DeWitt Wallace

I: Inspiring Successful Story
Reader’s Digest – Popular magazine by DeWitt Wallace

When DeWitt Wallace was recovering from shrapnel wounds in the army hospital at Aix-les-Bains in 1918, he read every magazine he could lay his hands on. Most of the articles were too long. He started editing them into a shorter form.

After getting discharged from the hospital he selected a group of these condensed articles and called the collection; The Reader’s Digest, and sent samples to publishers throughout the country.

The experts were unimpressed. While many predicted that it would have a fast death and some said that it would not even cross a minimum circulation. Everyone he trusted turned down his offer. He was desperately looking for a friendly gesture from someone.

When Wallace was in Minneapolis, he found an ally, Lila Bell Acheson who had already fallen in love with Wallace. She became a source of great support to Wallace. They got married. Now both could dream together and achieve everything together.
Today, Reader’s Digest is printed in 21 languages, sells 18 million copies a month, and is distributed in 70 countries with 50 editions. In Asia alone there are six editions and five languages with 1.6 million copies sold everyday month. The company grosses an estimated $500 million a year.

This is the story of people who have understood their self worth and shared the same dream together. This is also the story of people entering into friendship having a good self image.

So the lesson is obvious:
You cannot expect someone to fill your vacuum. You cannot depend on others for your sense of self-worth. It must come from within you.



II: Event of the Week:
Release of Scaffoldings

Scaffolding is a Training Programme for Building Christian Life Skills among Youth People of Africa.
The title Scaffoldings alludes to the concept that at the beginning of learning, learners need a great deal of support; gradually, this support is taken away to allow the young people to try their independence.

The facilitator’s Manual and Student’s work book was officially released on 31st January, 09 by Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco (AFE).

The manual is on sell by Paulines Publications Africa.
For more information: Don Bosco Youth Ministry – Eastern Africa.

Author: Sahaya G. Selvam
A Salesian of Don Bosco, has been a missionary in Eastern Africa since 1992. Currently he is pursuing his Ph. D in Psychology of Religion in the University of London.

Contributors:
Prosper Dionis & Eddie Kabue

III: Figure to Ponder
Francis of Assisi: A young person who undertook radical choices to respond to a call of Love without compromise. From his generous response to this call, a big family in the Church started and a universal message of peace and love spread in the world.

“We all suffer leprosy deep within our souls. Even though we try to hide it with our fine clothes.”

IV: Prayer Corner
When Tempted by TV commercials

Lord, I watch television
and desire to be like those
“beautiful people”
That glitter and sparkle
The people that so easily
find meaning in life
By drinking the correct soft drink
or that fine love
Through the proper pastries.

You, my Lord, have blessed my life
with family and friendships
That give meaning and love to my existence.
Teach me to recognize true values.

Lord, grant me your truth and wisdom.
Keep me aware of the fantasy
in the square-boxed view of the world.
Help me to overcome the temptation to let food,
so tantalizing disguised as a treat or as an answer.
To my problems,
be in control of my actions and habits
Help me also, Lord,
not to go to the other extreme
and to make beauty, attractiveness,
and thinness into gods to be worshipped.
Teach me the blessing of reality and
of a balanced outlook, Lord. Amen.


V: 3- Pills

If you want to experience God’s power in your life, you first must understand that God can and then begin to act like He can.

When it comes to major changes its better to be too slow than too fast because it’s easier to play catch up than clean up.

When the devil reminds you of your problems, you remind him of his defeat.