For June 15th - Please take the opportunity to read the words of Og Mandino – an author who excelled in motivating individuals to become their best and greatest selves. Though is works were published in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s and many of us may have put those books on a back shelf, in a box, or even given them away – their messages speak to the reality and possibility of choosing who and what we want to be. Available at most bookstores or online – do a search for ‘Og Mandino’ – you may be truly touched by the sincerity and simplicity he used to bring Truth to millions. We tend to allow some of our greatest teachers to slip into a no man’s land of thrift store book shelves, continuing our search for brightly illustrated covers and trendy titles…. Mr. Mandino will not disappoint you with his easy reading style and charm. Og Mandino, an amazingly talented motivational speaker and writer influenced the lives of many through his timeless tales. Most popular of his works have been “The Greatest Salesman in the World” “The Greatest Secret in the World”, “The Greatest Miracle in the World” and “The Choice”. The following are excerpts from “The Gift of Acabar” written by Og Mandino and Buddy Kaye and published by Bantam Books. It is my understanding that, as this is being reproduced for educational purposes, and to spark new/renewed interest in the wisdom of Mr. Mandino’s books, there is no violation of copyright laws. Please visit your local bookstore, Amazon, Ebay, or any of the number of other locations where you can purchase Mr. Mandino’s books. They hold inspiration which has changed the lives of millions. The Gift of Acabar is the story of a young lapland lad, faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, who believes in a dream and ‘catches a star’, ‘his’ star. While many have reprinted portions of Mandino’s ‘Greatest’ series, little has been done with this moving story. It is time that changed. “Thank you, Star Acabar, thank you! How wonderful you are to travel all the way down here just to help me warm and light our cabin during this terrible time!” “Little man, I did not come for that – although I am willing to serve you in that capacity also, if you wish. Actually, I have come with a gift for you… a gift that will be more valuable than a little temporary light and heat for you cabin.” “Gift? I don’t see it.” A thunderous laugh shook the star tree. “My gift is not wrapped in pretty paper and tied with a ribbon, if that’s what you’re looking for, Tulo, just be patient and I’ll try to explain.” “Earth people still have much to learn. However, for reasons we have never questioned, of all the planets with life in the entire universe, earth is the only one where people have been given a very special power: the power of choice. Only here, no matter how desperate your circumstances may be, are you allowed to influence your own destiny through the choices you make. Here you can choose to be kind or hateful, courageous or cowardly, rich or poor, lazy or industrious, sinful or holy … and of course suffer the consequences or reap the rewards for your actions. No one has ever been born on this planet without that power since the days of the Garden of Eden.” Acabar’s light pulsated rapidly. “Well, ever since those two made the wrong choices we have watched your actions down here with great interest… and disappointment. When confronted with two choices people usually make the wrong one. Although there have been millions, through the centuries, who have used their power wisely, the majority choose to spend so much of their precious allotment of their life feeling sorry for themselves that they have no time to enjoy the paradise that was created here.” More wisdom from the star Tulo captured with his kite…. “Nothing is too good to be true. That’s the same kind of pity we’ve been hearing for thousands of years from just about every part of this planet. You earth people are certainly fortunate that not everyone chooses to give up in the face of adversity, or you would have all disappeared a long time ago. And what do you plan to do about your debt?” Surprised by the star’s harsh words, Tulo responded defiantly, “Debt? I owe no one, not even LaVeeg!” “Ah, but you do, little man! Along with the power of choice you received the most precious gift our Creator can bestow: the spark of life. With it came an obligation to apply your own special talents, whatever they may be, to leave this world a better place than you found it. Billions of humans have failed in this obligation and wasted their lives. On the other hand, if you use your talent and repay your debt -” Tulo could not contain himself. “What will happen, what will happen, Star Acabar?” “Repay your debt, give something of yourself to your world each day, and your life here will be filled with harmony and satisfaction and love, followed by a joyful eternity in the Kingdom of Forever.” Tulo frowned. “I have never heard of the Kingdom of Forever.: “I know you haven’t. Earth people are still infants when it comes to universal knowledge. Look up, son! Look directly over your head.: For the first time in more than a week the stars suddenly became visible. Tulo stared into the heavens and waited for Acabar’s next words. The story continues as Acabar points out stars in the sky and calls them by the names of people who have shared their gifts with humanity. “It is not necessary that you be wealthy or famous or a genius to fulfill your own destiny. All that is asked is that you use whatever gifts you have to the best of your ability. If your skill is with a hammer, build! If you have a knack with a hoe, plant! If you are happy on the water, fish! If a pen does your bidding, Write! As Tulo listens, he feels Acabar is making fun of him. His life is so dificult, he cannot see the possibility of following the star’s advice. The star continues on “There are other stars up there, stars like Beethoven, who was deaf.. Milton, who was blind… and Lincoln, who lived in terrible poverty, far worse than yours. Hear me, Tulo! Adversity is not a curse, it is a blessing. The brightest stars in heaven are those who have been tested in the furnace of tribulation. [A] s the writer of this article, I must inform you it is now after 11:58 pm of the night before I must deliver Voice of Choices to the printers…. an hour and a half drive, beginning at 6:30 am tomorrow morning- then on to my ‘day job’. The magazine was ‘done’ except for final touches to the cover. I sat to read a book and take a break. The book, by one of my favorite authors, was “The Gift of Acabar” I know there is someone who will read this that desperately needs it RIGHT NOW. So I have removed the article that filled this space – to share with you just a brief glimpse into the classic writings of a best-selling author many have all but forgotton. The Greatest Salesman in the World The following is from Mr. Mandino’s book, The Greatest Salesman in the World. Again, my intent is to inspire you to read his complete book. There are 10 scrolls woven into this story. Each teach but one way. Failure is man’s inability to reach his goals in life, whatever they may be. In truth, the only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure. Thus, the first law I will obey which precedeth all others is—I will form good habits and become their slaves. As a child I was slave to my impulses; now I am slave to my habits, as are all grown men. I have surrendered my free will to the years of accumulated habits and the past deeds of my life have already marked out a path which threatens to imprison my future. My actions are ruled by appetite, passion, prejudice, greed, love, fear, environment, habit, and the worst of these tyrants is habit. Therefore, if I must be a slave to habit, let me be a slave to good habits. My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed. I will form good habits and become their slave. And how will I accomplish this difficult feat? Through these scrolls, it will be done, for each scroll contains a principle which will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it with one which will bring me closer to success. For it is another of nature’s laws that only a habit can subdue another habit. So, in order for these written words to perform their chosen task, I must discipline myself with the first of my new habits which is as follows; I will read each scroll for thirty days in this prescribed manner, before I proceed to the next scroll. THE SCROLL MARKED I Today I begin a new life. Today I shed my old skin which hath, too long, suffered the bruises of failure and the wounds of mediocrity. Today I am born anew and my birthplace is a vineyard where there is fruit for all. Today I will pluck grapes of wisdom from the tallest and fullest vines in the vineyard, for these were planted by the wisest of my profession who have come before me, generation upon generation. Today I will savor the taste of grapes from these vines and verily I will swallow the seed of success buried in each and new life will sprout within me. The career I have chosen is laden with opportunity yet it is fraught with heartbreak and despair and the bodies of those who have failed, were they piled one atop another, would cast its shadow down upon all the pyramids of the earth. [Y] et I will not fail, as the others, for in my hands now hold the charts which will guide me through perilous waters to shores which only yesterday seemed but a dream. Failure no longer will be my payment for struggle. Just as nature made no provision for my body to tolerate pain neither has it made any provision for my life to suffer failure. Failure, like pain, is alien to my life. In the past I accepted it as I accepted pain. Now, I reject it and I am prepared for wisdom and principles which will guide me out of the shadows into the sunlight of wealth, position, and happiness far beyond my most extravagant dreams until even the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides will seem no more than my just reward. Time teaches all things to be who lives forever but I have not the luxury of eternity. Yet, within my allotted time I must practice the art of patience for nature acts never in haste. To create, the olive, king of all trees, a hundred years is required. An onion plant is old in nine weeks. I have lived as an onion plant. It has not pleased me. Now I wouldst become the greatest of olive trees and, in truth, the greatest of salesmen. And how will this be accomplished? For I have neither the knowledge nor the experience to achieve greatness and already I have stumbled in ignorance and fallen into pools of self-pity. The answer is simple. I will commence my journey unencumbered with either the weight of unnecessary knowledge or the handicap of meaningless experience. Nature already has supplied me with knowledge and instinct far greater than any beast in the forest and the value of experience is overrated, usually by old men who nod wisely and speak stupidly. In truth experience teaches thoroughly yet her course of instruction devours men’s years so the value of her lessons diminishes with the time necessary to acquire her special wisdom. The end finds it wasted on dead men. Furthermore, experience is comparable to fashion; an action that proved successful today will be unworkable and impractical tomorrow. Only principles endure and these I now possess, for the laws that will lead me to greatness are contained in the words of these scrolls. What they will teach me is more to prevent failure than to gain success, for what is success other than a state of mind? Which two, among a thousand wise men, will define success in the same words; yet failure is always described but one way. Failure is man’s inability to reach his goals in life, whatever they may be. In truth, the only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits. Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure. Thus, the first law I will obey which preceedeth all others is—I will form good habits and become their slaves. As a child I was slave to my impulses; now I am slave to my habits, as are all grown men. I have surrendered my free will to the years of accumulated habits and the past deeds of my life have already marked out a path which threatens to imprison my future. My actions are ruled by appetite, passion, prejudice, greed, love, fear, environment, habit, and the worst of these tyrants is habit. Therefore, if I must be a slave to habit, let me be a slave to good habits. My bad habits must be destroyed and new furrows prepared for good seed. I will form good habits and become their slave. And how will I accomplish this difficult feat? Through these scrolls, it will be done, for each scroll contains a principle which will drive a bad habit from my life and replace it with one which will bring me closer to success. For it is another of nature’s laws that only a habit can subdue another habit. So, in order for these written words to perform their chosen task, I must discipline myself with the first of my new habits which is as follows; I will read each scroll for thirty days in this prescribed manner, before I proceed to the next scroll………
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:27:00 +0000
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