Stubborn People

I’m a little exasperated with 2 people today. I love them but sometimes, they make life challenging.

Grandpa wants to visit to celebrate his last time with his grandchildren. He’s not in the best of shape. In fact, he’s a pretzel that can barely walk but nothing will deter him from his last mission in life. His children and grandchildren point out the many reasons why this isn’t a good idea but no … he’s hearing none of that.

Oswald needs a job. He’s in great physical shape. He has skills. Yet he dismisses every opportunity to get to work. There’s always a reason not to take the job. If it isn’t the pay, it’s the people who conspire to make him fail. His plan is to sell everything he owns till he winds up homeless. He has no plan B. Everyone tells him to take any job, any pay but no … he’d rather be homeless when his possessions dry up. How do you help someone who wants to be helped but only on his terms?

Stubborn people. They color our world for good or bad. They can be innovators that create products or systems that start a whole new industry. Or they can be a major pain to those who live around them. What to do with them?

But stubbornness can be a good thing. Winston Churchill’s stubbornness was the catalyst for the survival of Britain against the Nazis. And I remember that Abraham Lincoln was not very popular when he went against slavery. Many past stubborn leaders we admire today made unpopular decisions during their era. Could grandpa and Oswald be on to something I am not aware of? What determines good stubborn from bad stubborn? I’m guessing it has to do with the goal. Who benefits? If it is self-focused, it’s obviously wrong; but just because it benefits many people, is it automatically good? What do you think?

When you find out, please let me know because I realize I’m one of the stubborn people. Are you one of us too?  I’m tired. It’s been a long day.

TGIF people!

“Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen … few in pursuit of the goal,”
— Frederick Nietzche

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA for sending this joke.

Video of the Week

It’s Not Nice to Tease a Robot
Sent by Mike of New York

(Click on picture above to launch video)

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

How to Make Small Talk in Chinese

Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

If you were taught to say “Ni Haw” when you greet a Chinese, you were taught wrong. Like in many languages, there are nuances that go beyond the literal translation.

Parting Shot

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA who shared this.

The post Dear Abby appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Last week I was a proud grandfather attending my grandson’s graduation. As they were performing on stage, I noticed one boy who was lost in his own world and muttered under his breath. I was irritated because the other kids had worked so hard for this day but that one selfish boy was doing his own thing. I wondered why the teacher didn’t pull him out. In fact, one of the teachers was constantly by his side and embracing him every time he blurted in defiance. I blamed how poorly his parents had prepared him for school. If only they stopped their busy schedule and actually spent time with him instead of spoiling him … maybe he would have participated better.

Did you hear of the story of the poor old man who owned a horse and tied it outside his home? The villagers came and told him he was foolish because he could sell the stallion and get money for food instead of parking it outside inviting someone to steal it. But the old man begged them “Do not judge. You only know part of the situation. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”

The next morning the horse was missing from his stall. The villagers came and told him he was foolish for not heeding their warnings because he was now poorer than ever and had no means of income. The old man told them “Do not judge. We only know part of the situation. You don’t know God’s plan for me. All you see is an empty stable. The horse may still return to me.”

No one knew that the horse had wandered into the wilderness and returned the next day with 7 wild horses.

The villagers asked forgiveness for they were foolish because now they saw the wisdom of the old man … now the old man could train the other horses and sell them for a handsome profit. But even now the old man said they should not judge him — whether good or bad. “Only God knows why He allowed this to happen.”

The old man’s son proceeded to train the wild horses. But while he was riding one of them, he was thrown off the horse and he broke his 2 legs. Here come the villagers who berated the old man for his foolishness. But the old man, true to form, told them again not to judge because only God knew why He allowed this to happen.

The kingdom was at war and every single son in the village was drafted except the old man’s son who could not fight in the war. Distraught that they had lost their sons, the villagers finally learned to stop judging the old man.

As my family prepared to go home, my daughter asked me if I noticed the little boy at the back of the stage. She said the boy was autistic and that his parents insisted that he learn with the normal kids. The young woman who comforted him was a helper who protected him and everyone around him.

My heart sank. Suddenly, my whole perspective of the boy changed. Rather than think how poorly he had done, I admired him and his parents because the child had accomplished so much.

Are you as opinionated as I? When people talk politics, religion … when they talk about other people, are you guilty of prejudging? If you know everything, you don’t need ears … just your mouth. The goal should not be to prove who is right but to help each other discover the truth and DO what is right.

Of course this is just me.

“You judge by appearances. If any of you think you are the only ones who belong to Christ, then think again. We belong to Christ as much as you do.”

— 2 Corinthians 10:7

TGIF people!

Financial Difficulty

Shared by Jeff of Pasadena, CA

Millennial Job Interview
Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Millenials are gonna hate me for sharing this. And no, not all Millennials are like this. But some definitely are. Blame it on bad parenting.

WATCH VIDEO

Dwarf Classic Cars
Sent by Tom of Pasadena, CA

If you love cars, you’ll love this video. It’s pretty long but it’s quite a story about someone who really knows his craft.

WATCH VIDEO

How Similar are Cantonese and Madarin?
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

If you’re like me, you know very little about the Chinese language. This video will explain some of the basics.

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA who shared this photo

The post Heavenly Message appeared first on Traveling Archive.