The Boy Who Became a Stone One day a little boy named Elonen sat out in the yard making a bird snare, and as he worked, a little bird called to him: “Tik-tik-lo-den” (come and catch me). “I am making a snare for you,” said the boy; but the bird continued to call until the snare was finished.  Then Elonen ran and threw the snare over the bird and caught it,...

How long it would take One day a man who had been to gather his coconuts loaded his horse heavily with the fruit. On the way home he met a boy whom he asked how long it would take to reach the house.  “If you go slowly,” said the boy, looking at the load on the horse, “you will arrive very soon; but if you go fast, it will take you...

Why We Shout In Anger A Hindu saint who was visiting river Ganges to take bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled ‘n asked. ‘Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?’  Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, ‘Because we lose our calm, we shout.’ ‘But, why should you shout when...

Cup of coffee A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help...

Unpleasant A 50- something year old white woman arrived at her seat on a crowded flight and immediately didn’t want the seat. The seat was next to a black man.  Disgusted, the woman immediately summoned the flight attendant and demanded a new seat. The woman said “I cannot sit here next to this black man.”  The fight attendant said “Let me see if I can find another seat.” After checking, the...

Self Appraisal A little boy went to a telephone booth which was at the cash counter of a store and dialed a number. The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation:  Boy : “Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn? Woman : (at the other end of the phone line) “I already have someone to cut my lawn.” Boy : “Lady, I will cut your lawn for...

How much do you earn ? A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.  SON: “Daddy, may I ask you a question?” DAD: “Yeah sure, what is it?” replied the man. SON: “Daddy, how much do you make an hour?” DAD: “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?” the man said angrily....

Trust God A man just got married and was returning home with his wife. They were crossing a lake in a boat, when suddenly a great storm arose. The man was a warrior, but the woman became very much afraid because it seemed almost hopeless.  The boat was small and the storm was really huge, and any moment they were going to be drowned. But the man sat silently, calm and...