Noah’s Ark: What one needs to learn from Noah’s Ark.

ONE: Don’t miss the boat.

“Opportunities are like sunrises, if you wait too long you may miss them.”

–William Arthur

Opportunity doesn’t come that often. Therefore, whenever it comes, grab it.

“Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work so most people don’t recognize them.”

– Ann Landers

TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat!

Making a hole in one corner of the boat, thinking that it will not affect us because we are at a distant another corner of the boat, is foolish. Similarly, we are all on the same planet earth. Destroying ecology or environment in one corner of the earth is bound to affect us irrespective of whichever corner of the earth we may be or however far we may be from such a spot.

Ecology and environment on planet earth is our collective responsibility.

THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.

Have plans for your short-term, mid-term, long-term and ultimate goals. Plan your work to achieve these goals and, more importantly, workout your plans. When we have no foresight and provision for the future situations or have not adequately prepared for the future, we may end up in emergency situations or get shockers in life.

“Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.”

– John Wooden

“Spending today complaining about yesterday won’t make tomorrow any better.”

– Daniel Nelson

“One’s future depends entirely on what one does every day.”

– Gloria Steinem

FOUR: Stay fit. When you’re 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Whether we are called to do something big at an older age or not, it is always advantageous to be physically and mentally fit.

FIVE: Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

The job of critics is to discourage and demoralize. Be deaf to their criticisms and get on with your work. Almost all the great people, leaders, masters, saints and revolutionaries where criticized during their own life time, but that didn’t deter them from doing what they planned to do and eventually became well-known for their pioneering work. All around the world statues and idols are erected to honour them, not any critic.

Don’t let negative and toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out.

Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that, you, too can become great.”

– Mark Twain

“Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds.”

– Albert Einstein

SIX: Build your future on high ground, on sound foundation of high moral values, ethics and fundamentals.

SEVEN: For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.

When we have to walk quickly, we have to walk alone, but when we have to walk far, it is better to walk in a group. It is always advantageous to walk with some company when we have to walk to a distant and unknown place.

EIGHT: Speed isn’t always an advantage or slowness a disadvantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

In an emergency situation, when we have to act fast, speed is always an advantage. But to make a work of art, a master piece, takes a lot of time and effort, in which case speed would be a disadvantage.

NINE: When you’re stressed, float awhile.

Taking a break from the stress and strain of our daily work for rest, relaxation and recreation is very important, not only for our physical and mental health, but also for the quality of work we churn out.

TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

You know you are on the road to success, if you would do your job and not be paid for it, because then it would be an expression of your love and joy and not mere labor, so it is bound to turn out perfect.

“With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are possible.”

– Thomas Fowell Buxton

“No goal is too hard to attain when you persevere.”

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

Have full faith in Him and surrender unto Him. With Him around us, however difficult a situation may be we are bound to come out of it unscathed.

“Faith is the reservoir, from which we draw power.”

– Charles A Anspach

“Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable and receives the impossible.”

– Corrie Ten Boom