Try Something New!

With the ushering in of the New Year and the recent Inauguration of
President Obama, we see how most of us get very excited with the
opportunity of experiencing something new. A start-over, or new look
with different eyes. If you, like me, are tired of dealing with the
same old thing over and over, maybe it is time for us to try something
new.

We all have little frustrations and difficulties that tend to just ruin
our day when they really shouldn’t have that kind of power. Why do we
allow the anger, hurt or other nonproductive responses to control so
much of our lives? I know I can get wrapped around the axle whenever I
feel something is unfairly done to another person or to me. As often
happens, I came across a story years ago that has helped me in this
area and I wanted to share it with you to address this issue.

Year after year, an old farmer planted and plowed around a large
rock in his field. His experience with rocks over time had taught him
it would be a most difficult obstacle to remove. Even after breaking
several plowshares and a cultivator against the stone, he continued to
work around it. He grew rather accustomed to this enemy in the field.
And, then, one day he lost another plowshare to the rock. Remembering
all the problems it had caused him through the years, he finally
decided to take action. Putting a crowbar under the stone, he
discovered to his surprise that the