You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy
night. You pass by a bus stop, and you
see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect man (or) woman you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing
that there couldonly be one passenger in your car. Think before
you continue reading.

This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once
actually used as part of a job application.

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going
to die, and thus you should save her first; or you could take the old
friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect
chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your
perfect dream lover again.

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants)
had no trouble coming up with his answer.

WHAT DID HE SAY?

He simply answered: "I would give the car keys to my
old friend, and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay
behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams."

Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.
The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule
braying (or whatever mules do when they fall into wells).

After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with
the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth
the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and
told them what had happened. . . and enlisted them to help haul dirt
to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical!

But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his
back. . . a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time
a shovel load of dirt landed on his back. . . HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND
STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow.

"Shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up. . .

 shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No
matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the
old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND
STEPPING UP!

It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What
seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him. . .  all because of
the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively,
and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity. . .these adversities that come along to bury us usually  have within them to potential to teach us and make us stronger.

FORGIVENESS, FAITH, PRAYER, MEDITATION, PRAISE  and HOPE... all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find
ourselves!