Tag Archives: disatisfaction

Wisdom, knowledge, and joy

Posted on October 8, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Daniel Gilbert of Harvard University did a survey of one hundred university lecturers both before and after they found out if they had received tenure in their positions. They all expected to be quite happy if they got tenure and … Continue reading →

Posted in career, Futility, Gift of God, Happiness, Joy, Success, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ingratitude

Posted on September 30, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Many years ago, as the story is told, a devout king was disturbed by the ingratitude of his royal court. He prepared a large banquet for them. When all were seated, by prearrangement, a beggar shuffled into the hall, sat … Continue reading →

Posted in Gratitude, Ingratitude, Selfishness, thankfulness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Planting and reaping

Posted on September 25, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Many years ago farmers in China developed the habit of eating the big potatoes they’d grown and keeping the small ones to plant as seed crop. However, over a period of years they noticed that the new potatoes were getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Chines farmers, Judgement, potatoes, Reaping what you sow | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Think yourself to happiness

Posted on September 17, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

“Most people,” said Abraham Lincoln, “Are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Well, that may be an oversimplification, but there is still great truth in it. A positive mental attitude does have a powerful effect … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith, God, God with us, Happiness, Living Life, Peace, Personal Growth, Positive Thoughts, thankfulness | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Give me back my songs

Posted on September 11, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The French have a story about a wealthy man who spent his days counting his gold. Next door was a poor cobbler who spent his days singing as he repaired shoes. The joyful singing irritated the rich man, so he … Continue reading →

Posted in Joy, Life, Life's journey, Materialism, Misery, Money, Music of life, Possessions, Sleeplessness, wealth, Worry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Going nowhere faster

Posted on September 11, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

One of the great ironies of modern life is that it is so filled with devices to save time and increase efficiency, yet people have never been so hurried and restless. If all these technological wonders are supposed to save … Continue reading →

Posted in Going Nowhere, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Purpose in life, Putting first things first, re-evaluating life, Spiritual blindness, Spiritual discernment | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Spite House

Posted on September 3, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Some years ago a wealthy man tried to sell a block of land in an exclusive part of New York City. It was a hundred feet long but only five feet wide, and his neighbours, realizing no-one else would want … Continue reading →

Posted in Hurting ourselves, Misery, Neighbours, Revenge, Spite | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A message from moths

Posted on August 30, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The poet Shelly referred to the way that moths are drawn irresistably to the light of a star as a powerful symbol of our own yearning for something beyond the limitations of this life. For some reason we don’t understand, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alistair McGrath, God, inner yearning, Spiritual discernment, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No pockets in a shroud

Posted on August 29, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

John D. Rockefeller used to be the world’s richest man. He was once asked how much a person needed to be happy; and with great insight into human nature, he replied: ‘Just a little bit more.’ After his death, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Futility, Heaven, Treasure, wealth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Virtual reality is a poor substitute

Posted on August 29, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The American Congress, a few years ago, passed a law that entitles deceased war veterans to have a bugler play at their funerals. However there’s a problem; there are very few buglers around these days. So Congress decreed that a … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, funerals, Substitutes, Virtual reality | Tagged , , | Leave a comment