IF YOU WERE PETER CARTWRIGHT……?
The story is told about Peter Cartwright, a 19th century Methodist preacher. One Sunday morning as he was about to mount the pulpit, he was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation. He was warned not to say anything out of line, anything that might be controversial to the president.
Cartwright stood to preach and immediately announced, " I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. I have been told to guard my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn”t repent". The congregation was shocked. They sat in stunned silence, wondering how the president would respond. Jackson didn’t flinch.After the service, president Jackson sought Peter Cartwright to shake his hand. He said, " sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world" I wondered how many people would have the boldness to be honest these days.
People feel the best way to get out of trouble is to lie, not knowing that they are shortchanging themselves. I remember the story of four teenagers who felt they were smarter than their teacher.One sunny day, high school boys couldn"t resist the temptation to skip classes. The next morning they explained to their teacher that they had missed her class because their car had a flat tyre. To their relief, she smiled and said, "well, you missed the quiz yesterday, so take your seats and get out a pencil and paper.”she waited as they sat down and got ready for the quiz. Then she said ," first question: which tyre was flat?"
Some of us do all kinds of things to impress people. To massage people’s ego, they end up disgracing themselves. A young attorney, just out of law school and beginning his first day on the job, sat down in the comfort of his brand new office with a great sigh of satisfaction. He had worked long and hard to savour such a moment.
Then, noticing a prospective lient coming towards his door, he began to look very energetic. Opening his legal pad and uncapping his pen, he picked up the telephone, and crading it under his chin, he began to write furiously as he said, look, Abdul, about that amalgamation deal. I think I better run down to the factory and handle it personally. Yes… No… i don’t think 3 million will swing it. We better have frank from canada meet us there. okey. call you back later.
Hanging up the phone, he put down his pen, looked up at his visitor, stood, extended his hand, and said in his most polite but confident lawyer voice,"good morning. And how may I help you? The prospective client replied, "Actually, I’m just here to hook up your phone. " funny, but imagine the danger on his personality.His act brings to mind the saying of Abraham Lincoln, "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time" Goodluck.
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