The Cooling Stream

Some of us upon reaching the office, will sit down and be glued to the chair like a crouch potato until the office hour is over. We only care to stand up and walk around when we have something urgent.

Some of us enjoy walking around, communicating with friends and colleagues. Many times this will help to improve our workloads through mutual sharing, understanding, encouraging, and reprimanding. Friends are a great thing to have in good times and bad times.

Some of us walk aimlessly all around, admiring the flowers, the plants, the trees and the beautiful landscape. It can be very satisfying. Walking into a garden and taking in deep and long breaths can bring wonders to our day. Hearing carefully the chirping of the birds in the air and on the trees can really be a stress buster. Yeah! We are not alone at all; the surrounding nature is breathtaking, bursting with energy and life.

Sometimes, walking around and hearing our own footsteps can be fun. Sometimes, stopping for a moment and listening to our heartbeats and breathings can bring smiles to our face. Ever wonder if God decides to take our heartbeat and our breathing away? It humbles us to know the power of God and His mercy and grace in allowing us to live so healthily for so much years despite the fact that we are breaking His rules and regulations every day. The Almighty God is indeed long-suffering toward us and not wanting us to perish; He has given us ample opportunities to set right our course and move straight on the narrow path of life.

As it is, let's walk around once in a while. But if your mind is troubled with unsettled thoughts and difficult decisions, then it will be nice to sit in an open and a quiet place, to ponder, to reason and to pray.

Remember, work is fun if you enjoy it by walking around. LOL

A group of farmers is getting ready to go to the farm. It is a clear and sunny morning.

As they walk along the narrow path to their farm, everyone is seen smiling, chatting, laughing out loud or humming some nice tunes. It is a refreshing morning where the morning dew can still be felt in the air. It is just wonderful when the cool breeze continue to blow through the body.

And so the group of farmers begin their new day of work.

The harvest is plentiful. It is a wide stretch of yellow ripen paddy farm. There is so much to do.

The farmers put down their loads and rest for a moment. Sipping some well-brew coffee or tea and puffing a stick of cigarette. Then start another round of talking and laughing.

The farmers get ready to harvest the paddy. They start to look serious, planning and doing their respective tasks. There they are, very organized, doing what they are called to do and what they are good in doing. Everyone is contemplating how to do the works well. Silence rules, though here and there, you can hear some traffic noise, the chirping of the birds, and the flowing of the stream.

The weather is fine and cool. The farmers are cheerful and of high spirit. And they accomplish much in just a short time.

The farmers then has a short break, and you can see that they really relax. Another round of coffee or tea, another stick of cigarette, and another round of talking and laughing.

The work continues until noon. The farmers are working hard without a hint of complaint or frustration.

Then they rest for their lunch time. And they eat heartily and are satisfied. Feeling exhausted, some of them take a nap. Some go ahead sharing some topics of interest. Nonetheless, they really rest from their work.

After lunch, another round of work. This time takes longer still, under the blazing hot sun. Big drops of sweats all over their sun-tanned bodies. But there is no time to spare, the harvest must be done fast. No one grumbles and no one talk unnecessarily. It is another round of hard and tedious work.

The cool evening wind has arrived. The sunset just beyond comprehension. The farmers are ready to go home. It is a fulfilling and meaningful day. They have work their hearts out. Everyone is bring home a broad and beautiful smile, ready to have dinner together.

This is work. This is life. And the farmers are enjoying every single bit of it. LOL.

Some people work hurriedly through life. They do things simply and don't seem to care. They do what they are told or taught to do and that's it. They always take a quicker and an easier route to complete all their tasks, making sure that they have enough time to do what they really enjoy. To them, life is too short to worry about others.

Some people work aimlessly through life. They waste much time, resources and money, and don't seem to mind. Their works are never organized. And they don't prioritize. They are busy talking than getting their works done. And they have a bad habit of putting blames on others for any shortcoming or failure.

Some people work reluctantly through life. They work very slowly and carelessly, and they don't seem to worry. To them, life is so boring that they do not even know how to pass the day! They have nothing to talk about their work and they can't wait for the day to die.

But there are people who work with purpose and passion throughout their lives. They pay much attention to what and how they do, and they take responsibilities seriously. At the end of the day, they accomplish their tasks with a broad smile on their face, fully satisfied.

I think we will enjoy life more if we put our hearts into our works and give our life in service to men. And I believe we must always take a second look in everything we do.

Some of us work so hard just to fulfill our own needs and wants. We need food, clothing, and shelter to survive. We also want things that can give us a better life. Getting satisfied is one of the main goals of most people today. We spend so much time and effort chasing after sensual pleasure, and we will do anything just to enjoy life. But we can never truly be satisfied because the moment we die, we have to leave our body behind.

Some of us work so hard just to accumulate possessions, status and wealth. Getting rich and famous is yet another main goal of most people today. We spend so much time and effort chasing after wealth and popularity, and we will do anything just to possess them. But we can never truly be rich and famous after all because the moment we die, they all go to others.

Some of us work so hard just to provide for others. We will do anything just to keep our family, relatives and friends together. We enjoy company and we just cannot stand a moment staying alone. Getting near and staying close is what most people are seeking today. We spend so much time and effort throwing parties and enhancing quality relationships, and we will do anything just to get close. But we can never truly be close after all because the moment we die, the furthest our family, relatives and friends can stay by us is up to the grave.

Few of us labor for our soul. We often neglected our soul in our pursuits of material, wealth and sensual pleasure. Yet it is the only thing that follows us wherever we go. The soul is our most loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining our wealth and business as well as taking care of our household. A soul well-nourished will give us peace and harmony, and provide us with a fully satisfied, a truly rich, and really close life with God and men.

It is high time for all of us to labor for our soul rather than to wait until we are on our deathbed to lament for all our loss.