Banyan Tree March LP 2022
TEACHING STORY
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Every Sunday morning, a man used to jog around a lake. Each time, he saw an elderly woman sitting at the water’s edge with a small metal cage beside her. Once curiosity got the better of him, and he walked over to her. As he got closer, he realised that there were three turtles, unharmed, slowly walking around the base of the trap. She had a fourth turtle in her lap that she was carefully scrubbing with a sponge brush.
“Hello,” he said. “I see you here every Sunday morning. If you don’t mind my nosiness, I’d love to know what you’re doing with these turtles.”
She smiled. “I’m cleaning their shells. Anything on a turtle’s shell, like algae or scum, reduces the turtle’s ability to absorb heat and impedes its ability to swim. It can also corrode and weaken the shell over time.”
“Wow! That’s really nice of you!” he exclaimed.
She went on: “I spend a couple of hours each Sunday morning, relaxing by this lake and helping these little guys out. It’s my own strange way of making a difference.”
“But don’t most freshwater turtles live their whole lives with algae and scum hanging from their shells?” he asked.
“Yep, sadly, they do,” she replied.
He scratched his head. “Well then, don’t you think your time could be better spent? I mean, there are freshwater turtles living in lakes all around the world. And 99 per cent of these turtles don’t have kind people like you to help them clean their shells. So, no offence. . . but how exactly are your localised efforts here truly making a difference?”
The woman giggled aloud. She then looked down at the turtle in her lap, scrubbed off the last piece of algae from its shell, and said, “Sweetie, if this little guy could talk, he’d tell you I just made all the difference in the world.”
THIS, I KNOW
WALT WHITMAN
Keep your face always toward the sunshine. The shadows will fall behind you.
Be curious, not judgmental.
I exist as I am; that is enough.
Simplicity is the glory of expression.
The future is no more uncertain than the present.
If anything is sacred, the human body is sacred.
Produce great men; the rest follows.
The proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it.
Resist much, obey little.
Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.
Do anything, but let it produce joy.
INSPIRATION
TREASURES
Treasures come in so many ways:
the sun that lights the cloudy days,
a rainbow from a summer shower,
a rose that blooms within an hour.
Yes, treasures come in so many ways.
A baby’s staring, wandering gaze,
a dolphin’s dance on ocean waves.
Yes, treasures come in so many ways.
The heart beats of two souls in love,
a beautiful white and peaceful dove.
Yes, treasures come in so many ways.
A sky full of snowflakes of rarest form,
a cup of cocoa to keep us warm.
Yes, treasures come in so many ways.
A house full of family on holidays.
For these treasures we should give God praise!
Yes, treasures come in so many ways.
I could keep on counting for days and days!
—Patricia L Cisco
ONE-MINUTE WISDOM
BEAR YOUR OWN CROSS
A man complained that his life was too hard for him. He came to God, told him about his troubles, and asked, “Can I choose another cross for myself?”
God looked at him smiling, took him to the store of crosses, and said, “Choose.”
The man entered the store, looked around, and was surprised. There was such a great variety of crosses—little, big, medium, heavy, and light. He looked for the littlest and lightest cross and finally finding it, came to God and asked,“ May I take this one?”
“Yes, you may,” answered God. “It is your own cross.”
JUST FOR LAUGHS
OFFICE CLOWNS
An office employee took his eight-year-old daughter to the office on the Take Your Child To Work Day. But when she walked into the office, she began to cry. As concerned staff gathered around, the father asked the child “What is wrong? Why are you crying?” She replied, “Daddy where are all the clowns you said you work with?”
QUOTE
If you are serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you are not, you’ll find an excuse.
—Jen Sincero