Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

when there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.

The Difference Between Heaven & Hell

A holy man was having a conversation with the God one day and said, God, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.

The God led the holy man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table.In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

God said, You have seen Hell.
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water.The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump,
laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand.

'It is simple,' said God. 'It requires but one skill.

You see, they have learned to feed each other. The greedy think only of themselves.

On This Day.....

On this day:

1904 - B. F. Skinner, American psychologist was born

1936 - Lee "Scratch" Perry, Jamaican Reggae artist was born

2003 - 2003 invasion of Iraq: In the early hours of the morning, the United States and three other countries begin military operations in Iraq.

1969 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono were married.

1602 - The Dutch East India Company is established.

2000 - Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown, is captured after murdering Georgia sheriff's deputy Ricky Kinchen and critically wounding Deputy Aldranon English.

Giving....

There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and give it all.

These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.


There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.


And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.

Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.


~Khalil Gibran

Missed Opportunities….

There are moments in our life that stick with us forever, like winning the finals, gaining acceptance to the universities of our choice, being there for the birth of your child or finally ~* meeting*~ that special someone.

The things that we do or decisions that we make at that very moment, can change the course of history as we know it, or so I have been conditioned to think, but that is another story, for another day.

Now I know most Muslim are prone to say, ” Allahu Allum” when things don’t go the way that they desired or expected, and I am not saying that Allah is not the decider of what is best for you, by no means am I saying that, but what I am saying is this: Allah has endowed man with free will, right? What if Allah has set things in motion so that what you desired was provided on a platter to you, only you didn’t realize it or because you let fear paralyze you, and you failed to act on the opportunity? I am only saying, “what if?”

How do you recover from a missed opportunity or an opportunity of a lifetime? Do you remain face-down in the dirt or do you have the audacity to make Dua to Allah for another opportunity or do you tuck it in and say enough and move forward, vowing to end pursuit of the elusive ~*opportunity*~? I am just asking, because, I recently had one of those rare opportunities that one gets, but I failed to act upon it out of fear, and I am not sure how to get another “perfect” opportunity like the one that I recently squandered because of fear……

“He who refuses to embrace a unique opportunity loses the prize as surely as if he had failed.”
-William James (Pragmatist and Philosopher)

Breath Me - Sia
More at MP3-Codes.com

Personality Types

I have to say that I have always been fascinated by people, including myself, and in understanding why people do what they do (i.e. motivation: intrinsic or extrinsic), which is why I am always taking personality tests and the like. Recently, ok about a month ago, I took a personality test that I have to admit is "spot on" when it comes to revealing the "real" me. I have suggested that as many people as possible take it so that I can compare what I have observed with what they submit(of course, right?). In the interim, I am sharing the details below of my assessment results:

Introspective
You like your own company; you're a very interesting person. Tracking your own mental processes, knowing what you're thinking and why you do what you do, is important to you. Often, what's going on in your mind is more compelling than what's going on outside. You are not someone who is constantly looking to be among a group of friends; you never feel bored when you are by yourself. For the most part, those with a high score on the "introspective" trait enjoy reading, taking long walks, learning new things, and other solitary activities.

Intellectual
You are thoughtful, rational, and comfortable in the world of ideas. People find you interesting to talk to. You're the living embodiment of the saying "You learn something new every day."
You do not avoid abstract conversation, experimenting with new ideas, or studying new things. It bores you to stick to the straight and narrow of what you already know. In general, those with a high score on the "intellectual" trait are employed in such fields as teaching and research, and are enthusiastic about reading, foreign films, and classical music.

Aesthetic
You appreciate art, beauty, and design; you know that they are not superficial but absolutely crucial to living the good life. You have good taste, and you're proud of it. You don't think it's pretentious to be moved by art and beauty. You're not one of those who believe it doesn't matter what something looks like as long as it does its job. Those with a high score on the "aesthetic" trait are often employed in literary or artistic professions, enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about the arts, reading, and travel.

Sympathetic
You have a knack for knowing what's going on in the hearts and minds of those around you, without their having to tell you explicitly. People tend to turn to you with their problems because they know you care, and that you will likely offer good advice and a helping hand.
You do not feel that people with sad stories are just looking for attention, or have brought their problems upon themselves.

Curious
You like to get to the bottom of things. You're not content knowing what someone did; you want to know why they did it. You don't simply take things as they are and move on; you're not content skimming along on the surface; you don't feel you're wasting time by digging for the meaning of things.

Reserved
You are somewhat shy, or at least unwilling to spend all your time socializing. With you it's true that "still waters run deep," which is why many of your acquaintances never get to know you well. You are not always ready to talk at the drop of a hat. Whether you're in the office or at a party, you're not likely to be found gabbing away in the middle of a group of people.

Solitary
You are a private person, not very comfortable in a big group, and view excessive socializing as a waste of time. You not prefer hanging out with others to spending time alone; you do not tend to feel at home in a crowded room, club, stadium, or auditorium.

Understanding
You are willing to take the time to find out what's going on with other people, especially if they're in distress. You're a good listener, you don't criticize, and you offer unbiased, respectful, honest advice when it's requested. You don't feel the need to impose your standards on others or say things that, even though true, cause pain. With a high score on the "understanding" trait, it is likely that you are enthusiastic about charitable work, helping others, and making the world a better place.

Scrupulous
You are an honest, fair person. You don't lie or cheat to get ahead. You treat others with respect and hope for the same in return. You do not feel that you are above the rules that everyone else follows; you are definitely not willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead.

Responsible
You fulfill your obligations and responsibilities, are true to your word, and generally obey the rules. You're opposed to making hasty decisions, you don't insist that you're above the rules, nor do you feel compelled to color outside the lines. While the majority of those who have a high score on the "responsible" trait enjoy traveling, they are usually very happy to return home — and don’t mind staying put for a while.

Quote of The Day

A wise man can learn more from a foolish question

than a fool can learn from a wise answer.

-Bruce Lee