Ken Forbes one of our regular readers and contributors also does a little broadcasting on the side! Here are a selection of his recent Radio Talks on West Sound Radio.
Pause for Thought I
What's the most precious, the most valuable thing in all the world? Gold? Diamond? Oil? No. The most precious thing in all the world is something we all possess, something common to each one of us. Something we can use, enjoy, nurture, share. And this most precious of things comes free of charge, it's a gift - a gift for us to use as we see fit, for good or bad, for our own purposes or for the benefit of others as well.
Of course this most precious of things is life itself. In the middle of living it, coping with all the everyday problems and stresses, trying to make it as happy and fulfilled as we can for ourselves and our families, working hard to make it as comfortable as we can, we can easily overlook just how precious it is.
Only when we are faced with serious illness or accident, when we feel that our life or the life of someone we love is threatened in some way, do we suddenly appreciate it's value - and sometimes by then it's too late.
Don't let that happen. Appreciate life, savour it, give thanks for it. Pause and think about how precious it is - and your world will change, and become a brighter place to live in.
Pause for Thought II
I wonder if, like me, you ever spend time thinking about all the things you need in your life to make things absolutly perfect; the differences you would make in order to be utterly content and completely happy. I sometimes think these kind of thoughts when I'm driving along on the motorway. You know the kind of thing - if only I could afford a new car, a bigger house, a holiday abroad every year, then I'd be totally satisfied with life and would never need another thing.
But we all know it doesn't work like that. Indeed, relying on the acquisition of things to make us happy is a dangerous thing to do because its almost certain to end in disappointment. And I'm sure we all know people who seem to be supremely content with very little in the way of money or possessions.
To get the best out of life, we don't need to be rich or to have everything we want. All we need is to love and be loved, to give kindness and receive it, to share our time and our concern with those who need it.
Those are the things that bring true contentment and true peace of mind...
Pause for Thought III
Time's a funny thing. When we're very busy, we don't have it, but when we're at a loose end with nothing to do, we've plenty of it. Sometimes, when we're enjoying ourselves on holiday, it just seems to disappear. At other times it gets so heavy on our hands that we have to kill some of it just to get rid of it. Each new day brings us the same amount of time to dispose of as we will - we can use it wisely or foolishly, but mostly we try to make the best use of it we can.
But have you ever thought about giving it away. Time is a great gift to give to someone. It doesn't really cost us anything to give, yet sharing our time with a friend, or with someone who is lonely or worried, is one of the best possible gifts we can give. Sending a card or even a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates is a nice gesture - it says, 'I was thinking about you for the time it took to put my hand in my pocket and buy you this gift.' But spending time with a person, giving up time with which you could have been doing something else - that says much more. That says, 'I think enough of you to give up an hour of my time to be with you.' Giving your time is like giving part of yourself - and that's a real gift.
Pause for Thought IV
Most of us have some friends. Some of us have just a few good friends, while others seem to know everybody. It's good to share our time with people we like and who like us, who enjoy going to the same places and doing the same things as we do. But it's not the number of friends that counts, but the quality of our friendships.
A friend is someone who will help and advise us when we're having difficulties - without wanting to know how we got into trouble in the first place. A friend is someone who will give, without expecting anything in return. A friend is always willing to spend time with us. A friend is always ready to listen without judging. A friend is someone we can relax with, who puts no pressure on us. A friend will offer assistance without having to be asked. A friend is someone we know we can turn to at any time. A friend is someone we can confide in.
No matter how rich or how poor you may be, your friends are among the most valuable of your possessions. It's worth taking great care to make sure you don't ever lose any.
Pause for Thought V
All this week, we've been thinking about the precious gift of life, and about ways in which we can improve the lives of ourselves and others through the giving and receiving of our friendship, the sharing of our time together, and our care and concern for those who need our support.
There is no simple, easy formula to take away the stresses and strains of human life and to make every day a day full of happiness and joy. Of course there will be times when we are worried, anxious, upset, and hurt; times when we feel that things are not going right for us; times when we might be tempted to give up making the best of it.
There is an old hymn which says: Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
There are very few people indeed who can look at their lives and truthfully say that there is nothing good about them at all. For most of us, there is the chance to stop and think of all the good things; the family and friends whose love and trust we enjoy. Moments of pure relaxation when we are able to forget troubles of the past and worried for the future;t imes when we are able to value our life as a precious gift.
And you might be surprised how rich you are.