The Paradox of Our Time－Dr.Moorehead not George Carlin

Recently my mother in law shared some very beautiful slides with Grammy award-winning comedian George Carlin’s famous tribute to his late wife Brenda Carlin(passed away on May 11,1997) on the background of breathtaking landscapes.

While appreciating the eloquent and incisive descprition of our modern life, and the beautiful pictures, I found out on internet that the piece was not written by George Carlin who denied authorship on his website. While, it was wrriten by Dr. Moorehead in 1990, and published in his book “Words Aptly Spoken” in 1995. Dr. Moorehead is Minister, author, and former pastor of Overlake Christian Church in Redmon, Washingon.(source:TruthOrFiction)

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The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

 

 

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

 

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.

 

We’ve done larger things, but not better things. We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

 

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.

 

 

We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

 

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.

 

 

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

 

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

 

 

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

 

 

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent. Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

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整理自己的草地

    “您看这里的草长得不好，是因为您把这里的草和别处的草互相比较的缘故。看来，我们常常是看别人的草地，希望别人的草地就是我们自己的，却很少去整治自己的草地！”

    园丁的这席话让100多年前费城的康惠尔牧师恍然明白到为什么自己为筹建大学而辛苦奔波5年却仅仅连总费用的百万分之一都未能筹募到。此后，他积极探求人生哲理，到处给人们演讲“钻石宝藏”的故事：

   有个农夫听说自己的土地埋有钻石，所以他开始在自己的土地上挖宝，但他挖了两三年都没有挖到。于是，他卖了自己的土地，四处寻找可以挖出钻石的地方。而买下农夫土地的人坚持辛勤耕耘反倒挖到了“钻石宝藏”。

  康惠尔向人们说：“财富和成功不是仅评奔走四方发现的，他属于在自己的土地上不断挖掘的人，它属于相信自己有能力‘整理自己的草地’的人！

  7年后康惠尔牧师终于成功筹建了一所大学，就是闻名于世的费城大学。

  昨晚看了这个故事觉得很是自己的写照，我好像都是在羡慕别人的美丽草地，不知道如果我细心整理自己的草地，那么可能羡慕的人是别人。于是马上决定把这句话高悬在自己的Blog上，当是提醒和鼓励。