About a hundred years ago, a man looked at the morning newspaper and to his surprise and horror, read his name in the obituary column. The news papers had reported the death of the wrong person by mistake. His first response was shock. Am I here or there? When he regained his composure, his second thought was to find out what people had said about him.
The obituary read, “Dynamite King Dies.” And also “He was the merchant of death.” This man was the inventor of dynamite and when he read the words “merchant of death,” he asked himself a question, “Is this how I am going to be remembered?” He got in touch with his feelings and decided that this was not the way he wanted to be remembered. From that day on, he started working toward peace. His name was Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great Nobel ‘Peace’ Prize.
Just as Alfred Nobel got in touch with his feelings and redefined his values, we should step back and do the same.
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We all know the story of the greedy king named Midas. He had a lot of gold and the more he had the more he wanted. He stored all the gold in his vaults and used to spend time every day counting it.
One day while he was counting a stranger came from nowhere and said he would grant him a wish. The king was delighted and said, “I would like everything I touch to turn to gold.”
The stranger asked the king, Are you sure?”
The king replied, “Yes.”
So the stranger said, “Starting tomorrow morning with the sun rays you will get the golden touch.” The king thought he must be dreaming, this couldn’t be true. But the next day when he woke up, he touched the bed, his clothes, and everything turned to gold. He looked out of the window and saw his daughter playing in the garden.
He decided to give her a surprise and thought she would be happy. But before he went to the garden he decided to read a book. The moment he touched it, it turned into gold and he couldn’t read it. Then he sat to have breakfast and the moment he touched the fruit and the glass of water, they turned to gold. He was getting hungry and he said to himself, “I can’t eat and drink gold.” Just about that time his daughter came running and he hugged her and she turned into a gold statue. There were no more smiles left.
The king bowed his head and started crying. The stranger who gave the wish came again and asked the king if he was happy with his golden touch. The king said he was the most miserable man. The stranger asked, “What would you rather have, your food and loving daughter or lumps of gold and her golden statue?” The king cried and asked for forgiveness.
He said, “I will give up all my gold. Please give me my daughter back because without her I have lost everything wo rth having.”
The stranger said to the king, “You have become wiser than before” and he reversed the spell. He got his daughter back in his arms and the king learned a lesson that he never forget for the rest of his life.
these stories found here…
Life is hard by the yard,
but by the inch,
it’s a cinch.
–Gean Gordon
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nobel:
may you be nobel this day and always
(~_~)
5 comments
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July 7, 2012 at 10:11 am
granbee
Bless you many times over for the fantastic lesson here, learned from both Alfred Nobel and the King Midas story! We CAN be forgiven and CAN start afresh! Let us ever kneel with hearts keening for what is truly worthwhile in life. Peace and joy and love are more than sufficient!
July 7, 2012 at 10:37 am
billgncs
I think I would like my obit to read “He tried to be kind”, not sure if I make it though.
July 7, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Sue Dreamwalker
Art~ These stories hold valuable lessons, and as always they bring home to us the importance of Family above all else.. .. Thank you for all your most uplifting and enlightening posts my friend, And I hope you have seen my comment upon your Zen Trails Posting.. For I nominated you a well deserved award.. ~Sue
July 7, 2012 at 9:38 pm
Binky
Like the old proverb says, be careful of what you wish for because you might just get it.
July 8, 2012 at 1:19 am
evilnymphstuff
I’ve heard of these stories and they are worth remembering and being passed on forever. They show deep morals and learn us very important life lessons. Thanks for sharing!