Please note that these links do exist -- but
they're in the process of being shuffled around a little because of some
asshole making an issue of my web sites in court. If one doesn't work today
-- it will very soon. I'm guessing November 30, 2005!
During my second year of college, a professor gave us a pop quiz. I
was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions,
until I read the last one:
"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman
several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how
would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last
question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the
last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said
the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are
significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you
do is smile and say 'hello'." I've never forgotten that lesson. I
also learned her name was Dorothy.
Second Important Lesson
Pickup in the Rain
One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing
on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing
rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a
ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young
white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those
conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get
assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big
hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went
by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant
console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was
attached. It read:
"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other
night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits.
Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my
dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you
for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
Third Important Lesson
Always remember those who serve you.
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year old
boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a
glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?"
he asked. “Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled
his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how
much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people
were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.
"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied." The little boy again
counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The
waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked
away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.
When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels
and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he
had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
Fourth Important Lesson
The Obstacle in Our Path
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he
hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.
Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and
simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping
the roads clear. But none did anything about getting the stone out
of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables.
Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and
tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up
his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse laying in the road where
the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who
removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many
of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to
improve our condition.
Fifth Important Lesson
Giving When it Counts
I know a lady who is a nurse working at a hospital. She got to know
a little girl named Liz, who was suffering from a rare and serious
disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously
survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to
combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little
brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his
blood to his sister. This nurse saw him hesitate for only a moment
before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I’ll do it if it will
save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his
sister and smiled, seeing that the color starting to return to her
cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at
the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die
right away?" Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of
his blood in order to save her. You see understanding and attitude,
after all, is everything.
