Archives at Zinester: "The Old Lamp Lighter". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "The Old Lamp Lighter" - December14, 2005

"I Believe in You!"

A message of Hope, stories from the road.

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Hello, my friend!

This? is the last day for me to mention the S A L E in our store.?

It ends on Thursday Dec. 15th

I want to thank those of you who have found something of value there.?

I can't express how wonderful it feels to know that something we've

created will be given as a gift.? I feel like a part of my soul is there.

Those of you who have chosen to make a donation...

thanks for your confidence in me.? That you would give without getting in return

calls for? me to humbly thank you for your kindness.

Those who have chosen to pray for our success in reaching the world with

messages of hope play a vital role in keeping God in the messages we send and

keeping us on the right path.

How can one man be so fortunate to have so many "friends?"? Friends I've never met!

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Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"It's not the winning, it's the way.?

It's not the getting there but the journey.?

It's not the goal it's the reason."? Bob Perks?

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It's all over on the 15th!

Only one day more.

Make a purchase and save 10 % by putting my name, Bob, in the coupon at checkout.

Send a hug in a mug and T-shirt or...?

Tapes, Books, Greeting Cards, Wall prints, Mugs, T-shirts

http://wishes.easystorecreator.net/

Buying? products helps? keep these messages

F R E E

Can you help with a donation?

http://www.bobperks.com/donations.htm

If you can't, then please say a prayer for us as we enter a new year trying to bring hope to a hurting world.

Thanks to all of you for your consideration!

Bob and Marianne

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Today's Message:

"The Old Lamp Lighter"

This is certainly a time for remembering. As I walk through the local
malls I find myself singing along with all of the old time favorite
carols. Each one creates a vivid picture in my mind of family, friends
and moments frozen in time.

Just as I was preparing this message another image came to me. Not of
holidays but high school. I pictured the entire school assembled in the
auditorium for our weekly gathering. Before the announcements were made
and the featured speaker took the stage our music director took her
place at the organ. The curtain opened to a large screen and as the
lights dimmed slightly the words to a song would appear. We were all
expected to join in this sing along and for the most part we did. One
of my favorite songs was "The Old Lamp Lighter."

"He left the world a little brighter
wherever he would go,
The Old Lamp Lighter of long, long, ago."

For the life of me I can't remember all of the words. But today the
thoughts of that song and it's message mean more to me then ever. I
happened to open a reference book I use, to this quote:

"I could tell where the lamplighter was by the trail he left behind him"
Harry Lauder

As this year begins to fade I find myself reflecting on my
accomplishments. I don't particularly turn to my bank account to find
any measurement of success there. I remember people and their response
to me as a human being. No, not whether I was a big hit as a speaker at
a conference. That is my profession. I mean was I good at being me.

Believe it or not there are times I failed at it. I was not myself.
But in the times when another human being needed compassion was I
compassionate? When a stranger needed a kind word or welcoming smile
did I offer it generously?

Like the Old Lamplighter did I leave the space I occupied a little
brighter? Could you tell where I had been by the trail I left behind me?

I hate to admit it but I know there were days that the trail I left
behind was littered with regret. There were probably places I made a
little brighter simply because I left them.

But all in all, my heart is filled this day with memories of incredible
split second contacts, wondrous life changing conversations, warm spirit
filled encounters and some of the best unexpected hugs from some of the
most unhuggable people.

Take a moment right now to picture the path you took today. Begin from
the moment you woke up until this very minute. Now don't just remember
the people you know by name. You may see them everyday. Re-create the
nameless faces that glanced your way. What did they see in that moment?
What did they take with them without knowing? A smile? A look of
happiness that may have given them hope for their own life?

Or perhaps just when they needed it most the coldness of your stare left
them empty and longing.

Now see tomorrow's pathway ahead. Be the Old Lamplighter and carry with
you the torch of kindness and generosity. There ahead is a stranger,
shoulders slumped and burdened with the weight of Holiday pressures.
Hold on tightly to the torch and brighten her day with a kind word or
simple smile and as you pass by look back at the glow that is left
behind. Then tomorrow at this same time look back once more and lift
your spirit high enough above it all as if soaring in a plane. Can you
honestly see your trail below as a roadway marked with moments of
humanity? See how it curved and twisted at just the right moment so
that your path would cross another. At the intersection two human
beings made contact. One was filled with life the other was in search
of it. This is what I call a "moment of truth". The intersect of two
souls and the reflection of ourselves within that moment.

Join me as a Lamplighter. See the reflection in their eyes and know
that you have touched the entire world by influencing one spirit. I will
watch for you along the way. I pray to God that just when I need it
most you will cross my pathway.

Be the light!

"I believe in YOU!"
Bob

"I believe in You!"

I encourage you to share my stories with your friends but, when copying I ask that you keep my name and contact information attached so that new readers can find their way here. Use of this story for commercial use is prohibited without direct permission from the author.

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May I Suggest...

Visit my photo album:

Read recent messages:

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Your Comments...? If you would like to share brief comment about today's message, please write to Bob@BobPerks.com? I will use only first names and no email addresses.

Dearest Bob and Marianne~

The hair on my arms stood straight up and I gulped my hot tea that I had just been sipping.? As I am trying to come to terms with the moving from our little home to our eldest daughter's home, I have been struggling with the "left behinds".?

But it truly won't be left behind...it will always be in my heart...because you helped me realize that HOME will be with me.?

Those two sentences felt like you had written them especially for me.? Thank you for the beautiful gift.?

My prayers for the Sphera family to rebuild their "home" and to continue to make memories for their guests.

Lots of love, light, and blessings~Mama T

Dear Bob i simply adore your stories, they all make sense to me, but this particular one really hit home, just over a year ago i had to move home into a bungalow due to health probs, my house had become to large for me to cope with, the thing that bothered me most was leaving behind my memories, this really was painful, but had to be done, when i read the following line's from your story

Like a house is not a home, it's just a building.? Home is made of people, love, family, moments

and memories made within the walls of it.? Every time you move you take "home" with you.

It was so true, so often have i said that i brought my memories with me, i didn't leave them behind as i thought i would have to, i brought them here with me, memories live in the heart not in a building , and your story today made real sense, God Bless you love from Kathryn

Bob,

I do not care if it is politically correct this year I am saying Merry Christmas to all my friends too. It is what I believe and I don't think it offends anyone as we are told. I love the story about the place in your heart. I have a few of those too. I am sure most of us do.

May God bless you and your family.

Glenis

Bob,

I am sorry to hear about the loss of a place providing such vivid memories for you & yours.? You're right though it is only the stage that unfurled the events of your past.? Fortunately you will always have those memories regardless of a new facility (hopefully) being erected to allow more families the opportunity to make their own memories.? I count myself among the blessed to receive your messages that remind us to remember the beauty from ashes, sawdust, or even a long winter.? It always causes me to remember the things that were most important in my own memories.?

My wife & I still do photos by way of film.? As with many who do this we often find that we have a ton of film to develop at any given time.? We recently had some done and we found ourselves reliving our memories from previous vacations that we had never made time to have developed.? We sat reliving those memories... remembering how hot & humid it was at Sea World that year... and the water gun cannon they had in a kids park in the middle.? The kids loved that almost as much as watching the amazing water shows.? :)? We had the opportunity to remind ourselves how much they have grown in the last five years... as we looked through the albums as we added the newest photos.? We know that they grow up too fast and I told her we needed to take every opportunity to review these albums as often as possible with our kids too... God Bless

Rick,
San Angelo, TX

Bob,

I? believe that God has entrusted you to reach out to the world with hope, by sharing the "stuff of life" as a professional writer and speaker.? You touched my life again today.? I hope this story also reaches the? Spera family and all those who hold memories from the Shore Plaza,? and that it will give them HOPE,? during this? sad time.? Take care, my friend.

~Julie~?

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"I wish you enough!"
Bob
?
Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist.?
Member National Speakers Association.
Visit http://www.BobPerks.com
?
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"I wish you enough!"
written by Bob Perks (c) 2001
?
"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."