THE BULL AND THE BEAR

Once upon a time there lived a bear in a cave deep in the woods. Nearby
was a meadow in which a farmer kept his cattle -- and one large,
ferocious-looking bull. Each day the bear hid at the edge of the woods,
watching the bull. The bear was known as the strongest, most fierce
creature for miles around. No other beast in the forest dared to tangle
with him. As the bear watched the bull peacefully gazing, he wondered
which one of them would win a test of strength. He thought about this for
many days. Then one morning he decided to challenge the bull to a fight
to the finish.

The bull had just chomped down on a fresh clump of clover when he looked
up and saw the bear barreling across the meadow toward him. He stopped
chewing. The red flag of danger popped up in his head. The bear skidded
to a halt in front of him. The bull lowered his head menacingly, his
sharp horns aimed right for the bear's throat. For long moments they
stood in place -- eyeball to eyeball -- neither one of them moving.
Finally the bull grew tired of the stare-down and asked, "What do you
want, Bear?"

"I want to fight you," growled the bear.

"Why?" asked the bull.

"Because, I want to prove that I am a stronger and better fighter than
you are."

The bull laughed. "I thought you really wanted something. You can't
possibly win against me. I have sharp horns that can cause terrible
injuries."

"And my claws are sharp and quick," the bear shot back. "I have defeated
many an enemy -- anyone who would harm my cubs or take away my mate. I am
the king of the forest!"

"Then go back to the forest," the bull bluntly advised. "This is the
meadow."

The bear blinked in surprise. "I beg your pardon..."

"I mean, what's the point of me fighting with you?" the bull asked. "What
would that prove? We are not enemies. I have not harmed your cubs or
taken your mate."

"It would prove that I am the strongest."

"Okay," said the bull, smiling. "I'll buy that. You are strongest. Now
leave and let me graze in peace."

"Just one cotton-pickin' minute. What do you mean by that?" The bear
raised a club-like paw. "I will tear you to shreds. Defend yourself."

"What you do is up to you," the bull answered calmly. "But if you do,
what will all your friends -- the ones who are watching us right now --
think about you?"

"They will think that I am the strongest," yelled the frustrated bear.

"I don't think so. I do not choose to fight you just because you choose
to fight with me. I would only fight to defend one of the cows in my
care. If you attack one of them, then I'd be obliged to give you a good
lashing."

"I can't attack them," protested the bear. "They can't fight back. There
would be no victory to it."

"Exactly," answered the bull. "But what if you did? And what if I should
try to defend them? What if something should happen to me? Who would
protect them then? You? Would you trust me to protect your cubs if
something happened to you? What would happen to your family if you lose
the fight?"

"I never thought of that," said the bear.

"Go back into the woods, Bear," said the bull as he turned to walk away.
"Live in peace. And I will stay in the meadow and do the same."

The bear turned toward the woods. He had come spoiling for a fight -- to
prove which one was the strongest.

But he had learned an important lesson from a very wise bull. In peace,
there are no losers.
-- author unknown

A FOCUSED MIND

Perhaps you have a focused mind--meaning that whatever you place your attention on, you can manifest. For too many, the brain has a short attention span and we wonder
why we become so scattered. I know because I have been training my mind for 25 years and yes, I have made progressed. However, there are some to where it becomes a passion. I will give you an example.

About six years ago I was introduced to the Henry Sugar story written by Roald Dahl. It was a most interesting story about a man who secured a small booklet telling of a man from India who by looking steadily into the flame of a candle learned to ride a bicycle in heavy traffic blindfolded. He could see through things.

Being a student in the Ramtha School of Enlightenment, this intrigued me but I wasn't committed at that time to pursue this avenue. There was a man--a carpenter and the single parent of a son who was feeling depressed because he felt he had
not progressed in the school. He read the Henry Sugar story and one day he was sitting and looking out his sliding glass door when he 'saw' a playing card and perhaps it was the 3 of clubs. He was pulled to pick up a deck of cards near by and he stared at the back of the deck. Then, as I recall him telling the story, he turned the card over and it was the 3 of clubs. This excited him and he began spending long hours staring at the backs of cards and gradually over a year, he began to be adept at it.

It was at this point, he shared with others what he could do. He was then asked to show the RSE students what he had learned to do. I was in the audience in the Great Hall, when Kenny Thompson began focusing on the backs of cards--after someone had shuffled the deck thoroughly, and he called most of them correctly. He went on to
become more adept and about a year ago he and another student were tested by scientists in California and they came through with flying colors.

What did it take? Focus and a passion to do it. He has now gone on to roulette and is quite good at it. Kenny now has a website and I urge you to go to it. http://www.spin-geek.com. Be sure to click on the sample e-book.

A simple man who developed a passion trained his mind. I know I am inspired and I hope you are too.