It Is Not Enough To Make a Decision.

 I have made some very important decisions in my life, some that have turned out to be wise ones others that have turned out to be less than wise. When I was a young lad I wanted more than anything to be a brain surgeon. I often wonder how many lives have been saved because I chose not to follow through on that desire.

As principal teacher it was my task each year to plan the incoming year’s department plan. In this we laid out the objectives for the year. We set out the aims and the objectives of the department in terms of fairness to all students no matter their sex, race or creed.

Each course to be followed was listed with outline plans for all lessons to achieve the teaching of the course. We also listed how we would raise the grades being achieved by the students in the department. I worked hard each year on the production of this manual of teaching. Each year I designed a new front page cover. Once it was completed I presented the teachers in the department with a copy. I submitted a copy to education authorities and the inspectorate.

How proud I used to feel when it was used by them as an example of a well produced handbook.

The truth behind all this was though, that once it was done it found its way on to the shelve in my office and I got on with the serious business of getting students through examinations, and into university. That after all was why I was doing the job I did. Fortunately all of the aims and the objectives were reached, but not because of the handbook but because I had made a decision to give my all to my students.

That decision did not cause me or my family any alarm at all. The decision I made to quit the ministry was another thing all together. I mad e the decision on the Wednesday and told the congregation on the Sunday. Then I realised I was now homeless and jobless with two young children. Not a good decision.

In the end it turned out well for us but it could so easily have been otherwise.

Day by day we are faced with choices and decisions. It is easy to make decisions it is not always so easy to follow them through.

I met a friend yesterday who is a wonderful example. He is always telling me, “I have made a serious decision to…..” Then he will tell me what it is he is going to do. I laughed. He asked me, “What is funny Ralph?”

I told him I was thinking about all the other decisions he had made in the past and yet here he was and not a thing had changed.

Let me finish today with a little teaser for you.

There were three frogs sitting on the leaves of a Lilly pond. One made a decision to jump. How many frogs were left on the Lilly leaves?

Now if you think you know the answer got to my other blog. The Lilly Pond

Beware of Retaliation

For many years I was involved in working in courts. As a part time judge, I saw a variety of those who in one way or another make the live of others less pleasant. But it also brought its humour. I suppose in the midst of the bad we all seek the funny.


Two magistrates had fallen foul of a police speed trap. Each was due to appear before the court. It was agreed each would try the other. The first magistrate went onto the bench. The charge was laid out before him. The second magistrate had been caught going at 90 miles per hour. The bench magistrate took time and thought. He then fined the second one £300 and endorsed his license with 4 penalty points.

They exchanged places. The first magistrate now stood in the dock. He had been caught at the same speed. The second magistrate thought, and then fined him £350 and endorsed with 5 points. When challenged by the first he stated. “We have to set an example here. This is the second case like this in one morning; we have to do something to make an example.”

A police constable had a disagreement with the local minister. Determined to get the better of the minister he watched and tried to catch him speeding, or jumping a red light. He was unsuccessful, the minister drove with due care. Then one day he saw the minister or his bicycle, he stopped him. He wanted to check that the cycle was in good road order. It was in tip top condition. The minister laughed, “You see I have special cover, I have the Lord always with me.” The constable drew out his notebook with a wry smile. “I have you at last,” he said, “you are charged with cycling with two on a bicycle.”

Yes the old ones are the best. But there is a truth lying within these two little stories. Life has a strange way of coming back to us. The actions of our lives ripple out and touch the lives of others, each action having a reaction. The more we encourage good actions then the more we are likely to experience good actions in our lives.

I hope today starts with a little smiles and that smile causes a reaction that makes you bring a smile to another. Each day as I read your blogs I leave my computer with a smile determined that in the course of the day I will pass it on.

This is the way of the Tao.

This blog is linked to my other blog where I discuss the artwork: The Lilly Pond