August 9, 2008
DISCUSSIONS WITH BRIAN KONKOL -1
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
DISCUSSIONS WITH BRIAN KONKOL -1
Brian and Kristen Konkol, a young couple, are missionaries who recently began working in South Africa. I have known Brian for a number of years and Kirsten, whom he married for over a year. I am proud of the work they did in Guyana before moving to South Africa in November 2007. They truly lived the gospel and are good writers. We have had several discussions on spiritual matters and I have been reading his regular newsletters which I found informative and inspirational. Here are two pieces from our discussions that I would like to share with you: I trust Brian will approve of them.
— Randall Butisingh
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From: Randall Butisingh:
To: Brian Konkol
Brian:
There’s no doubt that the task you and Kristen have assumed is an onerous one. It has to be so, as it is “the Greatest Task you have been assigned to” and it will need only people like you, dedicated and committed, to make it succeed. … People who are willing to sacrifice their lives to build, as you said, “a better society,”… which will bring the Kingdom of God on earth. You may, at times, be tempted to think: “Why did I have to give up the ease and comfort I could have had, and endure all this? That is natural. Our Lord had His temptations. But what are the material things and pleasures of the flesh? They are transient and cannot satisfy. But what you will acquire in your desire to serve cannot be taken from you. I mean the virtues like love and compassion, faith and hope, patience and endurance. These virtues will sustain you. The fruit of your efforts will not be the perishable things of the flesh, but the everlasting gifts of the Spirit. You will not need a comfortable living, as you will experience the Joy and Peace of a Life worth living and which is all that matters.
Kindest regards,
Randall
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From: Brian Konkol
To: Randall Butisingh
Randall:
Your supportive words always mean a great deal. Thank you.
When it comes to the “material” side of life, I’ve been hearing a great deal as of late from friends and family about the current economic conditions across the United States. With rising gas prices, rising food costs, the dipping housing market, and other contributing factors, people who were quite “comfortable” just a few years ago are now feeling the “financial crunch” that was once reserved only for the lower class. Working middle-class people now have to cut expenses and start choosing between needs and wants.
When I hear of the struggles people in the United States are now enduring, I usually have two main thoughts. First, I feel compassion for them, for I know that it is indeed a struggle, but secondly, I think about all the people around the world who have it much worse, and I feel as if people in the US aren’t as thankful as they should be. It is certainly a mixture of emotions, and I often do not know how to handle it. I do not wish to minimize people’s struggles here in the US, because they are difficult struggles indeed. Yet, when you compare them to the struggles of those in Africa and other corners of the world, it is difficult to match them up. There are many different kinds of struggles in our world, and I find it difficult to “compare” them when the contexts are so different.
Thankfully, the God of the middle class American is also the God of the struggling African. And through the Spirit, God is able to walk alongside us all, and in the midst of our diversity, encouraging us to walk alongside each other.
Again, it’s good to hear from you. I look forward to hearing more soon!
With peace,
Brian
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April 18, 2008
TWO WOLVES
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
TWO WOLVES
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two “wolves” inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
March 26, 2008
HUMILITY
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
HUMILITY
Tulsidas Das, the writer of the Ramayan an epic which treats of the exploits of Lord Rama , the Incarnation of Vishnu, the sustainer god in the Trinity of Hinduism wrote in one of his poems;
Compassion is the source of all the virtues
and Pride the source of hell;
but Swami Vaswani went a little further and said: “Humility is the greatest of all virtues. Indeed humility is more than a virtue.” He continued: “that humble, gentle saint of the Catholic Church, Cure of Ars, rightly said; ‘Humility is to the virtues what the chain is to the rosary. Remove the chain and all the beads escape. Take away humility and all the virtues disappear.”
So, you see, without humility, there can be no virtue. Pride gives rise to negative emotions like anger. envy, jealousy, prejudice and the like. It takes insults easily and is ready to take revenge; but humility cannot be insulted; it cannot be pulled down as it is already down and nothing can provoke it. humility is the same in approbation and abuse.
Randall Butisingh
March 11, 2008
Pride has no place in Nobility…
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
from a speech given to youths of the VIR DAL( Army of the Courageous)
arm of the ARYA SAMAJ ( Society of the Noble)
Founded by Swami Dayanand Saraswati)
Pride has no place in Nobility. The great Teacher never retaliated in anger to insults. He always showed kindness to his adversaries. Compassion and tolerance are the ways in which you show true Nobility. And, as you live in a society where you go to school with others who have different values, remember you are interdependent. There are things you will want from society; you must be willing to give also. You will follow the law of the land, but always consistent with the principles of your great teacher, in word and deed. Others will see and want to know what is your creed; what made you such an example of nobility.
Randall Butisingh
