A little more kindness, a little less creed;

A little more giving, a little less greed;

A little more smile, a little less frown;

A little less kicking a man when he's down.

A little more "we", a little less "I";

A little more laugh, a little less cry;

A little more flowers on the pathway of life,

and fewer on graves at the end of the strife.

A whole new year is mine today...

May I be wiser, Lord I pray.

I'd strengthen friendships, old and true

And learn to cherish new ones to;

To keep on learning and to grow

a little better as I go.

To cast aside each grudge and grief,

And hold fast to a firm belief

That life is joyous, gracious, good

When lived in terms of brotherhood

To welcome fun, and play a while,

To lighten work with a happy smile.

To thank the Lord and every day

Remember him, and kneel and pray,

In gratitude for strength and health

And blessings which are all my wealth

This year's gift from God to me

To spend, or use, or set me free...

A whole new year is mine today

May I be wiser, Lord, I pray

Positive Thinking Rudyard Kipling

If you think you are beaten, you are;

If you think you dare not, you don't;

If you want to win but think you can't

It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll loose, your lost;

For out in the world we find,

Success begins with a fellows will;

It's all in a state of mind.

Life's battles don't always go to the

Stronger and faster man

But sooner or later the man who wins

is the man who thinks that he can.

You are writing a gospel, a chapter a day,

By the deeds that you do and the words that you say.

Men read what you write whether faithless or true,

So what is the gospel according to you?

"Bless Mummy and Daddy and Nanna

And please God take care of yourself because if anything happens to you were sunk!"

Take time to think - it is the source of power

Take time to read - it is the foundation of wisdom

Take time to play - it is the secret of staying young

Take time to be quiet - it is an opportunity to see God

Take time to be aware - it is the opportunity to help others

Take time to love & be loved - it is God's greatest gift

Take time to laugh - it is the music of the soul

Take time to be friendly - it is the road to happiness

Take time to dream - it is what the future is made of

Take time to pray - it is the greatest power on earth

There is a time for everything.

I got up in the morning and rushed right into the day

I had so much to accomplish that I didn't have time to pray

Problems just tumbled about me and heavier came each task

"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered

He answered "You didn't ask"

I wanted to see joy and beauty but the day toiled on grey and bleak

I wondered why God didn't show me

He said "You didn't seek"

I tried to come into God's presence

I used all my keys at the lock

God gently and lovingly chided

"My child, you didn't knock"

I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day

I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

He said freely, freely, you have received;

freely, freely, give

Go in my name and because you believe

others will know that I live

I believe in the light - even when the sun doesn't shine

I Believe in love - even when it isn't given

I believe in God - even when his voice is silent

Seven days without prayer makes one week

Prevent me Lord from being like porridge,

stodgy and hard to stir.

Make me like corn flakes - crisp and ready to serve.

"When I was a boy, we were taught to be

discrete and respectful to our elders,

but the present youth are exceedingly

impatient of restraint. They have

execrable manners, flout authority,

have no respect for their elders. What

kind of creatures will they be when

they grow up?

Hesoid

(Greek poet of the 8th century BC)

Imagine a breath - it's invisible

In summer it can cool a man

In winter it can provide warmth

It can inflate a balloon for a party

It can blow out a candle to give total

darkness

A breath of yours could even save a

persons life if used correctly

A breath is only a small part of us

It's invisible, yet it can do so much

But only if given away

God's love is invisible

It's far from small

And it's there for the taking

It has been given away

It's there for us to use

And then perhaps we will share much

more of ourselves

To be used like a breath

In so many different ways

Its easy to criticise the youth of today

Their lack of respect

The way they behave

The drugs and the drink

The vandalism and violence

Is it the telly

Or is it the schools

Or their parents who taught them

By their rules

It's adults that make the drugs

The drink and the films

The advertising and publicity

That glory the wrong

We criticise the youth

Not ourselves

That's wrong.

A young life is mouldable,

to much pressure and it is flattened

A steady push can change a direction

and a guiding hand can mould a

character

A potter develops a skill to create

from a mass of clay...

Individual items each one unique

We as leaders should aim to be like the potter

Moulding and creating a variety of characters

from the mass of young people going

through our hands each week

They and indeed we ourselves are all different

with different needs and skills

God created each of us to be different

so that we can complement each other

and work together

We each have our part to play in

developing the world of tomorrow

I have done much today - it's been busy

I've worked hard - then I've relaxed

But what have I achieved?

I have done little today - it's been

worthwhile

I've helped a friend - a little bit

I've been with others - we worked

together

But I've done nothing ....

Not on my own that is

I've trusted in my god

I've done nothing

He's done it all - through me

We read in the paper

We hear on the news

Of killing and stealing

And crime everywhere

We sigh and we sigh -

As we notice the trend

"This young generation -

Where will it all end?

But can we be sure -

That its their fault alone?

That may be most of it -

Is really our own?

Too much money we spend -

Too much idle time,

Too many movies,

Of passion and crime;

Too many books,

Not fit to be read.

Too much of evil -

In what they hear said.

Too many children -

Encouraged to roam -

By too many parents -

Who won't stay at home

Kids don't make the movie

They don't write the books,

They don't paint the pictures -

Of gangsters and crooks.

They don't make the liquor

They don't run the bars

They don't make the laws

And they don't drive the cars

They don't make the drugs -

That addle the brain.

It's done by older folk -

Greedy for gain

This in so many cases

It must be confessed

The label delinquent

Fits older folk best

Think of today

What's been good - what's been bad

Who you've helped

What you've heard your inner voice tell

you

Think of tomorrow

What's your conscious telling you

that's to be done

take time to reflect

take time to listen

Think and let God use your thoughts

Another disaster, thousands more they

are killed

The fighting continues with riots and wars

More rapes and murders, more suffering and pain

We read, watch and listen day after day

Unless it is near us it's almost not real

It doesn't effect us just another programme or story to read

If we do feel for those in danger or in pain

We just say how it's shocking and how it should stop

But we can't do anything to stop it or to help - or can we?

Perhaps a donation, a thought, a letter or even a prayer

That is something to heIp

But is it all we can do?

The answer will be different for me and for you

But to try a bit harder will change things a little.

Not completely but if we all do our bit

for a better world it will happen

We might even change it who knows.

Its dark on an autumn evening

The sky over the green hills is tinged with crimson

The sparse clouds are silhouetted like black islands

Surrounded by an orange sea

Whilst the yellow disk of the sun slips down out of sight

The as I drop my eyes

I see a rippled reflection of nature's

reflection copied in the water below

The sun has vanished

The sky's crimson has darkened

I see the stars like holes in the darkness

The water shimmers as the light wind blows

The sun has departed but it's light remains

Reflected off all around me

Centuries ago darkness fell as another sun departed

The only Son of God

But ever since the son's light has been reflected on this world of ours

When we see a setting sun we should remember God's sacrifice

And reflect his light to all we meet

Look to this day

For it is life, the very life of life

In its busy course lie all the virtues

and realities of your existence

The bliss of growth, the glory of action

The splendour of achievement

For yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is only a vision

But today well lived makes yesterday a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope

Look well therefore to this day;

Such is the salvation to the dawn

3rd Century Indian

Noddy goes to the seaside Enid Blyton

Noddy and Big Ears arrived at the seaside to be confronted by a huge expanse of ocean. "Where does it go?" asked Noddy

"On and on and on" said Big Ears

"But where does is end?" asked Noddy

"Don't worry where it ends" said Big Ears

"Here's where it starts, let's have a paddle.

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars

You have a right to be here and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with god whatever you conceive him to be and whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it's still a beautiful world.

A meeting was held quite far from earth

"It's time again for another birth"

Said the angels to the Lord above

"This special child will need much love"

His progress may seem very slow

Accomplishments he may not show

And he'll require extra care from the

folks he meets down there

He may not run or laugh or play

His thoughts may seem quite far away

in many ways he won't adapt and he'll

be known as handicapped

So lets be careful where he's sent,

We want his life to be content

Please Lord, find parents who will do a

special job for you

They will not realise right away the

leading role they're asked to play

But with this child sent from above

comes stronger faith and richer love

And soon they'll know the privilege

given in caring for this gift from

heaven

Their precious charge so meek and mild

is heaven's very special child.

Oh to be free

As free as a bird, souring effortless

on a current of air

No road to follow, no path to trudge.

But what is freedom?

The bird must sleep and eat

No freedom is yet that complete.

Are you and I not freer still

We choose our life, our future too

By conscious actions and decisions day

in - day out.

Good or bad, right or wrong the choice

is ours

We have our freedom all along

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Most situations unfold slower than that.

But not for a child.

That first taste of cabbage.

The horrible taste of medicine.

The first experience of failure.

First impressions can be lasting impressions.

They must be handled carefully or a child may be turned off completely.

That first meeting in the Scouts must be one to remember.

An old Indian saying is that "you

shouldn't judge another person until

you have walked a week in his

moccasins"

How true this is, remember though that

is just what God did in sending his son

to earth.

But much more tha, he has laid

down his life for us, that our wrongs

may be forgiven.

So long as we try to walk, not in his

moccasins but follow in his footsteps.

What's the value of giving?

What's the reason for theft?

What's the value of life?

What's the reason for murder?

What's the value of friendship?

What's the reason for division?

What's the value of love?

What's the reason for hate?

The value is God's

The reason is ours!

I have done much today - it's been busy

I've worked hard - then I've relaxed

But what have I achieved?

I have done little today - it's been

worthwhile

I've helped a friend - a little bit

I've been with others - we worked

together

But I've done nothing ....

Not on my own that is

I've trusted in my god

I've done nothing

He's done it all - through me

The six most important words "I admit I made a mistake"

The five most important words "You did a good job"

The four most important words "What is your opinion"

The three most important words "If you please"

The two most important words "Thank you"

The least important word "I"

Heavenly farther, you alone are God

Please give us today what you think we need

For yours is the kingdom whose days are not numbered

Yours is the power which shall not end

Yours the glory which shall not fade

Lord, make me a better person

More considerate towards others

More honest with myself

More faithful to you

Make me generous enough to want

sincerely to do your will, whatever it

may be.

Help me to find my true vocation in life

and grant that through it I may find

happiness myself and bring happiness to

others. Amen

What have I done today? ....

I've done plenty.

But what have we done today, Lord? .....

I've let you down again I've left you out of my like again.

Forgive me. Lord.

Lord, help me never to judge another

until I have walked a week in his moccasins

The study Centre is up to date

The principle tells of all the improvements

The finest discovery is the green blackboard

The scientists have studied long and have

made experiments

We know now that green is the ideal colour

that it doesn't tire the eyes

that it is quieting and relaxing

It has occurred to me, Lord, that you

didn't wait so long to paint the trees

and meadows green.

Your research labs were efficient.

And in order not to tire us you perfected

a number of shades of green for your

modern meadows.

So the "finds" of men consist of discovering

what you have known from time immemorial.

Thank you, Lord, for being the good father

who gives his children the joy of discovering

by themselves the treasures of his intelligence

and love, but keep us from believing that by

ourselves we have invented anything at all.

Unless you know where your going there is no way of knowing when you have arrived.

God is the Doorman

Adult to group of young people talking about God and how we cannot see him. One Lad said "I know who he is - He's the one who opens the door at the supermarket"

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak the truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even dull and ignorant, they do have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.

if you compare yourself to others you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and

lesser persons to yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of heroism.

Be yourself, especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love for in the future of all aridity and disenchantment it is a perennial as the grass

Take kindly the counsel of the years gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself You are a child of the universe, no less than the

trees and the stars: you have a right to be here

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be; and whatever your labours and

aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.

With all its shams, drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world.

Be careful, strive to be happy.

If you can keep your head when all about you

are loosing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

but make allowances for their doubting too

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting

Or being lied about, do not deal with lies

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise.

If you can dream and not make dreams your master

If you can think and not make thoughts your aim

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same

If you can bare to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools

Or watch the things you are given your life too broken

And stoop and build 'em up again with worn out tools

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch and toss

And loose and start again at the beginning

And never breath a word about your loss

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

And hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the will in you which says "hold on"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue

Or walk with kings nor loose the common touch

If neither foes nor common friends can hurt you

If all men count on you but none too much

If you can fill each forgiving minute

With sixty seconds worth of distance run

Yours is the earth and everything that's in it

And which is more you'll be a man my son.

* Choose to be brave and to do the brave thing

* Take responsibility where it is yours

* Ask for help when you need it

* Be bold where boldness is required

* Persevere with what you know to be true

* Pray at all times for all your needs

Asking unpopular questions

Listening to difficult answers

Resisting peer pressure

Helping your neighbour

Saving life

Accepting death

Fighting back

Refusing to use violence

Giving up unrealistic expectations

Keeping hope alive

Carrying on when weary

Knowing when to let go

Standing up to be counted even when you stand alone

Taking a leap of faith and trusting a divine Lord will help you

When you were born, your mother brought you here

When you were married your partner brought you here

When you die your friends will bring you here

Why not try coming on your own sometime

Patience St Francis de Sales

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself

I mean, do not be disturbed because of your imperfections

And always rise up bravely from a fall

I am glad that you make a new beginning daily;

There is no better way of progress in the spiritual

life than to be continually beginning afresh,

and never think that we have done enough

It takes only eight muscles to smile

but it takes sixteen to frown

What in heaven's name are you doing here on earth?

Today is the first day of the rest of your life

1. Speak to people - there is nothing as nice as a word of greeting

2. Smile at people - it takes 72 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile

3. Call people by name - the sweetest music to anyone's ears is the sound of their own name

4. Be friendly and helpful - there's nothing like a friendly face and a helping hand

5. Be cordial - speak and act as if everything you do is a real pleasure

6. Be genuinely interested in people - you can like everyone if you try

7. Be generous with praise - Cautious with criticism

8. Be considerate of the feelings of others - it will be appreciated

10 Be alert to give service - what counts most in life is what we do for others

Gaelic Prayer

Be thou a bright flame before me

Be thou a guiding star above me

Be thou a smooth path below me

And be a kindly shepherd behind me

Today, tonight and forever

Nobody knows what a boy is worth

and the world must wait and see

For every man in an honoured place

is a boy who used to be

You should:

Think the right thoughts

Do things for good reason

Speak only the truth

Behave as well as possible

Care for all, other living creatures

Be as useful as possible

Not act without thought

Always try your hardest

He who laughs - lasts!

God alone can give faith - but you can give your witness

God alone can give hope - but you can give others confidence

God alone can give love - but you can teach others to love

God alone can give peace - but you can give unity

God alone can give strength - but you can sustain the discouraged one

God alone is the way - but you can show him to others

God alone is the light - but you can enlighten it in the eyes of others

God alone is life - but you can give others the desire to live

God alone can do the impossible - but you can do your possible

God alone is enough in himself - but he also needs you

The young need someone to listen to them. Lord.

Open my ears that much wider so that by talking

to me they may be more willing to listen to you.

Grant them confidence and guidance where they

have a right to expect it.

I really want their world to be better than mine.

of stepping on the shore - and finding it's heaven

of taking hold of a hand - and finding it's God's hand

of breathing new air - and finding it's heaven's air

of feeling invigorated - and finding its immortality

of passing from storm to tempest - to an unknown calm;

of waking - and finding it's home.

You cannot hide Buddha

Three things cannot long be hidden:

The sun; the moon and the truth

I asked for strength that I might achieve;

He made me week that I might obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things;

I was given grace that I might do better things.

I asked for riches so that I might be happy;

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have praise;

I was given weakness that I might feel the need for God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I received nothing that I asked for,

But all that I hoped for.

My prayer was answered.

It costs nothing but creates much

None are so rich that they can get along without it

and non so poor they are not richer for it

It creates happiness in the house

fosters goodwill in business

Do all you can, by all the means you can

In all the ways you can in all the places you can

At all the times you can to all the people you can

As long as ever you can

Perceptions William Blake

The tree which moves some to tears of joy is,

in the eyes of others, only a green thing

that stands in the way.

Lord, grant that we may not be like cornflakes; light-weight; brittle and cold but like porridge - warm

comforting and full of goodness.

His thoughts mere slow

His words were few and never formed to glisten

But he was a joy to all his friends

you should have heard him listen.

First plant four rows of peas:

Presence

Promptness

Preparedness

Perseverance

The tree rows of squash:

Squash gossip

Squash criticism

Squash indifference

Three rows of lettuce:

Let us be faithful

Let us love one another

let us live by Gods laws

Finally some turnips

Turn up with a smile

Turn up with new ideas

Turn up on time

Turn up with determination

to make everything good

and worthwhile

Isn't it wonderful and encouraging

to see how quickly turbulent

waters become broad and calm

when the obstructions are passed

and the way ahead clear

Breaths there a man so free from greed

who has never felt the need

when in a phone box to explore

the coin return slot just once more.

I dreamt death came the other night

And heaven's door swung wide

An angel with a halo bright

Ushered me inside

And there to my astonishment

were folks I'd judged and labelled

As quite unfit; Of little worth

And spiritually disabled

Indignant words rose to my lips

But never were set free

For EVERY face showed stunned surprise

NO-ONE expected ME!

The little boy tried with all his might to move the rock

Try as he might, heave as he would, the rock wouldn't move

His father asked him if he had used all the strength he had and the little boy said he had.

Other peoples children Socrates

No man goeth about a more godly purpose than he who is mindful of the right upbringing not only of his

own, but of other men's children.

Being unreasonable George Bernard Shaw

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world

The unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself

Therefor all progress depends on the unreasonable man

A true friend is one whom you can tip out the contents of your heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that

the greatest hands will sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away

Have you a friend like that?

Some-one to whome you can say anything at all.

Are you a friend like that?

There are three sorts of people in this world.

Those who make things happen,

those who watch things happening.

and those who don't know what is happening.

If everyone in the team is in agreement

some-0one isn't thinking

If two people always agree

then one of them isn't needed

A Mirror

We are each a small mirror

in which god looks for his reflection

Our problems are tools which God uses

to polish us not demolish us.

If you were on trial for being a Christian would

there be enough evidence to convict you?

A preacher was all ready for the early morning worship when he picked up is young grandchild. The Child

After the service he was overheard saying that the gown had hidden a multitude of sins.

Let your imagination sour -

then engineer it back down to earth.

Are you praying for challenges equal to your abilities

Or for abilities equal to your challenges?

Now that the meeting has gone to dinner

the secretary stays and gets thinner and thinner

racking his brains to record and repeat

what he thinks they sought to have thought.

Did you know that the phrase "Fear not"

can be found 366 times in the bible.

That's once for every day of the year

and one extra for good measure.

We know what is right

We know what is wrong

Our conscience we fight

God guides us along.

Terrorism Terry Waite

The terrible thing about terrorism is that ultimately it destroys those who practice it. Slowly but surely, as they try to extinguish life in others, the light within them dies.

God is now here or god is nowhere?

Man's single greatest product

Each household discards:

approx 3lb of glass a week (5 bottles)

12 cans a week

13lb of paper a week

1.5lb of plastic a week

5.5lb of food a week

Take time to remember

Take time to reflect

On the days of your childhood

On the days of your youth

You remember the happiness

You remember the joy

Perhaps not the difficulties

Perhaps not the pain

Your mind it can filter

Your mind it can heal

Some things that have hurt you

Some things that have passed

Others they bare grudges

Others they bate hate

For things that have happened

For things that have passed

Let's pray for these people

Let's pray for ourselves

For all who bare grudges

For all who have hate

In Christ we learn tolerance

In Christ we learn love

It's our example to follow

It's our example from God

A child cries for help

He seeks more than human understanding

The cry is for you, Lord

But the child asks me to help

It's quite some time since I spoke to

you

Let alone listened, Lord

I'm out of touch - forgive me and

Please, please help this child

The child still cries

He comes again to me

What can l do I 'm only the go-

between

It's you he needs Lord

Wait a minute

If I'm the link for him

Perhaps you need me to act for you Lord

But how can I do that?

Imust help the child to learn more of

you

But he never attended Sunday School

He's never had a spiritual upbringing

How can I help him?

I need to develop spiritually Lord

Then I can help the child

We shall then learn together and we

shall have helped each other

Lord, you work in mysterious ways

Life is hectic, life is fast

No time to wonder

No time to reflect on spiritual things

Perhaps to-night, perhaps tomorrow

Life is hectic, life is fast

There's time to wonder

Perhaps at night, perhaps at morning

Pause for a moment

Think of yourself

What do you see?

The brave outer shell

Or the innermost core?

The chip on your shoulder

The deep hurt in your soul

Or the happy joking exterior

hiding the loneliness inside

Do you really know yourself

Your true strengths and abilities

Your weaknesses and faults?

Examine your innermost feelings

Take a look at your life.

As you lead, others follow

As you train they learn

As you counsel individuals, lives change

Are you good enough?

If you lead alone

If you train alone

If you counsel alone

Your not good enough

With leadership from god

With training from god

With counselling from god

You are good enough

If I could use only one word to describe the earth as seen from the moon. I would ignore both its size and

colour and search for a more elemental quality, that of fragility The earth appears "fragile", above all else I don't know why, but it does.

As we walk its surface, it seams solid and substantial enough, almost infinite as it extends flatly in all directions. But from space there is no hint of ruggedness in it; smooth as a billiard ball, it seems delicately poised in its circular journey around the sun and above all it seems fragile.

Once this concept of apparent earthly fragility is introduced one questions whether it is real or imagined, and that leads inexorably to examination of its surface.

"Nobody tells me" said Eeyore "Nobody

keeps me informed" "I make it 17 days

come Friday since anyone spoke to me."

"It certainly isn't 17 days - " "Come

Friday", explained Eeyore.

"And today's Saturday", said Rabbit.

"So that would make it 11 days, and r

was here myself a week ago" "Not

conversing," said Eeyore "Not first one

and then the other - You said 'Hallo'

and flashed past. I saw your tail a

hundred yards up the hill as I was

meditating my reply I had thought of

saying 'What -' but of course, it was

then too late"

"Well I was in a hurry"

"No give and take", Eeyore went on "no

exchange of thought. Halo-What - I

mean, it gets you nowhere, particularly

if the other persons tail is only just

in sight for the second part of the

conversation."

"It's your fault, Eeyore. You've never

been to see any of us. You just stay

here in this one corner of the Forest

waiting for the others to come to you.

Why don't you go to them sometimes?

Eeyore was silent for a little while.

thinking. "There may be something In

what you say Rabbit," he said at last,

"I have been neglecting you. I must

move about more, I must come and go.

To put the family in order we must first cultivate our personal life

And to cultivate our personal life we must first set our hearts right"

In the days when travel in the middle east was by foot or by animal, it was common practice for beggars to sit at

the village gates.

One day a wise old beggar was asked by a pilgrim "What is this village like?" He replied "How did you find your last village?" "it was very lonely" was the reply. The old man then answered the first question "Well it's much the same here"

Later the same day the old man was again asked "What is this village like?" Again he inquired what the person thought of his previous village. This time the pilgrim answered "I got along with everyone. it was a friendly place." The wise old man replied "You will find it much the same here."

The wise old man knew that life is what you make of it.

If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great loneliness of spirit,

since whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man.

Consideration Winne-the-Pooh by AA Miln

"Eat all our what?" said Pooh. "All that we've brought," said Piglet, getting to work. "That's a good idea" said Pooh, and he got to work too.

"Have you all got something?" asked Christopher Robin with his mouth full. "All except me," said Eeyore. "As

"I believe I am," said Pooh, "Ow!" He got up and looked behind him "Yes, I was, I thought so."

"Thank you, Pooh, If You've quite finished with it" He moved across to Pooh's place and began to eat.

Each night, when we bedded down in the lunar module.

I would lie awake for a few minutes and reflect on the beauty of what I had seen and try to etch in my mind a

lasting impression of the majesty of those mountains.

Running through my reflections like a refrain of a hymn were the words from my favourite biblical passage from the Psalms: "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord."

I Have encountered nothing on Apollo 15 or in this age of space and science that dilutes my faith in God. While I

was on the moon, in fact, I felt a sense of inspiration and a feeling that someone was with me and watching over

me, protecting me. There were several times when certain tasks seemed to be impossible but they

worked out right every time.

I wish someone would understand me. Its fine when I'm happy I can talk to people and the world seams OK

Its the other times then that, when I can't put it into words

The times when I need someone to understand Without being told, just to sense how I feel And I don't need anyone to tell me how I feel or tell me what to do

I'd rather they just hug me or something to make me feel better I just wish someone would understand

A lot of people are like wheelbarrows - no good unless pushed.

Some are like kites - if you don't keep a string on them they will fly away.

Some are like kittens - they are more content when petted.

Some are like balloons - full of air and ready to blow up.

Some are like footballs - you can't tell which way they

will bounce next.

Some are like trailers - they have to be pulled.

Some are like neon lights - they keep going on and off.

And some are like a good watch - open faced, pure

gold, quietly busy and full of good works.

Which are you?

When the other person acts that way he's nasty, when you do it, its nerves

When she's set in her ways she's obstinate ....

When you are its firmness.

When he doesn't like your friends he's prejudiced .... When you don't like his, you're showing good judgement.

When she tries to be accommodating, she's looking after number one ....

When you do it your using tact. When he takes time to do things he's slow ....

When you take ages you're deliberate.

When she picks flaws she's cranky ....

When you do it, your discriminating.

When the day is dark and dreary

And the way is hard to find

Do not be discouraged

Just keep this thought in mind

It is better to light just a little

candle

Than to stumble in the dark

Better far to light just one little candle,

All you need is a tiny spark

If we all said a prayer that the worldn would be free

What a beautiful dawn of a new day you'll see

If we all were to light just one little candle

What a bright world this would be

A closed hand cannot receive This phrase has wisdom that applies profoundly to everyday human affairs

The man who will not share himself with his neighbour receives little friendship in return

The tight parental grip that holds children too closely defeats its purpose in the end Its no accident, probably, that in many countries the symbol of totalitarianism

is one that you can't shake hands with - the clenched fist.

To be a sower of seeds, a man must have his hands open, and clearly he must do this before he can reap.

The process doesn't stop there To possess knowledge or wisdom he must open his mind.

If he wants to receive love he must offer it - and to do this he must have an open heart Look around, and you will see the truth of these five words shining everywhere

A closed hand can't receive - Partially because it is shut and nothing can get in But mostly because it has nothing to give.

Youth is not a time of life .....

It's a state of mind

Nobody grows old merely living a number of years

People grow old by deserting their ideals.

Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul

Worry, doubt, self distrust, fear and despair ...

These are the long, long years that bow the head

And turn the growing spirit back to dust

Whether 70 or 16 there is in every heart

The love to wonder

The sweet amazement of the stars

And the starlike things and thoughts

The undaunted challenge of events

The undaunted child like appetite

For what is next and he joy of the game of life

You are as young as your faith

As young as your self-confidence

As old as your fear

As young as your hope

As old as your despair

A smile costs nothing, but gives much

It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give

It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts for ever

None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it

And none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it

A smile creates happiness in the home,

Fosters good will in business and is the countersign of friendship

It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged

Some people are too tired to give you a smile

Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give

An old man going along the highway,

came at the evening, cold and grey,

to a chasm vast and deep and wide

The old man crossed in the twilight dim

The sullen stream had no fear for him

But he turned when safe on the other side

and built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man" said a fellow pilgrim near,

"You are wasting your strength with building here,

You never again will pass this way.

You've crossed the chasm deep and wide

Why build this bridge at evening tide?"

The builder lifted his old grey head

"Good friend, in the path I have crossed" he said

"There follows after me today

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been nought to me

To that fair-haired lad may a pitfall

Good friend I am building this bridge for him.

What a wondrous work of art is the human hand

The hand that tills the land

The skilled hand of a surgeon

The hand stretched forth to bless

The rough hand of the miner

The smooth hands warm caress

The hands of a musician

The hands that scrub the floor

The hands that tend the plant life of gods great outdoors

May all our hands be clean hands

At home, at work at play

In the hollow of thine own hand

Lord keep us day by day

All rain is pure that falls from above and pure it remains or it becomes foul according to the spot on which it falls

is clean or foul. And so all ideas, all thoughts descend from the Lord in glistening purity into man's mind.

And pure they remain or become soiled and dirty according as the mind is pure or unclean.

If you think you are beaten, you are;

If you think you dare not, you don't;

If you want to win but think you can't

It's almost a cinch you won't

If you think you'll loose, you're lost;

For out in the world we find

Success begins with a fellow's will;

It's all in the state of mind.

Life's battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man

But sooner or later the man who wins

IS THE MAN WHO THINKS HE CAN!

Blessed are you who take time to listen to my difficult speech, for you help me to know that if I persevere, I can be understood

Blessed are you who never bid me to hurry, or take my tasks for me and do them for me, for often I need time

rather that help.

Blessed are you who stand beside me as I enter new and untried ventures, for my failures will be out-weighed by the times I surprise myself and you.

Blessed are you who ask for my help, for my greatest need is to be needed.

Blessed are you who understand that it is difficult for me to put my thoughts into words.

Blessed are you who, with a smile, encourage me to try once more.

Blessed are you who, never remind me, that today I ask the same questions twice.

Blessed are you who respect me and love me as I am, just as I am, not as you wish I were.

If young people learn to live with:

Criticism they learn to condemn

Hostility they learn to fight

Ridicule they learn to feel shy

Shame they learn to feel guilt

Tolerance they learn to be patient

Encouragement they learn confidence

Praise they learn to appreciate

Fairness they learn justice

Security they learn to have faith

Approval they learn to like themselves

Acceptance and friendship they learn to

find love in the world

I have just hung up; why did he phone?

Oh! I get it ....

I talked a lot and listened very little

Forgive me Lord it was a monologue and not a dialogue

I explained my idea and did not get hers

Since I didn't listen I learned nothing

Since I didn't listen, I didn't help

Since I didn't listen I did not communicate

Forgive me, Lord, for we were connected and now we are cut off.

Two buckets going to a well

Miserably one said "How useless;

however full we go away we always come

back empty"

"That strange" replied the other "I was

thinking however empty we come we

always go away full"

The bricklayer laid a brick on the bed of cement

Then with a precise stroke of his trowel spread another layer, and without a by-your-leave, laid on another brick. The foundations grew visibly. The building rose, tall and strong, to shelter men.

I thought, Lord, of the brick buried in the darkness at the base of the building. No one sees it but it accomplishes its task, and the other bricks need it. Lord, what difference whether I am on the roof tops or in the foundations of your building, as long as I stand faithfully at the right

place.

A beggar, every day, sat at the edge of the road with his bowl and all sorts of people stopped by and gave him some rice.

One day the beggar saw a rich caravan coming. The Rajah he thought. He will give me something worth having.

As they approached he held out bowl and shouted "Give me, give me" The Rajah stopped and said to the beggar "Give me something out of your bowl" The beggar

was speechless with anger, then he said "Me give you something "Yes" said the Rajah "you give me something".

Why should I give him anything thought the beggar. he has everything and I have nothing. He reached into his bowl and gave the Rajah one grain of rice. "Thank you" said the Rajah as he held his hand over the bowl and off he went.

The beggar then saw a grain of gold the size of the rice. The beggar thought what a fool I've been.

Let's share the food, my brother

Let's share the fruits of the earth

Streak for me and rice for you

Eggs for tea and rice for you

Its nice for me but rice for you

Fruit and wine and milk and jam

Cheese and pickles and fish and ham

For me

And a little rice, just a little rice

(if you're lucky) for you

Let's share our wealth, my brother

Let's share all that you have

Gold for me, and beads for you

Christ for me, the devil take you

There's two for me and none for you

Bingo, bombs and drugs and booze

Money to burn and waste and loose

For me:

and a little aid just a little aid

(when we can spare it) for you

If nobody smiled and nobody cheered, and nobody helped us along

If each and every minute looked after himself

And the good things all went to the strong

If nobody cared just a little for you

And nobody thought about me

And we all stood alone to the battle of life

What a dreary old place this would be

A little more kindness,

A little less creed.

A little more giving,

A little less greed.

A little more smile,

A little less frown.

A little more kicking,

A man when he's down.

A little more "we",

A little less "I".

A little more laugh,

A little less cry.

A little more flowers

on the pathway of life,

And fewer on graves at the end of the strife

A whole new year is mine today

May I be wiser, Lord, I pray

I'd strengthen friendships, old and true

And learn to cherish new ones, too;

To keep on learning and to grow

A little better as I go

To cast each grudge and grief,

And hold fast to a firm belief

That life is joyous, gracious, good,

When lived in terms of brotherhood

To welcome fun, and play awhile,

To lighten work with happy smile.

To thank the Lord and every day,

Remember him, and kneel and pray,

In gratitude for strength and health

And blessings which are all my wealth

This years gift from God to me

To spend, or use, or set me free...

A whole new year is mine today

May I be wiser lord, I pray

Christ has no hands but our hands to do his work today;

Christ has no feet but our feet to lead men in his way;

Christ has no tongue but our tongue to tell men he died;

Christ has no help but our help to bring them to his side

Someone said that it couldn't be done

But he with a chuckle replied

That may be it couldn't but he would be one

Who wouldn't say so until he had tried

So he buckled right in with a bit of a grin

On his face, If he worried he hid it

And he started to sing as he tackled the thing

That couldn't be done - and he did it

Two frogs were exploring in a dairy when suddenly the fell into a bowl of cream. One of them floundered around

for a while and then gave up. The other was determined not to give up and he swam round and round. He was saying to himself "I won't give up - I will get out" He got very tired and found it harder and harder to swim. He suddenly realised that the cream had turned to butter. He could climb up at the side of the bowl and get out.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost

For want of a shoe the horse was lost

For want of the horse the rider was lost

For want of the rider the battle was lost

For want of the battle the kingdom was lost

All for the want of a nail

Whether the weather be cold

Or whether the weather be hot

You must weather the weather

What ever the weather

Whether you like it or not

O Lord, help me never to judge

another until I have walked a week in

his moccasins.

O God, let us remember that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the fist step

Lord, Just as a rope needs knots to link it with other ropes

So people need friendships to join them with the rest of humanity

Just as a tent cannot stand on its own needing guys to support it

So people need the support of others, and of God, to help them keep upright

We thank you, Lord, for the friendship and support we receive from those who love us and care about us, and for whome we care and love.

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was everbodys job. Everybody thought anybody would do it but nobody realised that everybody couldn't do it. It ended up that everybody blamed somebody when nobody did what anybody could have done.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

Courage to change the things I can And wisdom to know the difference.

When our hands are closed to the needs of others

Forgive us Lord.

Lord, Give us strength to come to you - with open hands

Hands that are empty

Ready to receive and give

May they always be stretched out in gentleness and love

May they never hurt

But always be ready to serve

Lord, our hands offer you the work they have done

The services they have given mankind

There is much our hands have left undone

Make them more like yours, lord

Open our hands, enable them to give and protect.

(On an old clock in Chester Cathedral)

When as a child, I Laughed and wept

Time crept

When as a youth I dreampt and talked,

Time walked

When I became a full-grown man

Time ran

When older still I daily grew

Time flew

Soon I shall find on travelling on

Time gone

O Christ will you have saved me then?

It's not what we eat but what we digest that makes us strong

Not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich

Not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned

Not what we preach but what we do that gives us away.

B hopeful, B happy, B cheerful, B kind

B busy of body, B modest of mind

B earnest, B truthful, B firm, B good

B sure your behaviour B all that it should

B all of these things and whatever B falls,

B sure you'll B happy and B loved by us all

The same set of stones may be stumbling blocks or stepping stones depending upon how we use them.

As we come together at the end of a busy day, thank you Lord, for the friendship and support of others; for the enjoyment and challenge of the day.

For the time to talk and the time to listen - help me to offer others this friendship and support, enjoyment and challenge.

In Korea there is a legend about a native warrior who died and went to heaven. 'Before I enter,' he said to the gatekeeper, 'I would like you to take me on a tour of hell.' The gatekeeper found a guide to take the warrior to hell. When he got there he was astonishe1 to see a great table piled high with the choicest foods. But the people in hell were starving. The warrior turned to his guide and raised his eyebrows. 

'It's this way,' the guide explained. Everybody who comes here is given a pair of chopsticks five feet long, and is required to hold them at the end to eat. But you just can't eat with chopsticks five feet long if you hold them at the end. Look at them. They miss their mouths every time, see?'

The visitor agreed that this was hell indeed and asked to be taken back to heaven post-haste. In heaven, to his surprise, he saw a similar room, with a similar table laden with very choice foods. But the people were happy: they looked radiantly happy.

The visitor turned to the guide. 'No chopsticks, I suppose?' he said. 'Oh yes,' said the guide, 'they have the same chopsticks, the same length, and they have to be held at the end just as in hell. But you see, these people have learned that if people feed their neighbours, their neighbours will feed them also. '

I am part of Nature

I am part of everything that lives.

I am bound together with all living things, in air, in land, in water.

My life depends on Nature - upon its balance,

To destroy them is to destroy myself.

As a member of the human race, I am responsible for its survival.

I am part of nature

I will not destroy it.

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our experimenting

Will be to arrive where we started

And to know the place for the first time.

Think deeply

speak gently

love much

laugh often

work hard

give freely

pay promptly

pray earnestly

and be kind

Don't let your parents down, they brought you up.

Be humble enough to obey, you may give orders someday.

Choose companions with care, you become what they are.

Guard your thoughts; what you think; you are.

Choose only a date who would make a good mate.

Be master of your habits or they will master you. I

Don't be a show-off when you drive, drive with safety and arrive.

Don't let the crowd pressure you; stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

This is the beginning of a new day

God has given me this day to use as I will.

I can waste it or grow in its light and be of service to others.

But what I do with this day is important because I have exchanged a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes today will be gone for ever

I hope I will not regret the price I paid for it.

What is life?

Life is a mystery ...unfold it!

Life is an opportunity.. utilise it!

Life is risk .......respect it!

What is life?

Life is what you make it

It is but a dream, a gamble.

Life is concerned with the business

and pleasure of the world.

Life is short, we have too little time

to show love and kindness.

Life is a gift,

it is the expanse of time God gives,

that we might learn to live in peace with others

and appreciate all that He created.

Life is full of ups and downs

its a rough journey

but love eases it along the way.

To live is to care for people and relationships

to share sorrow and happiness.

Life is good

When you have no problems to face

Enjoyable when your problems are shared by another,

Life is best when you have peace within yourself, and with God.

Success is speaking words of praise,

In cheering other peoples ways,

In doing just the best you can,

With every task and every plan,

It's silence when your speech would hurt,

Politeness when your neighbour's curt,

It's deafness when the scandal flows,

and sympathy with others woes,

It's loyalty when duty calls,

It's courage when disaster falls,

It's patience when the hours are long.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy;

O, Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

It is in dying that we are born again to eternal life

Age is a quality of mind.

If you have left your dreams behind

If hope is cold.

If you no longer plan ahead

If ambitions all are dead

then you are old.

But if you make of life the best

And in your life you still have zest,

If love you hold -

No matter how the years go by

No matter how the birthdays fly

You are not old.

The little boy tried with all his might to move the rock. Try as he might, heave as he would. the rock wouldn't' t move.

His father asked him if he had used up all the strength he had and the little boy said he had. But you can't have done said his father. You never asked me for help.

A young Eskimo child sat listening to his mother as she read her a bedtime story.

"Little Jack Horner, sat in a

corner......"

"Mum what is a corner?"

Commitment "Stormin Norman"

The difference between commitment and involvement is like the difference between bacon and egg. The chicken was involved but the pig was committed.

You want the world to be better? Then be better yourself. True, you are only an individual in a thickly populated world, but your life touches hundreds of others and each of those touches hundreds more. Who knows how far the influence of one smile travels or where a word of wisdom will take root? Even should your influence for good

extend no further than your own skin there will be at least one less rogue in the world.

We brought nothing into this world and we shall take nothing out. We are in the process of living a lifetime, one day at a time. It is therefore reasonable that we should gather as much of the richness of living from each day as we possibly can

Let us stop and think about our room here on earth. We have occupied it all our lives; we have free heat and light.

From the windows of this room we can look upon the grandest of natures landscapes if we so desire but it also looks upon poverty, slums and filth, if that is what we have eyes for.

How can we pay for our room on Earth? Only by serving our fellow men, the children of our Landlord, "and inasmuch as you did it unto these, you did it unto me"

If you do less you're not worthy of your room on earth.

In the hurry and pressure of our everyday living, too many of us fail to stop occasionally to allow our souls to catch up with us. We have no time to think upon those things which are of lasting values. We reserve our spiritual thinking for Sunday mornings and meeting nights, oblivious of the fact we must live every day. Find and make time this very day for just a minute with the Man upstairs. Remember you need him and HE needs you.

Remember the tortoise: He only gets somewhere when he sticks his neck out

More boys would follow in their fathers footsteps if they were not afraid of being caught

Sign on the back of a police car: Smile I could be behind you

The trouble with learning from experience is some people never graduate

One way of keeping out of trouble is to keep your mouth shut.

Don't forget that you will be judged by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold but so does a hard boiled egg.

A married couple viewed a house in the country, with a view to buying. On returning home they suddenly remembered they had not noticed where the W C. was. So they wrote to the vicar who had shown them over the house, asking if he knew where it was. Being ignorant

of the term W C. the vicar assumed they meant "Wesleyan Chapel", you can imagine the surprise the couple got when they received the following letter from the vicar.

I regret to inform you that the nearest "W.C." in your area is 5 miles away from the house. This is very unfortunate if you are in the habit of going regularly. However it might interest you to know that many local people take their lunch and make a day of it. By the way it was built to accommodate 1000 people and it has been decided to replace the wooden seats with more plush ones, to ensure greater comfort, especially for anyone who has to sit for a long time before proceedings begin.

Those who can spare the time, walk there, others go by train, I myself never go. There are special facilities for ladies, presided over by the minister, who gives them all the assistance they need.

The children all sit together, and usually sing during the proceedings. Hoping this information will be of use to you and trusting you will go regularly.

Yours faithfully,

The Vicar

P.S. Hymn sheets are to be found behind the door.

Sitting here remembering, about the Jamboree attended by the forty of us from the North West of England makes me feel so proud, and of course privileged, to be a member of such a fine world wide organisation of both young and older people.

The Jamboree was an experience that will live in my memory forever. I don't think Robert Baden-Powell ever dreamed of what real pleasure and Joy his Scouting movement could bring to all people, regardless of creed or colour.

All jamborees are, as the motto of this was, to attempt to "bring, the world together". I can only remark on my own experiences of the atmosphere present throughout the event.

An atmosphere of such friendship, no violence or aggression. The thought of walking into a camp site and being enthusiastically welcomed by the scouts camping on that site is so reflective-e of the young people involved in Scouting.

I personally believe that the Jamboree has brought the world closer together. I, like many others now have friends on the other side of the earth and indeed all over the world.

No doubt that I will return and visit future Jamborees My job now is to encourage younger Scouts to strive for their own chance to attend such a fantastic world-wide gathering of brothers.

Two boys, .strangers to each other but both aged 10 were moved to the same side ward of a general hospital. Simon, placed by the only window was the most active. Although like Martin he was confined to bed. At first Martin was very poorly and depressed but Simon succeeded in cheering him up. As he gained in strength Martin was daily entertained by his new friend who brightened each day with vivid descriptions of what he could see from the window alongside the bed. Through the spring and into early summer Simon told Martin of the daffodils coming out in the park- across the street, told him about the other children playing on the swings and roundabout. He spoke about the old and the young people who passed in the street below. The sad day came when the boys were parted. Simon was sent off on convalescence and Martin asked to be moved to the bed by the window. Sister would not permit it. She gave good reasons but that did not stop Martin asking again and again. One day a new sister was put on the ward Martin seized the opportunity and asked again. He was moved. With eager anticipation Martin looked out of the window. He Iooked and he looked again, in stunned disbelief. There was nothing there but a blank brick wall and a squalid yard with a row of dustbins. For two months Simon had worked hard, every day, hour by hour, to enliven his friends day with the aid only of his vivid imagination.

It pays to keep your feet on the ground. But keep them moving.

Old people who complain that things are not like they used to be are apt to forget that this includes

themselves

Why do we do it, day after day? Pulling on Uniforms in the same old way?

Why do we do it, week afer week when the flesh is willing but the spirit is weak.

Why do we do it, from season to season, Our spouses enquire "there must be a reason'?

Why do we do it winter to spring, wondering what our next meeting will bring.

Why do we do it summer and fall, when sometimes we've no motivation at all.

Why do we do it year after year. When morale is low and we could do with some cheer.

Why do we do it, we often say giving our time up day after day.

Why do we do it? Its just for the joy, of improving the life of the girl or the boy.

Setting them off on life's busy road, pointing the way and sharing the load.

To nurture an adult from lass or from lad

That's why we do it, and boy am I glad.

Live for the day Terry Waite

Living for years deprived of natural light, freedom of movement and companionship, I found that time took on a new meaning. Now I can see that, past, present and future are carried in the experience of the moment, and the exhortation of Christ to live for the day has assumed a new depth and resonance for me

The only people who listen to both sides of the quarrel are the neighbours.

Parent to son: "Now be a good boy while I'm away."

Son to parent: "If you give me £5 I'll be really good."

Parent to son: No! I want you to be good for nothing."

Through the tangled web of life,

Lord guide me.

Through the problems of the day,

Stay beside me.

From the dangers of the world,

Defend me,

When my loved ones slip away,

Befriend me.

In the quiet of the night,

Lord hear me.

And accept in prayer my thanks,

For being near me.

Hope looks for the good in people,

instead of harping on the worst.

Hope discvers what can be done,

instead of grumbling about what cannot,

Hope lights candles,

instead of cursing the darkness

Hope pushes ahead

when it might be easier to quit.

Hope opend doors.

where despair closes them.

Hope carries on,

in spite of heartaches.

Hope accepts tragedy,

with faith and courage.

Time is like an empty cupboard - you can always find soething to fill it.

As you might well expect everybody who lives in Happyland is as happy as the day is long. Wherever you go you see smiling faces all around. It's such a happy place that even the flowers seem to smile in Happyland.

And, as well as all the people being happy, all the animals in Happyland are happy as well. It you've never seen a mouse smile, or a cat, or a dog or even a worm - go to Happyland!

This is a story about someone who lived there who happened to be called Mr Happy. Mr Happy was fat and round, and happy. He lived in a small cottage beside a lake at the foot of a mountain and close to a wood in Happyland.

One day while Mr Happy was out walking through the tall trees in those woods near his home, he came across something which was really rather extraordinary. There in the trunk of one of the very tall trees was a door. Not a very large door, but nevertheless a door. Certainly a door. A small, narrow, yellow door. Definitely a door! "I wonder who lives here?" thought Mr Happy to himself, and he turned the handle of that small, narrow, yellow

door. The door wasn't locked and it swung open quite easily. Just inside the small, narrow, yellow door was a small narrow winding staircase, leading downwards. Mr Happy squeezed his rather large body through the rather thin doorway and began to work his way down the stairs.

The stairs went round and round and down and down, and round and down and down and round.

Eventually, after a long time, Mr Happy reached the bottom of the staircase. He looked around and saw, there in front of him, another small narrow door. But this time it was red. Mr Happy knocked on the door. "Who's there?" said a voice. A sad, squeaky sort of voice. "-"Who's there?" Mr Happy pushed open the red door slowly and there, sitting on a stool, was somebody who looked exactly like Mr Happy, except that he didn't look happy at all. In fact he looked downright miserable.

"Hello," said Mr Happy. "I'm Mr Happy. " "Oh, are you indeed, " sniffed the person who looked like Mr Happy but wasn' t. "Well, my name is Mr Miserable and I'm the most Miserable person in the world. " "Why are you so miserable?" asked Mr Happy. "Because I am," replied Mr Miserable.

"How would you like to be happy like me?" asked Mr Happy. "I'd give anything to be happy," said Mr Miserable. "But I 'm so miserable I don't think I would ever be happy," he added miserably. Mr Happy made up his mind quickly. "Follow me," he said. "Where to?" asked Mr Miserable. "Don't argue," said Mr Happy, and he went out through the small, narrow, red door.

Mr Miserable hesitated and then followed. Up and up the winding staircase they went. Up and up, r