Post by Rhonda on Aug 30, 2008 4:38:08 GMT -5
__________
DOING WHAT WE CAN DO
This world seems to be full of talent. I've never felt as if much of
it has come my way, so I appreciate this story.
It is about a wholesaler in New York who sent a letter to the
postmaster of a small Midwestern town. He asked for the name of an
honest lawyer who would take a collection case against a local debtor
who had refused to pay for a shipment of the wholesaler's goods. He
got this reply:
Dear Sir:
I am the postmaster of this village and received your letter. I am
also an honest lawyer and ordinarily would be pleased to accept
a case against a local debtor. In this case, however, I also
happen to be the person you sold those crummy goods to. I
received your demand to pay and refused to honor it. I am also
the banker you sent the draft to draw on the merchant, and I sent
that back with a note stating that the merchant had refused to
pay. And if I were not, for the time being, substituting for the
pastor of our local church, I would tell you just where to stick
your claim.
Not many of us are multi-talented. I cannot do all that many things
well and most things I cannot do at all. But we all have our gifts.
As talented as the great theoretical physicist was, even Albert
Einstein experienced feelings of inadequacy. In 1948 Einstein was
offered the first presidency of the new nation of Israel. He turned it
down with this statement: "I am deeply moved by the offer from our
State of Israel [to serve as President], and at once saddened and
ashamed that I cannot accept it. All my life I have dealt with
objective matters, hence I lack both the natural aptitude and the
experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official
functions. For these reasons alone I should be unsuited to fulfill the
duties of that high office...." (The Einstein Scrapbook, Johns Hopkins
University Press, 2002)
Dr. Einstein knew plenty about the nature of the universe, but this
wise and insightful man also knew that he lacked the necessary
political skill for such a demanding position. Is there really any
shame in knowing our limitations? He focused on that which he did well
and the world is the better for it.
You may or may not recognize it, but you have the capacity to do some
things well. In fact, very well. Few of us will ever be Einsteins, but
we can still contribute meaningfully to life. And when we know what it
is we can do and decide to do that particular thing, we just might
discover we are happy.
-- Steve Goodier
P.S. AIN'T IT SO
The younger we are, the more we want to change the world. The
older we are, the more we want to change the young.
DOING WHAT WE CAN DO
This world seems to be full of talent. I've never felt as if much of
it has come my way, so I appreciate this story.
It is about a wholesaler in New York who sent a letter to the
postmaster of a small Midwestern town. He asked for the name of an
honest lawyer who would take a collection case against a local debtor
who had refused to pay for a shipment of the wholesaler's goods. He
got this reply:
Dear Sir:
I am the postmaster of this village and received your letter. I am
also an honest lawyer and ordinarily would be pleased to accept
a case against a local debtor. In this case, however, I also
happen to be the person you sold those crummy goods to. I
received your demand to pay and refused to honor it. I am also
the banker you sent the draft to draw on the merchant, and I sent
that back with a note stating that the merchant had refused to
pay. And if I were not, for the time being, substituting for the
pastor of our local church, I would tell you just where to stick
your claim.
Not many of us are multi-talented. I cannot do all that many things
well and most things I cannot do at all. But we all have our gifts.
As talented as the great theoretical physicist was, even Albert
Einstein experienced feelings of inadequacy. In 1948 Einstein was
offered the first presidency of the new nation of Israel. He turned it
down with this statement: "I am deeply moved by the offer from our
State of Israel [to serve as President], and at once saddened and
ashamed that I cannot accept it. All my life I have dealt with
objective matters, hence I lack both the natural aptitude and the
experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official
functions. For these reasons alone I should be unsuited to fulfill the
duties of that high office...." (The Einstein Scrapbook, Johns Hopkins
University Press, 2002)
Dr. Einstein knew plenty about the nature of the universe, but this
wise and insightful man also knew that he lacked the necessary
political skill for such a demanding position. Is there really any
shame in knowing our limitations? He focused on that which he did well
and the world is the better for it.
You may or may not recognize it, but you have the capacity to do some
things well. In fact, very well. Few of us will ever be Einsteins, but
we can still contribute meaningfully to life. And when we know what it
is we can do and decide to do that particular thing, we just might
discover we are happy.
-- Steve Goodier
P.S. AIN'T IT SO
The younger we are, the more we want to change the world. The
older we are, the more we want to change the young.
