Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Exceptional Service!

 







A Jewish folk tale:

A story tells of a man who went to the office every day in his expensive car, and made important decisions and signed big contracts.  Often, the important man would enjoy business lunches with his clients, and would try to distract the attention of his influential guests away from the unsavory spectacle of the beggars on the streets of his city.

One evening, after a hard day making money, he packed his briefcase to go home, where supper would be waiting for him.  As he was locking his desk for the night, he caught sight of a stale sandwich lying abandoned at the back of the drawer.  Without much thought he crammed it in his coat pocket.  No need for it to go moldy and mess up his desk.  And on the way out to the car park he saw a street beggar on the steps, huddled in an old blanket.  ‘Here, my friend’ he said to the beggar. ‘Here is something for your supper.’ And he gave him the stale sandwich.

That night, the man dreamed that he was away on a business trip.  After the day’s meeting, he was taken with his fellow directors to the town’s most luxurious restaurant.  Everyone gave their orders, and settled down with their drinks before the meal to look forward to a convivial evening.
The orders arrived. Pâté de foie gras.  Medallions of venison.  Lamb cutlets with rosemary and garlic.  The dishes being brought to the table brought gasps of delight from all the company. Then his own order appeared.  A waitress set in front of him one small plate, on which was served a stale sandwich.
‘What kind of service is this?’ the man demanded, enraged.  ‘This isn’t what I ordered! I thought this was the best restaurant in town!’

‘Oh sir,’ the waitress told him, ‘you’ve been misinformed.  This isn’t a restaurant at all.  This is heaven.  We are only able to serve you what you have sent on ahead while you were alive.  I’m very sorry, sir, but when we looked under your name, the best we could find to serve to you was this little sandwich.’ (Retelling of a Jewish folk story)

An Attitude of Gratitude . . .

 


Litany of Gratitude


For being in our world. For making a difference. For your wisdom. 

Thank you.

For being so thoughtful. For being there. For caring. Thank you.

For sharing your thoughts. For listening. For your inspiration. Thank you.

For your faith. For your talent. For your wonderful work.  Thank you.

For your leadership. For your character. For your spirit.  Thank you.

For your principles. For showing the way. For your warmth.  Thank you.

For your kindness.  For your encouragement. For your honesty.  

Thank you.

For your helping hand.  For reaching out. For your touch.  Thank you.

For your support. For hanging in there. For staying in touch. Thank you.

For giving. For your example. For spreading joy. For your big heart. 

Thank you.

For all you’ve done. For the memories. For being you.  

Thank you.                                                      

 (Adapted from Gratitude compiled by Dan Zadra)




In Praise of Autumn Beauty . . .

 



O God of Autumn loveliness, we thank you for the many colors of our lives. We thank you 
for the rich hues of red, the promising hope of greens, the depth of the golds, and the well-worn browns.

We praise you for all of the life you have given us, the life we celebrate at this harvest time 
each year. Like the leaves of the trees, we ourselves have been blown around, toasted in the sun, and whipped by rain and storms. Yet, we stand as a testament to life well lived.

Your trees, O God, remind us of our letting go, our need to trust transformation, so that new
life can come. Yet, like them, we resist the tearing, wrenching, pulling, and tugging.  We cling earnestly to our color and our home!

Release us, God of the Autumn, and free us so that the wind of your Spirit can fling us to the 
places we most need to go.  Bury us deep in places where we will find warmth.  Help us to find ourselves grounded in you.

As we look around in this harvest time, we celebrate the bounty all around us and deep 
within us.  May we be forever grateful for the plentitude!  May we be forever generous with all that is ours.  May we be forever willing to give of ourselves!

And as we journey towards this winter time, help us to always carry the spirit of springtime 
deep within us as a sign of hope! 

We believe, O God of Transformation, that all of life is your belief and hope in us!  Ready our
hearts, steady our hearts that we can respond fully in faith and love!

(Author Unknown)

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Sunday, November 10, 2024

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A time to choose to change . . .

 


 
Blessing

What we choose changes us.
Who we love transforms us.
How we create remakes us.
Where we live reshapes us.

So in all our choosing,
O God, make us wise;
in all our loving,
O Christ, make us bold;
in all our creating,
O Spirit, give us courage;
in all our living
may we become whole.
 
Author: Jan Richardson


 

Veterans Day

 Barack Obama

"Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay. 

But we can honor their sacrifice, and we must.”