WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 84

Expect An Answer

As a drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of farmers was in a quandary as to what to do. Rain was important to keep their crops healthy and sustain the way of life of the townspeople.

As the problem became more acute, a local pastor called a prayer meeting to ask for rain.

Many people arrived. The pastor greeted most of them as they filed in. As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the meeting he noticed most people were chatting across the aisles and socializing with friends. When he reached the front his thoughts were on quieting the attendees and starting the meeting.

His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet. He noticed an eleven year-old girl sitting quietly in the front row. Her face was beaming with excitement. Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright red umbrella. The little girl's beauty and innocence made the pastor smile as he realized how much faith she possessed. No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella.

All came to pray for rain, but the little girl had come expecting God to answer…

CLAMPED MOTORISTS

Shopping motorists were clamped coming out of Derry in Bridgend this week for not having car tax. Some ask why the drivers from the Republic were let into the North in the first place and not stopped on the border by the police and turned around before they had chance to shop and spend in the North...........

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 83

On The Other Side


A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was leaving the room after paying a visit, and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." Very quietly the doctor said, "I don't know." "You don't know?" the man said.

"You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door, on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining. As he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear."

"I know little of what is on the other side of death," the doctor continued, "but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough. And when the door opens, I shall pass through with no fear, but with gladness."

Scoil Mhuire Cookery Evening

Boxer William McLaughlin gets a Civic Reception in Buncrana

WIZARD OF OZ IN BUNCRANA

Greasepaint Productions

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 82

A Change of Perspective

This story was related by author Catherine Ingram

I was with a close woman friend in a grocery store in California. As we snaked along the aisles, we became aware of a mother with a small boy moving in the opposite direction and meeting us head on in each aisle. The woman barely noticed us because she was so furious at her little boy, who seemed intent on pulling items off the lower shelves. As the mother became more and more frustrated, she started to yell at the child and several aisles later had progressed to shaking him by the arm.

At this point my friend spoke up. A wonderful mother of three and founder of a progressive school, she had probably never once in her life treated any child so harshly. I expected my friend would give this woman a solid mother-to-mother talk about controlling herself and about the effect this behaviour has on a child. Braced for confrontation, I felt a spike in my already elevated adrenaline.

Instead, my friend said, "What a beautiful little boy. How old is he?" The woman answered cautiously, "He's three." My friend went on to comment about how curious he seemed and how her own three children were just like him in the grocery store, pulling things off shelves, so interested in all the wonderful colours and packages. "He seems so bright and intelligent," my friend said.

The woman had the boy in her arms by now and a shy smile came upon her face. Gently brushing his hair out of his eyes, she said, "Yes, he's very smart and curious, but sometimes he wears me out." My friend responded sympathetically, "Yes, they can do that; they are so full of energy."

As we walked away, I heard the mother speaking more kindly to the boy about getting home and cooking his dinner. "We'll have your favourite—macaroni and cheese," she told him.

WISDOM OF THE WORLD - WEEK 81

The Buncrana Christmas tree lights Committee have a choice this year....where to put all of the new lights in the town....


The Choice

A beggar asked a wise man for charity.

"I'll give you better than that; come with me," was the reply. The wise man took the beggar to a merchant, and asked him to find a job for the beggar. The merchant knew and trusted the sage and didn't hesitate to give some merchandise to the beggar and asked him to travel and sell them in another city.

A few days later, the wise man was walking through the city and was surprised to see the beggar back at his old post and in a miserable condition. Surprised, he asked him about the matter.

The beggar informed him: "While travelling, I found a blind eagle in the desert, and I was very curious how it got food though it was blind. I observed it for some time, and to my big surprise, another eagle came and fed it. I thought to myself, God is taking care of that blind eagle in this desert and He will also take care of me! So I returned to the city and give the merchant back his goods."

The wise man asked him: "But tell me, why did you choose to be the blind eagle, not the other one, who could fly, chase, and take care of others?"