Arthur Ashe: Triumph, Tribulations, and the Unyielding Spirit of Resilience

In the realm of legends, Arthur Ashe’s life was a testament to resilience and fortitude. His legacy stretched far beyond the courts of Wimbledon, transcending into a narrative of strength amid adversity.

As AIDS silently ravaged his body, letters poured in from across the globe, seeking solace in the contemplation of why such a fate befell a sporting icon. Among them, one inquiry stood out: “Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease?”

With the wisdom forged through a lifetime of challenges, Arthur Ashe responded with unwavering grace. He painted a poignant picture of the journey: millions ignited with the passion for tennis, but only a handful traversed the arduous path to its pinnacle—Wimbledon. Not once in triumph did he question divine selection, and in agony, he refused to demand explanations.

“The world over—5 crore (50 million) children start playing tennis, 50 lahks (5 million) learn to play tennis, 5 lahks (5,00,000) learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to the semifinal, 2 to the finals,” Ashe conveyed. “When holding a cup, I never asked GOD ‘Why me?’. And today in pain, I should not be asking GOD ‘Why me?'”

His words echoed the essence of endurance: Happiness sweetens life, trials fortify the spirit, sorrow connects us in our humanity, failure instills humility, and success illuminates our existence. Yet, it’s the divine presence that sustains the journey forward.

Arthur Ashe’s reply encapsulated the arduous journey to Wimbledon: the millions drawn to tennis, the select few who ascend to its zenith, and the rarity of grasping the coveted cup. He juxtaposed these milestones with a poignant realization: in moments of victory, he never questioned the divine, and in pain, he refused to demand answers. This narrative of perseverance amid triumph and adversity became the cornerstone of his wisdom—a testament to embracing life’s challenges without seeking justification.

Paraphrased the story heard from a friend

Read Full Post »

The Bamboo of Betrayal

Once upon a time in a small Indian village, there were two inseparable friends, Anoop and Sidda. They were not rich, but they had a bond that was worth more than any treasure. Each day, they ventured into the lush forest to cut bamboo, crafting beautiful baskets and other goods to sell in the nearby town. The earnings they made barely covered the rice and dal they needed to feed their families, but they were content and happy in their simple lives.

One fine morning, while they were deep in the forest, Sidda’s axe hit something unexpected – a pot brimming with shimmering gold coins. The sight left them awestruck, and their dreams ran wild.

Sidda: (excited) Anoop, look at this! We’re going to be rich!

Anoop: (grinning) Oh, Sidda, our lives are about to change!

Realizing that it wouldn’t be wise to carry the gold openly through the village, they decided to return at night.

Sidda: (whispering) We’ll come back under the cover of darkness. No one will know.

Anoop: (nodding) You’re right, my friend. Let’s keep this a secret for now.

To avoid suspicion, Anoop decided to sneak back into the village and buy some food. He promised to return soon, leaving Sidda alone with the pot of gold.

Sidda, however, let greed corrupt his heart. He pondered how much better his life would be without Anoop. As Anoop ventured into the village, Sidda picked up his axe and, in a heartless act, he ended his friend’s life.

Sidda: (with a sinister look) Anoop, my friend, I’m sorry, but I can’t share this with you.

As the night fell and the village lay still, Anoop never returned. Instead, he met a cruel fate at the hands of his once-dear friend.

Sidda: (grinning, talking to himself) Now, all the gold is mine!

But what Sidda didn’t know was that Anoop had been wise. He had prepared for the possibility of betrayal. In his last moments, Anoop had mixed poison in the food he brought back for Sidda.

Sidda devoured the food hungrily, believing himself victorious, but little did he know that the poison had already sealed his fate.

Sidda: (suddenly clutching his chest) What’s happening to me? I can’t breathe!

As the poison coursed through Sidda’s veins, he realized the gravity of his actions. His greed and betrayal had cost him not only his dear friend but also the wealth he had killed for. In the end, both friends perished, their dreams of riches unfulfilled.

The moral of this tale is clear: greed and betrayal lead to a bitter end. True wealth isn’t in gold or material possessions but in the bonds of friendship, love, and trust. It’s a reminder that the pursuit of wealth at the expense of one’s integrity and relationships can lead to a lonely, tragic demise. This story serves as a timeless lesson that real treasure lies not in what we possess but in the goodness of our hearts and the loyalty we show to those we hold dear.

Story rewritten by William Paul. Inspired by the movie Kasargold

Read Full Post »

DUCKS QUACK, EAGLES SOAR

I was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing I noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for me.

He handed me a laminated card and said: ‘I’m Wasu, your driver. While I’m loading your bags in the trunk I’d like you to read my mission statement.’

Taken aback, I read the card. It said: Wasu’s Mission Statement:
To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew me away. Especially when I noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wasu said, ‘Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.’

I said jokingly, ‘No, I’d prefer a soft drink.’

Read Full Post »

Can We Bring Positive Change In Our World?

Bai Fang Li: A Rickshaw Operator Who Gave Much To Orphans

His name is BAI FANG LI. He is a rickshaw operator most of his life, providing services to people who need to go from one place to another for a small fee.

His body is small, even too small compared to the other rickshaw operators. However, he is very energetic and enthusiastic. He starts his routine at 6 am in fellowship with his God. He then cruises the streets of the city on his rickshaw, either to get a customer or to bring the customers to their destination. He ends his day after the hard work, no sooner than 8 pm.

All his customers like Bai Fang Li because he is friendly, and his smile never leaves his face. He never determine the fee that his customers must pay, but he relies on the customers’ generosity to pay for his services. Because of his good heart, more people prefer to use his services more than others. Perhaps because of their compassion to him, many are willing to pay more than the going rate that most rickshaw operators charge. Maybe this is because they see how hard he, with his small body sweating, has to push till his breathing is heavy.

Read Full Post »

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PLANT

A successful businessman was growing old and now it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

“It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO,” he said. “I have decided to choose one of you.”

The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a seed today – a very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”

Read Full Post »

The Story of the Butterfly

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole. Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon.
The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch it, expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge and expand enough to support the body, Neither happened!

Read Full Post »

I’M FINE, THANK YOU

There is nothing the matter with me.
I’m as healthy as I can be.

I have arthritis in both my knees
And when I talk, I talk with a wheeze.

My pulse is weak, and my blood is thin
But I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in.

Arch supports I have for my feet
Or I wouldn’t be able to be on the street.

Sleep is denied me night after night,
But every morning I find I’m all right.

Read Full Post »

The Brick

A young and successful executive was travelling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag’s side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting,

“What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That’s a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?”

Read Full Post »

Marriage

“When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!

Read Full Post »

The Pearls

The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. “Oh please, Mommy, can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?”

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face. “A dollar ninety-five. That’s almost $2.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma.”

Read Full Post »