The True Story of Rudolph

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.

His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing.

Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying  of cancer.

Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home.  Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?"

Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger.

It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in.

Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Wards during the Great Depression.

Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived.  Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook!

Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling.

Who was the character? What was the story all about?

The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form.  The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.

Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there. The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print  the book. Wards went on to print, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and   distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores.

By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May.

The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.

Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph.  Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas."

The  gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so  long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and  again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad.

In fact, being different can be a blessing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Enjoy life...it has an expiration date! 

In God We Trust

Can Magnet Therapy Relieve Your Pain?

Updated November 25, 2014.

What is Magnetic Therapy?

Magnetic therapy is based on the theory that when delivered directly to the body magnetic fields can stimulate healing from a range of health problems. Although its health claims include the treatment of multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, insomnia, inflammation, and even cancer and heart disease, there is little scientific evidence for magnetic therapy's effectiveness.

How Does Magnetic Therapy Work?

Magnet therapy takes many different forms. In some cases, magnets are applied to illness-affected areas with the help of wraps, shoe inserts, self-adhesive strips, belts, or "magnetic jewelry" like bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Other products include magnetic mattress pads and blankets, as well as magnetic-field-generating machines and even magnet-conditioned water.

·         Magnetic Therapy

·         Magnetic Bracelets

·         Holistic Acupuncture

·         Acupuncture for Anxiety

·         Alternative Medicine

Since scientific support for its use is so limited, it's difficult to determine how magnetic therapy might promote healing. However, proponents maintain that magnets can stimulate circulation, relax the blood vessels, increase endorphin levels, reduce muscle tension, and normalize metabolic functioning. 

Magnetic Therapy Research

Even though claims that magnetic therapy can treat diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis are unfounded, there is some evidence that it may help relieve pain related to these chronic conditions:

1) Arthritis

In a 2004 study of 194 adults with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, researchers found that those who wore magnetic bracelets for 12 weeks had a decrease in arthritis-associated pain. Meanwhile, a 2001 study of 64 people with rheumatoid arthritis of the knee showed that 68% of those who used magnetic therapy reported feeling better or much better after one week.

2) Chronic Pelvic Pain

For a 2002 study of 32 women with chronic pelvic pain, one group of patients had active or placebo magnets applied to their abdomens for 24 hours a day. After four weeks of continuous use, those who received the active magnets reported significantly lower pain levels than at the start of the study.

3) Fibromyalgia

After six weeks of sleeping on magnetized mattress pads, 13 women with fibromyalgia reported significantly less pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and next-day tiredness. A control group of 12 women (who slept on non-magnetized mattresses) had smaller improvements in pain, sleep, fatigue, and tiredness. The study's authors note that improvements in both groups might have been due to use of a better mattress pad.

More Science on Magnetic Therapy

There is also evidence that magnetic therapy may help reduce neck pain, post-polio pain, and diabetic foot pain. But in studies on the use of magnetic therapy for relief of chronic low back pain and wrist pain related to carpal tunnel syndrome, researchers found magnets no more effective than placebo treatments.

Magnetic therapy may show promise in the treatment of female urinary continence, however: In a 2004 study of 24 patients, 58% of participants showed improvement after eight weeks of receiving twice-weekly magnetic stimulation of the pelvic floor.

Caveats

If you're undergoing radiology, it's important to avoid the use of magnetic devices. Pregnant women and people with cardiac pacemakers should also forego magnetic therapy.

In addition, it's important to consult your doctor about the condition you're seeking to alleviate through magnetic therapy and to discuss the potential risks and benefits of magnetic therapy. Self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences.

Sources:

Brown CS, Ling FW, Wan JY, Pilla AA. "Efficacy of static magnetic field therapy in chronic pelvic pain: a double-blind pilot study." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002 187(6):1581-7.

Chandi DD, Groenendijk PM, Venema PL. "Functional extracorporeal magnetic stimulation as a treatment for female urinary incontinence: 'the chair'." BJU International 2004;93(4):539-42.

Colbert AP, et al. "Magnetic mattress pad use in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized double-blind pilot study." Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation 1999;13:19-31.

Segal NA, Toda Y, Huston J, Saeki Y, Shimizu M, Fuchs H, Shimaoka Y, Holcomb R, McLean MJ. "Two configurations of static magnetic fields for treating rheumatoid arthritis of the knee: a double-blind clinical trial." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2001 82(10):1453-60.

Tim Harlow, Colin Greaves, Adrian White, Liz Brown, Anna Hart, Edzard Ernst. "Randomised controlled trial of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee." British Medical Journal 2004;329:1450-1454.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.

WSJ: Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God

By

Eric Metaxas

Dec. 25, 2014 4:56 p.m. ET

In 1966 Time magazine ran a cover story asking: Is God Dead? Many have accepted the cultural narrative that he’s obsolete—that as science progresses, there is less need for a “God” to explain the universe. Yet it turns out that the rumors of God’s death were premature. More amazing is that the relatively recent case for his existence comes from a surprising place—science itself.

Here’s the story: The same year Time featured the now-famous headline, the astronomer Carl Sagan announced that there were two important criteria for a planet to support life: The right kind of star, and a planet the right distance from that star. Given the roughly octillion—1 followed by 24 zeros—planets in the universe, there should have been about septillion—1 followed by 21 zeros—planets capable of supporting life.

With such spectacular odds, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a large, expensive collection of private and publicly funded projects launched in the 1960s, was sure to turn up something soon. Scientists listened with a vast radio telescopic network for signals that resembled coded intelligence and were not merely random. But as years passed, the silence from the rest of the universe was deafening. Congress defunded SETI in 1993, but the search continues with private funds. As of 2014, researches have discovered precisely bubkis—0 followed by nothing.

What happened? As our knowledge of the universe increased, it became clear that there were far more factors necessary for life than Sagan supposed. His two parameters grew to 10 and then 20 and then 50, and so the number of potentially life-supporting planets decreased accordingly. The number dropped to a few thousand planets and kept on plummeting.

Even SETI proponents acknowledged the problem. Peter Schenkel wrote in a 2006 piece for Skeptical Inquirer magazine: “In light of new findings and insights, it seems appropriate to put excessive euphoria to rest . . . . We should quietly admit that the early estimates . . . may no longer be tenable.”

As factors continued to be discovered, the number of possible planets hit zero, and kept going. In other words, the odds turned against any planet in the universe supporting life, including this one. Probability said that even we shouldn't be here.

Today there are more than 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life—every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing falls apart. Without a massive planet like Jupiter nearby, whose gravity will draw away asteroids, a thousand times as many would hit Earth’s surface. The odds against life in the universe are simply astonishing.

Yet here we are, not only existing, but talking about existing. What can account for it? Can every one of those many parameters have been perfect by accident? At what point is it fair to admit that science suggests that we cannot be the result of random forces? Doesn't assuming that an intelligence created these perfect conditions require far less faith than believing that a life-sustaining Earth just happened to beat the inconceivable odds to come into being?

There’s more. The fine-tuning necessary for life to exist on a planet is nothing compared with the fine-tuning required for the universe to exist at all. For example, astrophysicists now know that the values of the four fundamental forces—gravity, the electromagnetic force, and the “strong” and “weak” nuclear forces—were determined less than one millionth of a second after the big bang. Alter any one value and the universe could not exist. For instance, if the ratio between the nuclear strong force and the electromagnetic force had been off by the tiniest fraction of the tiniest fraction—by even one part in 100,000,000,000,000,000—then no stars could have ever formed at all. Feel free to gulp.

Multiply that single parameter by all the other necessary conditions, and the odds against the universe existing are so heart-stoppingly astronomical that the notion that it all “just happened” defies common sense. It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 Quintilian times in a row. Really?

Fred Hoyle, the astronomer who coined the term “big bang,” said that his atheism was “greatly shaken” at these developments. He later wrote that “a common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology . . . . The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.”

Theoretical physicist Paul Davies has said that “the appearance of design is overwhelming” and Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox has said “the more we get to know about our universe, the more the hypothesis that there is a Creator . . . gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here.”

The greatest miracle of all time, without any close seconds, is the universe. It is the miracle of all miracles, one that ineluctably points with the combined brightness of every star to something—or Someone—beyond itself.

Mr. Metaxas is the author, most recently, of “Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life” ( Dutton Adult, 2014).

The thyroid

The thyroid is a small gland in the neck just below the Adam’s apple.  Its primary function is to produce hormones that influence most of the metabolic functions of the body.  Goiter and the three primary categories of problems that can occur are described below with more information on individual pages reached using the links above.

Goiter, when the thyroid enlarges for any reason it is described as a goiter. There can be many causes but it is usually not a cancerous tumor nor an infectious inflammation but rather a result of one of the conditions described below.

Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, this can significantly accelerate the body's metabolism, causing sudden weight loss, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, and nervousness or irritability.  Symptoms can include insomnia, anxiety, irritability, bulging eyes, weakness in arms/legs, shaky hands, frequent bowel movements, weight loss, racing heart beat, premature grey hair, lighter menstrual flow, less frequent periods.  Various forms of hyperthyroidism include:

•  Graves' disease - This is also an autoimmune disorder wherein there is too much production of the thyroid hormone.   It is more prevalent among females and is the most common thyroid disorder among children and adolescents.

•  Toxic adenomas - Over activity may also come from nodules forming that secrete excess thyroid hormone or an inflammation may occur that causes the gland to “leak” the excess.  Goiters that form may contain several nodules.

•  Subacute thyroiditis – This is a temporary inflammation of the thyroid that causes excess hormones and is usually temporary lasting a few weeks to a few months.

Hypothyroidism, an under active thyroid, not producing sufficient hormones may lead to obesity, joint pain, infertility, and heart disease.  This disorder is most common among women, over 50.  The unbalance in the body from an under active thyroid can develop slowly and initially be unnoticed but left unattended over time can lead to more serious situations.  Symptoms can include tiredness, depression, lack of concentration, feeling cold, constipation, muscle cramps, weight gain, increased menstrual flow, more frequent periods, itchy skin, thinning hair. Causes of hypothyroidism are identified as:

•  Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – This is an autoimmune disease wherein the body attacks the tissue of the thyroid.  The resulting inflammation and damage to the tissue results in reduced amounts or cessation of the hormones normally generated by the thyroid.  This is the most common of hypothyroid disorders and occurs primarily in middle aged females but is also seen in men and children.

•  Thyroid removal – The thyroid may be surgically or chemically removed to correct hyperthyroidism and hormonal balance must be achieved by other means.

•  Iodine exposure – Exposure to excessive amounts of iodine and damage thyroidal tissue and result in hypothyroidism.  Iodine can come from many medications for heart, cold, and sinus conditions as well as those use for some X-ray procedures.

Thyroid nodules themselves may form.  They may be solid or fluid filled lumps that form within the thyroid.  Most nodules are not serious and may even go unnoticed.  Small percentages are cancerous and require serious attention.

No More Apologies

I am sick of apologizing for Israel when it is Israel that really deserves an apology.

I am sick of apologizing for Israel’s right to defend itself. I am sick of the word “ceasefire” when all that really means is “time for Hamas to build more rockets” while we stand by helplessly. I am sick of the UN calling this an Israeli-Palestinian War when all along it’s clearly been a prolonged terrorist attack that the IDF is courageously trying to stop. I’m sick of people criticizing Israel for killing innocent people when they have done more than any country to warn Gazans and have even brought the gunmen into their own hospitals. I’m sick of apologizing for being a Jew. For being part of a nation whose kindness and compassion shine through even on the battlefield.

Somehow the world is turning everything around. Turning the terrorists into victims. Turning the attacked into the aggressor. This is the anti-Semitism of today. A hatred and disgust with Israel no matter what we do. And now the FAA has put a ban on US flights to Israel, isolating us from each other as the rockets continue to fall.

Now I ask you. Who should be apologizing? The millions of Jews running for cover as rockets attempting to smash into their school yards and tear apart their homes come raining down? The parents of all the soldiers who have tragically died in this frustrating, dangerous ground war in Gaza, where every move is calculated and re-calculated to prevent the loss of life?

Should the soldiers apologize for risking their lives to fight terrorism while the rest of us shake our heads over the news? I am sick of apologizing for Israel when it is Israel that really deserves an apology.

Israel deserves an apology from the media for falsely portraying them as aggressors. From the anti-Israel demonstrators who would have never protested the fight against terrorists when it was their own country being attacked on 9/11. From the UN for blaming Israel for a war they didn’t begin. From the Jews who have turned their backs on their own people when they are needed most. From the terrorists themselves, for the constant panic and fear, for the horrific loss of life, for destroying our homes, for diverting our planes, for turning our lives upside down, and for putting innocent Arab lives in mortal danger. Israel deserves an apology.

And I also want to apologize to Israel and her courageous people. I am sorry for not defending you loudly enough. For not doing more to speak up against the staged newspaper photographs and the false criticisms. I am sorry for the hours in which I forget about the pain and the suffering that you are going through. I am sorry, dear parents of all the fallen soldiers. I am sorry for your aching grief and loss, sorry that you had to sacrifice your sons in this war for Jewish survival. Because they were not just fighting for Israel, they were fighting for all of us.

I apologize to all of you, who live in the only place in the world where every Jew is welcomed home, that you are not recognized on a daily basis for holding up the fort for all of us, for teaching your children to remain calm under fire, for sending your sons to guard our borders, for holding onto your faith when everyone around you is intent on taking it away.

And I also want to say thank you. Thank you to the Israeli government for not backing down in this battle for our survival. Thank you to the soldiers for giving up everything you have, including life itself, to keep us safe. Thank you to the people who live in Israel for continuing to build families and homes in our Land with rockets falling all around you.

Thank you, Israel, for being a shining light among the nations of the world. For being brave enough to stand up and fight against terrorism, even when the world prefers to close its eyes and shake its head. No more apologies.

We stand by you, Israel. We pray for you. We are proud of you. You are not alone.

by Sara Debbie Gutfreund

Published: July 22, 2014 

Fat and Dietary Admission

In the no so distant past the guidance was sure about fat and dietary admission — consume less immersed fat to lessening your danger of coronary illness. Anyway new research has disclosed some distinctive discoveries which has turned tried and true way of thinking on its head.

So where does the level headed discussion stand as of now, what are the truths, and the myths? We converse with dietician, nutritionist and creator Susie Burrell for the thin on fats.

Fat certainties: the four primary sorts

Fats in sustenances are a mixture of four primary sorts says Burrell. "Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are found in nourishments like nuts, seeds, avocados and slick fish. These two fats have generally been viewed as the "great" fats on the grounds that they to lower cholesterol.

"Immersed and trans fats (found in meats and transformed sustenances) have gotten known as the "terrible" fats on the grounds that they expand cholesterol."

The specialists were wrong about immersed fat: new claims

For a considerable length of time wellbeing authorities as far and wide as possible have kept up that consuming polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats over immersed fats will diminish your danger of coronary ailment. Anyway research distributed not long ago in the Annals of Internal Medicine discovered no confirmation to help this case.

"The dissection of existing information proposes there isn't sufficient proof to say that an eating methodology rich in polyunsaturated fats however low in soaked fats diminishes the danger of cardiovascular sickness," said Professor Jeremy Pearson, partner restorative executive of the British Heart Foundation.

These discoveries have been tricky for wellbeing powers in light of the fact that it could mean revamping current rules. At the same time Burrell is determined.

"Following 10 years working in the field I've seen numerous studies and eating methodology trends travel every which way. I've never been more persuaded that good dieting and specifically weight administration descends to calorie control. A lot of anything is bad, be it immersed or unsaturated fats, carbs or sugar".

Myth busting: Susie Burrell on famous confusions

Burrell is energetic about teaching individuals for a healthier future which regularly implies myth busting:

We ought to all take fish oil supplements

"Fish oil supplements are well known yet like vitamins, they could be an unnecessary cost. I just routinely propose fish oils for those with provocative conditions, for example, insulin safety. Preferably we will all be consuming more fish."

Stay away from sugar no matter what

"Sugar itself is not awful notwithstanding the mainstream deduction to dodge it no matter what. A teaspoon of nectar or a bit of foods grown from the ground won't result in harm in disengagement — it is the organization it keeps. "Sugar is found in prepared nourishments and with refined white flour or in concentrated sources like soda pop. Stay away from these things and you will be on the whole correct."

Skim items are superior to full fat

"With milk specifically, there are some basic misinterpretations. Skim milk does not have included sugar, nor does it have a mediocre supplement profile contrasted with full-cream milk.

"On the off chance that anything, low-fat drain has a tendency to have better nutritious properties with larger amounts of calcium, protein and key supplements."

"In the skim verses full-fat level headed discussion, individual inclination is key. In the event that you consume a ton of prepared nourishments and don't practice regularly then a high fat admission general may be anticipating fat misfortune and that could be motivation to settle on low-fat items."

On myths

"The greatest myth of all is that there is an outright reply to any of the inquiries of fat and eating regimens by and large. The impact of particular supplements will be diverse for every individual relying upon their genes, their general eating methodology quality and activity and lifestyle propensities.

"Be sensible, do some examination and converse with a qualified dietician in the event that you require direction," said Burr

THE SEASONS OF LIFE THE HARVEST

By: Dr. Eliezer Ben-Joseph

The tide comes in and then recedes, the sun rises, giving light, and sets, bringing darkness. Drought plagues the fields of the world, followed by abundant rain. The heat wave of summer gives way to the penetrating cold of the winter storm. The smile gives way to the tear. For each of us existing on this blue-white sphere called earth, the wheel of life continues its constant turning, all human emotions appear, disappear, and appear once again. For all of us, the only constant factor in life is learning to experience the changing of life's cycles without being changed by them. To make a constant and conscious effort to improve ourselves in the face of changing circumstances is to assure our ability to weather the winters of life and to permit ourselves the full enjoyment of the blessings of life's harvest come the autumn. These, then, are the cycles of life. The first springtime is the time to take advantage of opportunities, friendships, love and new ideas.

Springtime follows the turbulence of winter. It is the season of activity. It is the time to plant and sow the fields of life with seeds of knowledge and a commitment of determined effort. Spring comes with its bounteous beauty, yet do not be lulled into inactivity, soaking in the aroma of the blossoming flowers, otherwise you will awaken to find planting season gone with your seed still in your sack. Remember the seasons come without emotion and care not what you do. It is God who gives you the wisdom to know when to rise from your comfortable chair and it is you who must dig deep and find the discipline within yourself for the effort of tilling the fields.

The springtime of life does not come often. Do not let it pass while you contemplate the hardships of the past winter of your life. With the gifts of intelligence, wisdom, and freedom of choice given to us as humans, exercise the discipline to plant in spite of the rocks, weeds, or other obstacles before you. To take full advantage of the spring, rid your soil of the weeds and rocks disguised as negative opinions, worry, doubt, and pessimism. It is the fertilizer of the faith, love, enthusiasm, and effort that will overcome the worst forms of bugs, and weeds.

Springtime merely says "Here I am!" so choose action, not rest. Choose truth, not lies. Choose a smile, not a frown. Choose love, not hate. Life provides no assurances that the planting of seeds will provide the reaping of crops. Yet to expend no effort during the spring will assure no results come the fall. A seed produces fruit its own kind. A seed of doubt, or fear, or distrust placed in the mind will also produce fruit of its own kind. The effort of thinking thoughts of love, prosperity, or self-confidence is no greater than the effort given to thoughts of hate, poverty, or self doubt. Only the rewards are different. Each day is given to us as a new season of spring. The thoughts, deeds, dreams, and efforts of today will provide tomorrow’s harvest. There will be no better day, no better opportunity, no better springtime, no better time to begin than the current moment. Seize the moments as you find them and mold them into your own better future. "Summertime - a time to protect and nurture."

Success in life is not an easy matter, nor is it an easy matter for the seed to push away the soil in its quest to find the light that promotes its growth. The spring is a time for the creation of things of value and those things now require the season of summer for growing and gaining strength that they might yield their harvest come fall. Develop an understanding and awareness of the fact that good will be attacked. It is nature's way. Learn to accept the existence of negativity. Expect adver sity, for it shall surely appear. Be grateful for adversity, for it forces the human spirit to grow. Human character is formed in our response to difficulty not by the absence of difficulty. All things, even adversity, have their worthy purpose. Let's face it, there will be people and events that are going to hurt you and disappoint you. It has been this way throughout recorded history. Since you cannot control the weather, or traffic, or your boss, or your neighbors, or the ones you love, then you must learn to control yourself, the one whose response to the difficulties of life really counts. Do not doubt yourself, for where doubt resides, confidence cannot. Do not neglect yourself, for with neglect comes loss. Do not imagine yourself to be less than you are nor more than you are. Seek always to become all of which you are capable. You are a fertile seed of the creator of all things, destined not to lie dormant, but to spring forth from the soil called life and grow upward toward the unlimited horizons.

It is your destiny to tap your talents and to achieve all that of which you believe yourself to be worthy.

The fall - a time for harvesting the fruits of our springtime labor. Fall is a time for rejoicing as well as a time for a searching of the conscience. For those who planted abundantly in the spring, and who fought against the bugs, weeds and hot weather of summer, fall can bring the rewards of the harvest. Nothing is more exciting than a bounteous crop and nothing more dreadful than a barren field in the fall. So it is with those given the responsibility for planting, and so it is also with those who are given the responsibilities of life. A meager harvest makes confession of our own past failures, an experience both difficult and necessary. The law is simple, and known to all. The law is “As you sow, so shall you reap."

In all areas of human existence, be aware that what we put into this world is what we get back from it. It is nature’s way of "evening the score” In the fall, we either enjoy or we excuse. For those who failed to take advantage of the spring, who failed to see their crops through the heat of summer, there can be only excuses, and excuses are merely attempts to place blame on circumstances rather than on ourselves. Winter - prepared or unprepared.

One of life’s great lessons is that winter will always come, the winter of cold and wind, ice and snow, yet also the winter of despair and loneliness, disappointment or tragedy. It is winter when we think our prayers go unanswered, or when the acts of our children leave us shaken and stunned. Winter comes in many forms and at any time, both to the planter of crops or to our personal lives. The arrival of winter finds us in one of two categories: either we are prepared or we are unprepared. To those who are prepared, who have planted in the spring, guarded their crops during the summer, and harvested during the fall, winter can be yet another season of opportunity. I t can be a time for reading, for study, a time for planning, for gathering our strength for the coming spring. It can be a time of great enjoyment, a time to share with those we love. Winter is a time for rest and a time to enjoy the fruits of our labors. To those who are unprepared, the arrival of winter is a time for regret and a time for sorrow. Without the pain and effort of the earlier discipline, we will pay with the pain and emptiness of regret. Regret is a bare cupboard.

For things to change, human attitudes, opinions, and habits must change. Let winter find you planning for the arrival of spring, with appreciation of the past, with gratitude for your achievements, for the adversities and uncertainties of life, because each is a blessing which removes limitations from the possibilities of life. Winter is a time for examination and introspection. Winter is the time for being sincere with ourselves and about ourselves. Constant gradual change is the order of the universe and only those worthy human attributes of honesty, loyalty, love, and trust in God and ourselves are meant to remain constant. Winter is a time for being grateful for our achievements, for having the strength to endure our lack of achievement. Don' t pray for things to be easier. Rather, pray for more obstacles and more challenges, for it is out of these that man’s character and will to succeed are formed.