Why Am I Deaf?

I was at a restaurant late one night with a friend. I was talking to him about how I've taught one woman a very important lesson in her life. I thought I could repeat a story on here.

When I was studying Sociology at a college, a woman was sitting next to me and we were discussing about religion and the society. She has asked me if I do believe in God, and I've confirmed that I do believe in God and knows that He does exists without a doubt. She then asked me how I've felt about my deafness, in a way, she was trying to say "How did you feel about God making you Deaf?". She could be assuming that I've had some hard feelings towards God or feel annoyed about the 'disability'. Imagine her surprise when I've said that I am very grateful for the blessing. Of course she was puzzled. So I went on as follows...

"If everyone on Earth wears the same clothes, if everyone are 'perfectly fine' and everyone speaks in same language, cultures and so on. Everything is perfect and fine, then God can't judge us because we all are equal and perfect. However, I am a God's lesson and a tool to judge you. God will and does measure your attitude towards me. You could either treat me kindly or with contempt because of my deafness, God will judge you for that. God will reward or punish you for any outcomes you've made. BUT, also, God is using YOU for His judgements toward me too. God will judge me on how I've treated your attitude, if I am ungrateful for your kindness, God will judge me, if I forgive you for your contempt, God will judge me. Whatever you do, and whatever I do, God will judge both of us. I am God's lesson and a tool and so are you. Everyone are somebody else's lessons. You are a lesson to everyone that surrounds you and God will judge their learnings and God will judge you for your own learnings from the others. Everyone are a child of God and everyone has a purpose. This is why I am Deaf and it's such a great blessing. You are an unique child of God and so am I."

That woman's life has changed forever from the brief lesson I gave. Whoever has read this blog, please remember you're God's blessings to everyone around you, and do bear in mind that everyone surrounds you are your lessons.

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Reality Sucks

Reality sucks...have a mint.
Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are often more dull than otherwise. Life is like an old-time rail journey --- delays, side tracks, smoke, dust cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas, and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.
- Gordon B. Hinckley

Master's Hands

"Touch of the Master’s Hand,"
by Myra Welsh

T’was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who’ll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar," then, two! Only two?
"Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
"Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three . . . "But no,
From the room, far back, a grey haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:
"The touch of a master’s hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of potage," a glass of wine;
A game, and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice,
He’s "going" and almost "gone."
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.

Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

33

33
Recently I've turned 33. So, it was strange because I was reaidng the local paper, on page 33, there is an astrology page. It has said that my lucky number is 33. So, it was strange because my door number is 33 and lived here all my life. I've decided to play with this number a bit. I was waiting for a bus, and it took me 33 mins to wait and the number of my bus is 33. Weird. When I got into town and I was walking around counting the shops. At the shop number 33. It's the bookies. I've decided to go in and bet a horse. I've spent £33 on a horse for 3.30 race. The horse's number is Lucky 33. So, I can't believe my sheer luck.So, i feel really good and I was expecting to win £33,000 and my damned horse arrived at 33rd. GAH!

The Bridge

Warning: This story is NOT suitable for those who are easily distressed.

There was once a big turntable bridge which spanned a large river. During most of the day the bridge set its length running up and down the river parallel with the banks, allowing ships to pass through freely on both sides of the bridge. But at a certain day, a certain train would come along, and the bridge would be turned sideways across the river allowing the train to cross.
A switchman sat in a small shack on one side of the river where he operated the controls to turn the bridge and lock it into place as the train crossed. One evening as the switchman was waiting for the last train of the day to come, he looked off to the distance through the dimming twilight, and caught sight of the train’s light. He stepped to the controls and waited until the train was into position, but to his horror, he found the control the locking control didn’t work. If the bridge was not locked securely into position, it would wobble back and forth at the ends when the train came onto itm causing the train to jump the track and go crashing into the river. This would be a passenger train with so many people aboard. He left the bridge, turned across the river, and hurried across the bridge to the other side of the river where there were a lever which he could use to operate the lock manually. He would have to hold the lever back firmly as the train passed. He kept applying the pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man’s strength.
Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. “Daddy, where are you?” His four year old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child “Run!”, but the train was too close; the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost left the lever to run and snatch up his son and carry him to safety, but he realised he could not get back to the lever. Either the people on the train or his little son must die. He took a moment to make a his decision. The train sped swiftly and safely on its way, and no one aboard was even aware of tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the rushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of a sobbing man, still clinging tightly to the locking lever long after the train has passed. They didn’t see him walking home more slowing then he had ever walked – to tell his wife how he had sacrificed her son.
Now, if you could comprehend the emotions which went through this man’s heart, you can begin to understand the feeling of our Heavenly Father when He sacrificed His Son to the bridge the gap between us and Eternal Life. Can there be any wonder that He crossed the Earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His Son died? And how does He feel when we speed along through life without giving a thought to what was done for us through Jesus Christ? When was the last time you thanked Him for the sacrifice of His Son?

Wines

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine theory...
A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items on his desk in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'YES.' The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. 'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first', he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the good things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend.'

Dilemma

There is one thing that really does bother me.

I am sure you can help me to understand this. Let me explain my struggle here.

First, I don't believe in aliens or UFO...but I do enjoy watching ET, Star Trek, Star Wars.
Second, I don't believe in ghosts...but I do enjoy watching Ghostbusters, Ghost, Sixth Sense.
Third, I don't believe in myths...but I do enjoy fairy tales, such as...erm...oh you know.
Fourth, I don't believe in fantasy...but I do enjoy Lords of the Rings....

Now...one thing I CAN'T understand is...when people say "I don't believe in Jesus or God and all that religious stuff" and STRONGLY avoid any religious films such as Passion of the Christ, The 10 Commandments and so on? Why people AVOID those movies so strongly while can enjoy other films that they don't believe in. Can anyone shed a light? In fact, why are they so angry about it? I mean I don't believe in Santa Claus and I don't get angry about it...I'm baffled...help me?

Thanks.