Sunday, September 05, 2004  @9:36 PM
-inspirational story for all-
A well-known  speaker started off his seminar
by holding up a $20.00 bill.
In the room of 200, he  asked,
"Who  would like this $20 bill?"
Hands started going up. 
He said, "I  am going to give this $20 to one of you but first,  let me do this.
He proceeded to  crumple up the $20 dollar bill.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?" 
Still the  hands were up in the air.
Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" 
And he  dropped it on the ground
and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. 
He picked it  up, now crumpled and dirty.
"Now, who still wants it?" 
Still the hands went into the air. 
My friends,  we have all learned a very valuable lesson. 
No matter  what I did to the money, you still wanted it 
because it did not decrease in value.
It was still worth $20. 
Many times  in our lives,
we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt 
by the  decisions we make and
the circumstances that come our way. 
We feel as  though we are worthless.
But no matter what has happened or 
what will  happen, you will never lose your value. 
Dirty or  clean, crumpled or finely creased, 
you are still  priceless to those who DO LOVE you. 
The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we 
know, 
but by WHO WE  ARE.
You are special-  Don't EVER forget  it." 
Count your  blessings, not your problems.
And remember: amateurs built the ark ... 
professionals  built the Titanic. 
If God brings you  to it - He will bring you through it. 
This last line is dedicated to Han. Just keep going, don't stop. I believe life has more to offer you. Miracles do happen. Reality may seem cruel to you now, but I strongly feel that the fire in you to pursue 
him will never cease. If you think it's worth it, follow your heart and go for it. You will never know the outcome. We are all behind you. Jiayou.