Monday, July 21, 2008



"The only way in which one human being can properly attempt to influence another is the encouraging him to think for himself, instead of endeavoring to instil ready-made opinions into his head." Sir Leslie Stephen

Photo Marian Cano

4 comments:

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hello Fred!

This reminds me of another saying which is not exactly relevant to your post.

DONT GIVE FISH TO A MAN TO EAT BUT TEACH HIM HOW TO FISH.

Have a good day!

Mel said...

This post and several of your other recent posts have confirmed and enhanced my understanding of something God has been teaching me lately. It's so great when God reveals His intimate, personal involvement in our lives by speaking directly through a circumstance we're walking through. But when He teaches us in those very personal ways, it's so tempting to believe that whatever He has taught us is exactly the same thing He wants to teach everyone else around us. When that happens to me, I tend to get exuberantly preachy until my friends and family are ready to gag. It's so HARD to find the balance between authentically sharing what we're excited about, without overpowering relationships or honoring the places that the people around us find themselves in at that moment. Thank you as always for providing valuable "food for thought." Bless you. :)

Mel said...

I want to clarify one of the sentences in my comment. What I meant to say was that God is teaching me to be careful to honor the people around me and to recognize and value whatever season of life they're walking through at that moment. I pray that God will reveal Himself intimately and powerfully to every individual heart.

FCB said...

Hi Joseph,
Yes, that line of thought does parallel the quote doesn't it.
Although, I must say, I learned to fish successfully without near the difficulty I've had in learning to think successfully :)

Mel, you are so right, in fact, my blog is just that; I read something that inspires or motivates me and I think everyong will like it the same. I've learned that is hardly so. Like you said, there are seasons of life. It's like going to a movie with someone who is in an ill natured mood. They see the same movie that I see, and I loved it and eveything about it; as I turn to them in anticipation of bright enthusiastic praise, I find they didn't like it, and the seats were lumpy, the popcorn too salty.
Oh well, maybe next time.