The following story is shared by Meir Liraz in his book titled The 100 Top Inspirational Anecdotes and Stories:
Years ago there was a group of
brilliant young men at the University of Wisconsin, who seemed to have amazing
creative literary talent. They were would-be poets, novelists, and essayists.
They were extraordinary in their ability to put the English language to its
best use. These promising young men met regularly to read and critique each
other's work. And critique it they did!
These men were merciless with one
another. They dissected the most minute literary expression into a hundred
pieces. They were heartless, tough, even mean in their criticism. The sessions
became such arenas of literary criticism that the members of this exclusive
club called themselves the "Stranglers."
Not to be outdone, the women of
literary talent in the university were determined to start a club of their own,
one comparable to the Stranglers. They called themselves the
"Wranglers." They, too, read their works to one another. But there
was one great difference. The criticism was much softer, more positive, more
encouraging. Sometimes, there was almost no criticism at all. Every effort,
even the most feeble one, was encouraged.
Twenty years later an alumnus of the
university was doing an exhaustive study of his classmates' careers when he
noticed a vast difference in the literary accomplishments of the Stranglers as
opposed to the Wranglers. Of all the bright young men in the Stranglers, not
one had made a significant literary accomplishment of any kind. From the
Wranglers had come six or more successful writers, some of national renown such
as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who wrote The
Yearling.
Talent between the two? Probably the
same. Level of education? Not much difference. But the Stranglers strangled,
while the Wranglers were determined to give each other a lift. The Stranglers promoted
an atmosphere of contention and self-doubt. The Wranglers highlighted the best,
not the worst.
A truly inspiring story from Meir
Liraz! So apt for our world which is now suffering from the proliferation of
“Stranglers” donning different names—crocodiles, pigs, crabs, crooks, leeches
and the like.
These new Stranglers are even
working at a meaner level. They are not contented with just bringing people
down. They destroy people: they suck their blood; they slice their flesh; they
chop their bones; they gobble up all their remaining wealth and being; and they
drag them to hell.
But in his work, Pickwick Papers, Charles Dickens
stressed that: “There are dark shadows
on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.” So, as long as we
believe in goodness, we are not without hope. The storm of evil may try to sink
us in the sea of life, but Jesus—our “Wrangler”—will always be there to stretch
His hands for our salvation.
Lastly, amidst the darkness, let us
hold on to the teaching of Romans 12:21—“Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good.”
***
BARD NOTES: Special thanks to INWD General Manager John Teodoro, INWD Board of
Directors and all employees of Ilocos Norte Water District.
Happy bard-reading to
Congresswoman Imelda R. Marcos, Mayor Chevylle V. Farinas, Vice Mayor Michael
V. Farinas, Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta, Board Member James Paul “Goro”
Nalupta, Mr. Efren Bartolome, Ms. Pia Salapongol, Dr. Chester Puño, Dr. Sme
Juancho Estrella and Atty. Yvette Convento- Leynes.
Happy reading also to
Provincial Treasurer Josephine Calajate, INEC Director Virgilio Calajate, Ms.
Cecil Nalupta and the employees of Philippine National Bank – Laoag Branch, AMA
– Laoag Campus, DepEd – Laoag, Video
City – Laoag, Runner’s High Specialty Shop, Land Bank of the Philippines and
Ilocos Norte PNP.
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