Ignacy J. Paderewski: The Essence Of Helping Others

How often do you do good to people you don't know? The following story made me look at myself and and ask questions. Here is a real life story that inspired me to take a new line of thinking regarding people who need help from me.

In 1892 at Stanford University:

An 18-year-old student was struggling to pay his fees. He was an orphan, and not knowing where to turn for money, he came up with a bright idea. He and a friend decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise money for their education.

 Ignacy J. Paderewski

They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck and the boys began to work to make the concert a success.

The big day arrived. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1600, plus a cheque for the balance $400. They promised to honour the cheque at the soonest possible.

“No,” said Paderewski. “This is not acceptable.” He tore up the cheque, returned the $1600 and told the two boys: “Here’s the $1600. Please deduct whatever expenses you have incurred. Keep the money you need for your fees. And just give me whatever is left”. The boys were surprised, and thanked him profusely.

It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a great human being.
Why should he help two people he did not even know? We all come across situations like these in our lives. And most of us only think “If I help them, what would happen to me?” 

Herbert Hoover

Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a great leader, but unfortunately when the World War began, Poland was ravaged. There were more than 1.5 million people starving in his country, and no money to feed them. Paderewski did not know where to turn for help. He reached out to the US Food and Relief Administration for help.He heard there was a man called Herbert Hoover — who later went on to become the US President. Hoover agreed to help and quickly shipped tons of food grains to feed the starving Polish people.

A calamity was averted. Paderewski was relieved. He decided to go across to meet Hoover and personally thank him. When Paderewski began to thank Hoover for his noble gesture, Hoover quickly interjected and said, “You shouldn’t be thanking me Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several years ago, you helped two young students go through college. I was one of them.”
The world is a wonderful place. What goes around comes around, pls help others, God will definitely help you.

Thank you for reading and God bless you!

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Billy Graham: Of Course God Cares About Politics

I feel pain when my religious brothers and sisters become so religious to an extent of leaving the politicians to decide the nature of political environment in which we exist. My heart bleeds when I hear prominent men and women of influence tell people who follow them that politics is for the politicians and not for the religious.

Does Politics matter to God? Read how Billy Graham responded to a question on Politics.

Be The Change You Want To See

Q: I know the elections are still many months away, but I'm already tired of all the name-calling and the overblown rhetoric. I've decided just to shut my mind to it all. I don't think God really cares about politics anyway, does He?

A: God cares about everything that affects our lives—including who our leaders will be and how our society will be governed. That's one reason why He commanded us to pray for our government and its leaders. Would He have told us to do this if He didn't care about good government? Of course not. The Bible says, "I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone, for kings and for all who are in authority" (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

Many readers probably can sympathize with your attitude toward too much rhetoric or too many ads. But don't let these blind you to the importance of our elections or cause you to shut your mind to our nation's need for honest and able leaders. Our system may not be perfect, but it's far better than that in many other nations.

Pray for our nation, especially as we look forward to elections a year from now. Pray especially that God will raise up leaders who will stand for justice and morality, and will seek God's will in all they do.

Pray too that our nation will turn to God, and that we may experience true spiritual revival. Increasingly we seem to be pushing God out of our lives as a nation—and this will have tragic consequences. Don't let this happen to you, but make sure of your commitment to Christ and seek to follow Him every day. The Bible's standard is still true: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Ps. 33:12).

5 Everyday Habits That Will Change Your Life For The Better

Achieving a better life is not a target, it is a daily progression, and it is easier than you think. The dilemma with most self-improvement suggestion is that it's either too unclear to comprehend or too impractical to apply. This list is unlike the ones I you have always seen. Every single item on here will significantly revolutionize your life, is supported by real evidence, and is unbelievably easy to complete.

You can start every single one today.

1. Set aside five minutes for meditation.

Mindfulness meditation isn't just for monks and undergrads. It's essentially a workout for the brain, building up gray matter in the areas that help you concentrate, handle stress, and not be a jerk. Best of all, to reap the benefits, you don't need to devote an hour to it. Starting with five minutes every day is good enough. That said, if you're willing to sit still for a full 20 minutes, studies show you'll start to get smarter in as little as four days. Mindfulness is simple, but if you're intimidated, try an app or a guided meditation video to start.

2. Shut down your devices an hour before bed.

Scientists believe that the harsh light of tablets, smartphones, PCs, and TVs prevents the brain from secreting melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep. Reading under low light for that last hour before bed is a much smarter idea if you want to get the most out of your rest.

3. Listen to podcasts during your commute.

Getting ahead in the world involves optimizing your abilities and intelligence. And unfortunately you don't learn everything you need to know in kindergarten. Thankfully, stocking up on all the knowledge that wasn't covered in school is a lot easier with podcasts. Want to stay current on the latest advances in science? SciFri. World affairs? Anderson Cooper 360. General knowledge? Stuff You Should Know. Whether you drive to work, take public transit, or walk, use this time to tune in to some mind-expanding media.

4. Floss during TV commercials.

The benefits of flossing are clear: you'll guard against gum disease, keep your breath fresh, and never have to listen to another uncomfortably judgmental lecture from your dentist again. If you can't be bothered to add this extra step to your morning and evening regimens, flossing is something you can do to kill time during TV commercials.

5. Always take the stairs.

You'll burn 90 calories if you take six flights three times a day.
If your office or apartment is a few floors up, committing to taking the stairs will add some exercise to your daily routine without taking up any major real estate in your crammed schedule. Little habits like this will lay the foundation for major change, and rescue you from awkward elevator banter.