Tagged: dreams

TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

Sticks

(Photo and story by Shortstoriesshort.com)

When I started this blog, I had high hopes. But I must admit, there were many doubts too. Over the years I have seen this blog grow beyond my wildest dreams. And I have each and every visitor that comes to Cop-A-Squat or shares this blog with others, to thank for its huge success. I am mostly grateful to our Heavenly Father: without Him, none of our good fortune would have happened.

What can one man do? Quite a bit, if you look at the lives of some of the greatest men that ever lived. What can an army of men do with a solid purpose? Together they can move the world. Just like a bundle of sticks, there is more strength together than one stick alone.

As we enter a new year, what are your plans to change the world? What can you do to make a positive impact on others? We, at Cop-A-Squat, publish posts and books that we hope will entertain and inspire people to enjoy healthy reading, that hopefully will make reading more enjoyable and impact their lives in positive ways.

With every purchase of our books you are helping us change the world, one reader at a time. We can bring encouraging stories to the world, but we cannot do this alone. We need each and every one of you, because there is strength in unity – we ask you to join us on our journey.

I want to share an inspiring short story and a short video with you on the power of working together. See how the power of many makes all the difference.

Please enjoy the ‘Unity is Strength’ short story and its accompanying video. See you all in the coming months. We wish you all a Happy New Year.

The Cop-A-Squat Family

 

 UNITY IS STRENGTH

Once, an old man was very ill and lay dying in his bed. He had four sons who were always fighting with each other. He always worried about them and wanted to teach them a lesson and asked his sons to come to him. When they came, the old man gave them a bundle of sticks and said, “Can you break these sticks?”

The first son tried to break the bundle but nothing happened. He tried very hard and finally gave up. Then it was the turn of the second son to try his luck. He thought it would be an easy task and picked up the sticks easily. He tried his best to break the sticks but nothing happened. Then, the third son tried to break the bundle of sticks, but he couldn’t do anything either.

Meanwhile, the youngest son jeered at his brothers and thought they were very incompetent. He thought he was very clever and took one stick at a time and easily broke all of them.

The old father then smiled at his sons and said, “Children, do you understand what happened? It is always easy to break the sticks one by one. But when they are bundled together, none of you could break them. In the same way, you four brothers should always be together. No one will be able to hurt you then.” The four brothers realized what their father was trying to teach them, forgetting all their enmity and learning that unity is strength.

From that day onwards, they never fought with each other and lived together in peace and harmony.

 

YOUR LIFE

Gordon Parks

(Photo credit-Ella’s Voice)

Gordon Parks, the famous Life Magazine photographer, composer, and film maker once said, “I think people can do a whole awful lot more if they just try.”

Powerful words from a powerful man.

When I read his quote, I asked myself, what about your life, Paul? What are doing to really make a difference?  Sure, I’m busy, just like everyone else. But how long was I going let my life go on without fulfilling what I truly wanted to do?

For too long I allowed my goals to be pinned up, pushed back, and put on the back burner. NO MORE!

According to Parks, the reason why people don’t do more is because “they just don’t have the confidence that they can write a novel, or they can write poetry, or they can take pictures, or paint, or whatever, and so they don’t do it.”

Wow! After reading that, I began my lifelong dream to publish my novel, LIFE: AS FRAGILE AS DUST, which I did this year. Bitten hard by the bug of effort, I invented a new board game. This year, I trademarked numerous phrases and started an office supplies and T-shirt business and we produced a short film.

If I hadn’t done this, I would have continued to put my life on hold. And I would have, as Mr. Parks said, been one of the many people who “leave the planet dissatisfied with themselves.”

For our GOOD FRIDAY, start the dream that burns in your heart today. We need your paintings, your novels, your inventions, your poems, your view of the universe.

Your life matters. I believe it and so must you. And as always, keep your head up.

Life: As Fragile As Dust

Image

A very wise man once asked this question: “What is our life? Our life is like the morning mist – it is here a little while, then its gone.”

To what shall I compare our fragile life?

Life is like a speck of dust that alights upon a surface. It remains there, unmoved, until a draft threatens it. When a breeze comes, it holds on till the last. Finally, a gust of wind, and it is blown asunder. That is how fragile life is, like a speck of dust blown to nothingness.

Life: As Fragile As Dust, Book one of a three part series, is twelve short stories of people living on life’s edge and in a pfft, their lives change.

I value life. I understand how delicate it is. That’s why I write stories. To encourage others to take a closer look at the gift of life the Father has given us.

I invite you to get your copy. And remember: cherish those you love while life is still here.

Available on Smashwords and Amazon.

Look closely at the book cover…can you see the five faces?