The Doughnut

As a minister was addressing a group of men, he took a large piece of paper and made a black dot in the center of it with a marking pen. Then he held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw. One person quickly replied, “I see a black mark.” “Right,” the preacher replied. “What else do you see?” Complete silence prevailed. “Don’t you see anything other than the dot?” he asked. A chorus of noes came from the audience. “I’m really surprised,” the speaker commented. “You have completely overlooked the most important thing of all—the sheet of paper.” Then he made the application. He said that in life we are often distracted by small, dot-like disappointments or painful experiences, and we are prone to forget the innumerable blessings we receive from the hand of the Lord. But like the sheet of paper, the good things are far more important than the adversities that monopolize our attention.

This reminds me of a bit of verse which, though I admit is somewhat trite, does express good practical advice. Someone has written: “As you travel down life’s pathway, may this ever be your goal:/ Keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole!”

Yes, rather than concentrating on the trials of life, we should fix our attention upon is blessings. Let us say with the psalmist, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19). - R. W. D.

Our Daily Bread, March 10

Most Frightened Man in America

Thomas J. Watson, Sr. , died six weeks after naming his son as the new head of IBM, the company the elder Watson had led for more than forty years. The junior Watson said his promotion made him “the most frightened man in America.” But he took the helm and led IBM into the computer era and ten-fold corporate growth. His success was made possible, he said later, by his dad’s confidence in and acceptance of him during his college years, when he was more interested in flying airplanes than in studying or applying himself.

Today in the Word, February 7, 1997, p. 14

The Kiss

At age 16 Andor Foldes was already a skilled pianist, but he was experiencing a troubled year. In the midst of the young Hungarian’s personal struggles, one of the most renowned pianists of the day came to Budapest. Emil von Sauer was famous not only for his abilities; he was also the last surviving pupil of the great Franz Liszt. Von Sauer requested that Foldes play for him. Foldes obliged with some of the most difficult works of Bach, Beethoven, and Schumann. When he finished, von Sauer walked over to him and kissed him on the forehead. “My son,” he said, “when I was your age I became a student of Liszt. He kissed me on the forehead after my first lesson, saying, ‘Take good care of this kiss—it comes from Beethoven, who gave it to me after hearing me play. ‘ I have waited for years to pass on this sacred heritage, but now I feel you deserve it.”

Source unknown

Wonderful Burden

One morning R. C. Chapman, a devout Christian, was asked how he was feeling. “I’m burdened this morning!” was his reply. But his happy countenance contradicted his words. So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, “Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?” “Yes, but it’s a wonderful burden—it’s an overabundance of blessings for which I cannot find enough time or words to express my gratitude!” Seeing the puzzled look on the face of his friend, Chapman added with a smile, “I am referring to Psalm 68:19, which fully describes my condition. In that verse the Father in heaven reminds us that He ‘daily loads us with benefits.’”

F. E. Marsh has enumerated some of these blessings:

• An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Eph. 1:6).
• An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5).
• A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Cor. l:10).
• A grace that can never be limited (2 Cor. 12:9).
• A hope that can never be disappointed. (Heb. 6:18, 19).
• A bounty that can never be withdrawn. (I Col. 3:21-23).
• A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).
• A nearness to God that can never be reversed (Eph. 2:13).
• A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).
• A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Cor. 5:21).
• A salvation that can never be canceled (Heb. 5:9).

Source Unknown

Heaven's Grocery Store

I was walking down life's pathway
Not so very long ago
When I looked up and saw a sign,
Heaven's Grocery Store.

I got a little closer
And the door swung open wide.
The next thing I knew
I was standing there inside.

I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said,
"My child, now shop with care.'

Everything a Christian needed
Was in that Grocery Store,
And what you couldn't carry out
You could come back next day for more.

Well, first I got some patience,
Love is in the same row.
Further down was understanding.
You need those everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of wisdom
And a bar or two of faith.
You couldn't miss the Holy Ghost
He was all over the place.

I didn't forget salvation
For salvation'that was free.
I wanted to get enough of that
To save both you and me.

There was meekness, longsuffering and gentleness
I saw these at a glance.
I knew I'd better get some.
I would never have a better chance.

I stopped to get some courage
To help me run life's race.
Then my basket was getting full
And I remembered I needed grace.

Then I started for the counter
To pay my grocery bill
I thought I had most everything
To do the Father's will.

And I saw prayer,
I just had to put that in.
I knew when I stepped outside the door,
I'd run right into sin.

Source unknown

Casual Paint

Recently I was driving down the highway and saw this big bill board advertising Dutch Boy paint. Displayed was this father painting his house. Standing in his shadow was this little boy, maybe four or five, watching with admiration his father. Almost unnoticed, this father was getting casual paint all over his son. This reminded me of the two metaphors used by Jesus in chapter five of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 where Jesus says "You are the salt of the earth," followed by the statement "You are the light of the world." Whether intentionally or casually we are called to be salt and light in the world. More often than not we have our greatest influence without any awareness of it. Without even trying we get casual paint not only on our children but on all our friends, and sometimes on strangers. God does his greatest work through us when we are truly his servant. Often we never hear about the blessings we bring to others. If we are faithful in serving God it doesn't matter that we hear. There is, of course, the flip side of this story, too. We sometimes get the wrong kind of casual paint on family members and friends, and it is not easily washed off. Actually, I had a similiar experience many years ago while standing at the foot of my mother and father's graves. I was mediating and lifting my soul to the Lord in thanksgiving for the influence they had on my life--, when just as clear as the sound of a bell I had this vision of my mother and dad painting--, and here I was, a little boy, standing in their shadow and watching. They were getting casual paint all over me. But they were not painting with paint as was the father in the Dutch Boy bill board. They were painting with their behavior, their attitude, the way they related to people, how they went about their work, and the way they loved one another and hugged their kids. All the while, without any awareness on their part, I am standing their in their shadows, getting casual paint all over me. I was so overjoyed by this vision I began to think about all the other important people in my life who had helped shape my faith and character, many of whom were also buried in that cemetery. So, I began to walk around the cemetery and stop at all the gravesites of those who had so richly blessed me. I would express my gratitude and go on to the next. It was like the Catholic ritual on Good Friday of the Stations of the Cross. Every time I go back to my childhood church where I was nurtured in the faith I go through this same kind of ritual of thanking those who have touched my life so deeply. It is how I get in touch with my sacred history. Max A. Eller