a special message to deliver and a special act of love to bestow, and each of us is uniquely equipped to do it; which is … Continue reading →

Posted in Called and Chosen, Choices, Faithfulness, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Tokenism doesn’t work

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

The American Internal Revenue Service reported the case of a taxpayer who wrote to them saying, “I have not been able to sleep well for two years so I am sending my cheque for twelve hundred dollars in back taxes.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Guilt, Repentance, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The discredited philosophies of power

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi Propagandist, dismissed Mahatma Gandhi as a fool and a fanatic, certain that Gandhi could never bring about independence for India following a path of non-resistance and peaceful revolution. Yet as history played itself out, India won … Continue reading →

Posted in Cruelty, Goodness, Greatness, Oppression, Power, Power for evil, Power for good, Power over People, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Biting ourselves

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old saying that no matter how long you nurse a grudge, it won’t get better. It reminds me of an American wildlife expert who claimed that a rattlesnake, if cornered, will sometimes become so angry it will bite … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Self Destruction, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“While you’re carrying a grudge, they’re out dancing.”

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

There are few things that cause greater misery than bitterness of spirit. It can even destroy those who understand human behaviour best. Sigmund Freud, the father of modern psychology died a bitter and disillusioned man. Despite his knowledge he had … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Understanding the question

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

When taking an exam it’s important to come up with the right answers to the questions; nearly right answers don’t count. Here are some of the answers that English schoolchildren gave in a Religious Studies exam: Noah’s wife was called … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, understanding | Leave a comment

Wherever you go, there you are

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

Mac Anderson, in his book The Road to Happiness, tells of the wisdom he picked up from an immigrant taxi driver. He said, ‘I asked him a hypothetical question: “If you could live anywhere in the world, and if money … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Happiness, Treasure, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

How rich is rich?

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

How rich is rich? According to a survey conducted by investment managers Neuberger & Bergman, the answer is between one and five million dollars in assets. They sponsored a survey of people who stood to give or receive inheritances and, … Continue reading →

Posted in Riches, Treasure, Uncategorized, wealth | Leave a comment