THEREFORE, The next time

when I am
stuck in traffic ,
miss an elevator,
turn back to answer a ringing telephone ...
all the little things that annoy me.
I think to myself,
this is exactly where

God wants me to be
at this very moment..

Next time your morning seems to be
going wrong ,

* the children are slow getting dressed,
* you can't seem to find the car keys,
* you hit every traffic light,
* don't get mad or frustrated;
* God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you
with all those annoying little things
and may you remember their possible purpose.

Pass this on to someone else, if you'd like.
There is NO LUCK attached.
If you delete this, it's okay:
God's Love Is Not Dependent On
E-Mail !!

From, XYZ

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear xyz,

This is very pertinent and thought provoking information. At least it has provoked me to look at the dimensions that are normally ignored when (such) disasters take place in which some people escape the jaws of death by the margin of a thread.

But what about all those who couldn't, and became victims of the tragic event?

God was watching them too.

God conjured every situation in their favour to ensure that they all reach up the twin towers in time and stay on there, till the death struck - ONLY to DIE. God is Omni present, Omni-potent ... and has his own ways of doing things. In his scheme of things, it is futile to call the dead "unlucky" and the living "lucky".

We need to understand the truth about God and not interpret the power of God to our convenience.

Regards,

CRYSTELITE

I am not a gender insensitive person. In the normal course I would hesitate putting up any post that betrayed gender bias. Although the snippets below are directed on women and marriage, I have chose to put them up in the post because (i) these are classified under the category of 'humour' and (ii) many of these statements are from very renowned persons (iii) No offense meant to any person, women in particularmarried/unmarried .

Some of you may have read these in different places, so it might seem like a repetition, nevertheless, this is a good collection, to bring a smile on your face ---

An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have;

the older she gets...

the more interested he is in her.

-Agatha Christie

********************************

Bachelors should be heavily taxed.

It is not fair that some men

should be happier than others.

-Oscar Wilde

********************************

Don't marry for money;

you can borrow it cheaper.

-Scottish Proverb

********************************

I don't worry about terrorism.

I was married for two years.

-Sam Kinison

********************************

Bachelors know more about women than married men;

if they didn't, they'd be married too.

-H. L. Mencken

********************************

Men have a better time than women;

for one thing, they marry later,

for another thing, they die earlier.

-H. L. Mencken

********************************

"A man without a woman is like

a fish without a bicycle."

-U2

********************************

WIFE (Worries Invited For Ever)

Every man should get married some time;

after all, happiness is not

the only thing in life!!

-Anonymous

********************************

A psychiatrist is a person who will give

you expensive answers that

your wife will give you for free.

-Anonymous

Here are more, whose authors are not known, but are fretty good for some fun ..

Marriage is a three ring circus:

-engagement ring

-wedding ring

-suffering

********************************

When a newly married couple smiles,

everyone knows why ?

When a ten-year married couple smiles,

everyone wonders why ??

********************************

Love is blind but

marriage is an eye-opener.

********************************

When a man opens the door of his car for his wife,

you can be sure one thing:

either the car is new or the wife.

********************************

I take my wife everywhere, but

she keeps finding her way back

********************************

I asked my wife,

"Where do you want to go for our anniversary?"

She said,

"Somewhere I have never been!"

I told her,

"How about the kitchen?"

********************************

We always hold hands.

If I let go, she shops.

********************************

My wife was in beauty saloon for two hours.

That was only for the estimate.

She got a mudpack and looked great for two days...

Then the mud fell off.

********************************

She ran after the garbage truck, yelling,

"Am I too late for the garbage?"

Following her down the street I yelled,

"No, jump in!"

********************************

BaddTeddy recently explained to me why he refuses

to ever get Married.

He says "the wedding rings look too much

like minature handcuffs....."

********************************

If your dog is barking at the back door

and your wife is yelling at

the front door, who do you let in first?

The Dog of course...

at least he'll shut up after you let him in!

********************************

A man placed some flowers on the grave of his

dearly departed mother and started back

toward his car when his attention was

diverted to another man kneeling at a grave.

The man seemed to be praying with profound

intensity and kept repeating,

"Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die?"

The first man approached him and said,

"Sir, I don't wish to interfere with your private grief,

but this demonstration of pain is more than I've

ever seen before.

For whom do you mourn so deeply? A child? A parent?"

The mourner took a moment to collect himself, then replied,

"My wife's first husband."

********************************

A couple came upon a wishing well.

The husband leaned over, made a wish

and threw in a penny.

The wife decided to make a wish, too.

But she leaned over too much, fell into the well,

and drowned.

The husband was stunned for a while but then smiled

"It really works!"

********************************

NOTE: These are Excerpts from the Collection of Crystellite

There are umpteen top class stories .. They just add missing elements in our life to make it complete.If you have a heart that beats, here is one you will never regret reading .

Some One To Care

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies for Sale."

Signs have a way of attracting children, and soon a little boy appeared at the store and asked, "How much are you gonna sell those puppies for?".

The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50." The little boy reached into his pocket and pulled out some change. "I only have $2.37. Can I look at them?" The store owner was amused at the interest of the child . He smiled and whistled. Out of the back of the store came his dog running down the aisle followed by five little puppies. One puppy lagging considerably behind caught the curiosity of the little boy. He singled out the lagging, limping puppy -"What is wrong with that little dog?" he asked.

The man explained that when the puppy was born the vet said it had a bad hip socket and would limp for the rest of its life. The little boy got really excited and said "That's the puppy I want to buy!" Realizing the trouble the little boy would have rearing a dog that would limp for the rest of his life, the man said "No, you don't want to buy that limping little dog, do you?".

A few secods later, the man realized that he was in two minds one that prodded him not to disappoint the child and the other that reminded him that the child did not enough money to pay for a healthy dog. And the limping one wouldn't sell for a good price any way. So he came up with an idea that would make them both happy.

He said "If you really want him, I'll give him to you for free." The little boy got upset. He looked straight into the man's eyes and said "I don't want you to give him to me for free. He is worth every bit as much as the other dogs and I'll pay the full price. In fact, I will give you $2.37 now and 50 cents every month until I have him paid for."

Thinking that the boy was going to waste his money the man countered once more, "You really don't want to buy this puppy, son. He is never gonna be able to run, jump and play like other puppies."

The little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the man and said, "Well, I don't run so well myself and the little puppy will need someone who understands him."

The man was now biting his bottom lip. Tears welled up in his eyes...Holding them bck with much difficulty, he smiled and said, "Son, I hope and pray that each and every one of these puppies will have owner such as you."

In life it doesn't matter who you Are, but whether someone appreciates you for What You Are, And Accepts You And Loves You unconditionally.

A Real Friend Is One Who Walks In When The Rest Of The World Walks Away.

_______ _________ __________ ___________ _______

Note: This is story has been suitably edited for effect by Crystellite. The actual author of the story is unknown.

The Riple Effect

The Master was walking through the fields one day when a young man, with a troubled look upon his face, approached him.

"On such a beautiful day, it must be difficult to stay so serious," the Master said.

"Is it? I hadn't noticed," the young man said, turning to look around and notice his surroundings. His eyes scanned the landscape, but nothing seemed to register; his mind elsewhere. Watching intently, the Master continued to walk.

"Join me if you like." The Master walked to the edge of a still pond, framed by sycamore trees, their leaves golden orange and about to fall.

"Please sit down," the Master invited, patting the ground next to him. Looking carefully before sitting, the young man brushed the ground to clear a space for himself.

"Now, find a small stone, please," the Master instructed.

"What?"

"A stone. Please find a small stone and throw it in the pond."

Searching around him, the young man grabbed a pebble and threw it as far as he could.

"Tell me what you see," the Master instructed.

Straining his eyes not to miss a single detail, the man looked at the water's surface.

"I see ripples."

"Where did the ripples come from?"

"From the pebble I threw in the pond, Master."

"Please reach your hand into the water and stop the ripples," the Master asked.

Not understanding, the young man stuck his hand in the water as a ripple neared, only to cause more ripples. The young man was now completely baffled. Where was this going? Had he made a mistake in seeking out the Master? After all he was not a student, perhaps he could not be helped? Puzzled, the young man waited.

"Were you able to stop the ripples with your hands?" the Master asked.

"No, of course not."

"Could you have stopped the ripples, then?"

"No, Master. I told you I only caused more ripples."

"What if you had stopped the pebble from entering the water to begin with?" The Master smiled such a beautiful smile; the young man could not be upset.

"Next time you are unhappy with your life, catch the stone before it hits the water. Do not spend time trying to undo what you have done. Rather, change what you are going to do before you do it." The Master looked kindly upon the young man.

"But Master, how will I know what I am going to do before I do it?"

"Take the responsibility for living your own life. If you're working with a doctor to treat an illness, then ask the doctor to help you understand what caused the illness. Do not just treat the ripples. Keep asking questions." The young man stopped, his mind reeling.

"But I came to you to ask you for answers. Are you saying that I know the answers?"

"You may not know the answers right now, but if you ask the right questions, then you shall discover the answers."

"But what are the right questions, Master?"

"There are no wrong questions, only unasked ones. We must ask, for without asking, we cannot receive answers. But it is your responsibility to ask. No one else can do that for you."

A tough colleague of mine had a registered parcel from a friend which the post man wasn't able to deliver at her door because she wasn't at home to receive it at that time. Insured as it was he declined to give it to her servant who opened the door. The post man however informed the servant that she should collect the parcel at the Post office in 2-3 days lest the parcel will be returned back.

My colleague who was generally very occupied and worked for long hours, found it inconvenient to leave the office early just for collecting a parcel but barely managed to reach the Post Office ten minutes before it was scheduled to close. As half the staff had already left for home, the rest - the top brass and lower cadres were on the verge of winding up. Though the arrival of a lady attracted the attention of one and all, it also caused a little discomfiture at the thought of having to attend to her, at that hour. Some one asked "what do you want madam? My colleague informed them about the parcel that wasn't delivered at her home and that the postman had expected to collect it in person at the Post Office.

Promptly the person on the other side said that the PO was closed --- "aap kal aayiye" (Pl. come tomorrow.)

Lady: "what time do you close?

PO staff: 5 PM.

She said "There are ten more minutes to go, on your clock"

PO staff: Yes, but we have closed our books

Lady: How can you close before time?

PO staff: "Yahan eise hee hota hai. Ye ghar jaane ka samay hai"

(This is the practice here. It's time to go home)

Lady: Par ye to galat hai. (But this is wrong). You can leave after 5 pm but not before that you can't deny me service till 5 pm. I have come from rather far away.

Looking at the altercation the Post man entered the scene and tried to pacify the lady: Maddamm humne sare records bund kar diye hain.. aap kal aayiye aap ka kaam kal ho jaayega.(Madam we have closed all our books of records. you may please come tomorrow and your work will be attended to)

PO staff: Aap ke post man ne parcel ko doosre din deliver karne se inkaar kar diya to mein bhi doosre din nahin aa saktee. aap mera kaam aaj aur abhi karenge . Mein jaane vaalee nahin hoon. (When your postman refused to deliver the parcel on the second day, I refuge to come on another day for collecting it too. You will do my work today and now. I am not leaving this place)

The Post Master was rather agitated, disturbed, angry, but helpless and realized that there was no way he could get across to her without attending to her.

Reluctantly he went in to his room, asked his attendants to bring the concerned parcel and while opening his books he said Theek hai Maddamm aap to jabardasti kar rahee hain chaliya hum aap ka kaam karte hein..Aap hamein apna identity dikhaiye aur apna parcel le jaayiye" (O.K. Madam, you are forcing your self upon us. but that's alright, we will do your work . please show me your identity card and take your parcel"

Lady: I have no identity card with me now (14 years ago carrying IDs was not as common as it is these days. and she had a driver to drive her car .. so she had no driving license either)

PM: We can't give the parcel without an ID!

Lady: Your post man did not tell my servant that I had to bring an ID to collect the parcel he only said come to PO to collect it yourself within 2-3 days.

PM: Aap kaun hain hamei to maloom nahin hai. Hum bina ID dekhe hee, kisee ko kaise de sakte hain

Lady: When I am standing here in person what more evidence do you want? Ask my driver my name and that will prove my identity.

PM: I neither know your identity nor your drivers'. I am sorry.

Lady: Now it is you who is harassing me. and wasting my time. The best I can show you is my visiting card and you can call my office to verify my identity. or my house for that matter.

PM: Eh naheen chalega. Is mein to aap ka photo hee naheen hai.

Lady: So what else do you want for an ID?

PM: aap ration card kee photo copy dikhayiye jisme aap ke ghar ka pataa ho aur aap ka naam bhi.

Lady: Aur jiske paas ration card naheen ho to kya unki identity naheen hotee? Desh bhar mein kitne duplicate ration card bante hain aap ko pataa nahin hai kya. Kal mein duplicate ration card banwakar aap se kisee kaa bhee parcel lekar jaasaktee hoon. Aur aap yahee karte honge. Vaise bhi, ration card kisee ki pehchaan ka aur ghar ke pate ka koi maanya saadhan nahin ho sakta.. Aur agar aap ne adhik vilamb kiya to mei asahayog, jimmevaari na nibhane, aur mujhe eise shaam ke sadhe paach baje ke baad pareshaan karne ke liye aapp ke khilaaf shikaayat kar doongee. (What about those who do not have a ration card? don't they have an identity? Don't you know how many duplicate ration cards are made in this country? Tomorrow I can get a duplicate ration card and claim any body's parcel from this office. And may be that is what you do! In any case, ration card can not be considered an authentic proof of residence or an identity of a person. And if you delay any further I will complain against you, for non-cooperation and failing to discharge your duties and harassing me at this hour of half past 5 in the evening).

PM: Maddam aap to ulte hee hum par baras rahee hain. Haamree naukri khatre mein pad jayegee. Aap hain kaun ye to batayiye? (You are attacking us on the contrary! My job will be in danger. Please tell us who you are?)

Lady: Mein aap kee hee tarah ek insaan hoon. Aur mera naam "@#&%*!"hai. Mera ghar ka pata "$@#&*$" aur mere office ka pata "*&&%$#$@!" hai. Aap aur kya jaan na chahte hain?. (I am a human being like any one of you. And my name is "@#&%*!" > My house address is "$@#&*$" And my office address is "*&&%$#$@!" What else would you like to know?

PM: Aap yahaa sign kariye aur lejayiye apna parcel. Ab to upar vaalaa hee bachayega. (Please sign here and take your parcel. Only God will save me now)

Lady: Agar aap apna kam theek naheen Karenge to upar vaalaa bhee naheen bachayega, Vaise aap bekaar kee chinta chodiye. Ye parcel mera hee hai. Aap ko koi khatra nahee hai. (If you did not discharge your duties properly, even God can not save you. In any case, you don't have to worry much. This parcel belongs to me, and so there is no risk involved.)

Wo(w)man!

SALT COFFEE


I can't resist sharing this from a dear friend, with the rest of you, because I really like the romanticism to the core Hope you enjoy it too!

He met her on a party. She was so outstanding, many guys chasing after her, while he so normal, nobody paid attention to him. At the end of the party, he pooled up courage to invite her to have coffee with him. She was surprised, but being polite, she promised.

They sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything and she felt very uncomfortable. She thought, and almost began to plead 'please; let me go home....' and just then he suddenly asked the waiter. "Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to have it in my coffee."

Everybody stared at him, so strange! His face turned red, but still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously; why you have salt in your coffee? Is this your hobby? He was nervous but replied: "when I was a little boy, my family lived near the sea, and I liked playing in the sea, I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of this salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood, think of my hometown, I miss my hometown so much, I miss my parents who are still living there", and as he spoke tears filled his eyes.

She was deeply touched. She could feel his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart, and thought - A man who can tell out his homesickness, he must be a man who loves home and family, cares about home, feels responsible for home.

Then she also started to speak, spoke about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their story.

They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her demands; he had tolerance, was kind hearted, warm, careful. He was such a good person that she almost missed him! Thanks to his salty coffee, that sparked their conversation!

Then the story took the standard course of the princess marrying the prince, and then they lived happily ever after .... And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee, as she knew that's the way he liked it.

After 40 years, as in normal course of time, he passed away. But he left her a letter which said: "My dearest, please forgive me, forgive me for my whole life lie ... The only lie I ever told you --- the salty coffee. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, that although I wanted some sugar for my coffee, I ended up saying "salt". But because I was so nervous, it was hard for me to change, so I just went ahead with the salt in my coffee. I never thought that could be the start of our communication! I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything.

Now that I'm dying, I afraid of nothing and so I tell you the truth: I never liked the salty coffee, what a strange taste it was... But I took the salty coffee for my whole life! All for your sake! Because I knew you made it for me with love, and in all earnestness. Since I knew you and your affection for me, I never felt sorry for anything I did for you. Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life.

If I can live for the second time, I would still want to know you and have you for my whole life, even though I have to drink the salty coffee again".

Her tears made the letter totally wet. Some day, someone asked her: "what's the taste of salty coffee?" "It's sweet". She replied.

Love is not to forget but to forgive, not to see but to understand, not to hear but to listen, not to let go but to HOLD ON !!!!

As a new entrant in to the rediffiland, I have been curiously scanning the pages of co-members off and on and trying to fathom the nature of scripts caricatured by them on this vast canvas. I am amazed at the wide range of topics, as also the nature of complex issues raked up for public debate only to be further complicated by the diversity of human thought values and culture.

Interestingly, barring exceptions which are but few, most scripts are an ex-pression of people's inter-personal relations, feelings and emotions besides reactions and interpretations to these from the view point of the writer. The net essence of most emotional explodes betray a quest for equilibrium, harmo