Performance Counts

Priest dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates.


Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket and jeans.


Saint Peter addresses him, " Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you into the Kingdom of Heaven ?"


The guy replies, "I'm Joe Cohen, taxi driver, from New York ."


Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi driver,



"Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven ."


Now it's the priest's turn. He stands erect and booms out, "I am the Right Reverend Joseph Snow, pastor of Saint Mary's for the last forty-three years."


Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the priest,


"Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven ."


" Just a minute ," says the priest. "That man was a taxi driver. Why does he get a silken robe and golden staff?"


" Results," shrugged Saint Peter....... ....


"While you preached, people slept. When he drove, people prayed."


***********

Moral of the story:

It's Performance, Not Position that Counts

Perspective

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, 'How was the trip?'

'It was great, Dad.'

'Did you see how poor people live?' the father asked.

'Oh yeah,' said the son.

'So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?' asked the father

The son answered:

'I saw that we have one dog and they had four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We buy our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.'

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added , 'Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.'

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?

Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.

Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!

Pass this on to family, friends and acquaintances and help them refresh their perspective and appreciation.

'Life is too short and friends are too few.