Humor 3/29/99: Lips & The Art Collector

Hi everyone,

I hope you had a great weekend. I had an awesome weekend. Since we
finished our exams for the quarter, I'm currently on spring break. On
Satuday, I went to see "Life Is Beautiful" with some classmates.
Excellent movie. You gotta see this if you haven't already. Then we
made dumplings for dinner at my place. Yum. Today I hosted a potluck
for my Boston friends (Steve Lee, Frank & Christine Chau) and friends
from church. It was a good time of catching up. We also saw Charles &
Genevieve's wedding video, which was really touching.

If you're in the LA area, and want to go see the special Van Gogh
exhibit at the LA County Museum of Art, sometime during the week (like
Thursday or Friday), let me know. I'm thinking of going to see this
exhibit, which is located only a few blocks from where I live.

This coming Sunday is Easter. Easter and Christmas are the two of the
most important events for Christians. If you don't know who Jesus
Christ is, or do not yet have a personal relationship with Him, I
strongly encourage you to visit a church this coming Sunday. Many
churches I know have a special service this coming Sunday geared to
people who want to learn more about Jesus, why he came to Earth as a
human and died for our sins on the cross. If you ever wanted to visit a
church service, this coming Sunday is the best week to visit. Let me
know if you're interested in visiting a church in your city, and I'll
try to connect you to a good church to visit.

In line with the Easter theme, the thought provoking question this week
is: "If you could make a gift of one thing to any single person alive
today, who would it be, what would you give them, and how would you
present it to them?"

This week's humor was forwarded by Elaine Wong. The touching story
after that is also related to Easter, and it was forwarded by John
Chao. This story actually ties in the thought provoking question, Van
Gogh's paintings and Easter. Enjoy!

-Josh.
____________________________________

Lips

According to a radio report, a middle school in Oregon was faced with a
unique problem. A number of girls were beginning to use lipstick and
would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on
their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror, leaving dozens
of little lip prints.

Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called
all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the custodian.
She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for
the custodian, who had to clean the mirrors every day. To demonstrate
how difficult it was to clean the mirrors, she asked the custodian to
clean one of the mirrors. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped
it into the toilet and then cleaned the mirror.

Since then there have been no lip prints on the mirror.
______________________________________

The Art Collector

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son,
shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the
world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection.
Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the
walls of the family estate. The widowed elder man looked on with
satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The
son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with
pride as they dealt with art collectors round the world.

As winter approached, war engulfed the nation and the young man left to
serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a
telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector
anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again.
Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while
rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays
with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season - a season that he and
his son had so looked forward to - would visit his house no longer.

On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old
man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls
only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the
door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He
introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I
was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few
moments? I have something to show you."

As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man's son had told
everyone of his - not to mention his father's - love of fine art. "I'm
an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this." As the old
man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of
the man's son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a
genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail.

Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang
the picture above the fireplace.

A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about
his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace,
pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in
his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.

During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even
though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on
because of those he had touched.

He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers
before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the stories of his son's
gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began
to ease the grief.

The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far
eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world
clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever
received.

The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art
world was in anticipation. With the collector's passing, and his only
son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the
will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on
Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest gift. The day soon
arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some
of the world's most spectacular paintings.

Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many
would claim "I have the greatest collection." The auction began with a
painting that was not on any museum's list. It was the painting of the
man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent.

"Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked.

Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, "Who cares
about that painting? It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget it and
go on to the good stuff." More voices echoed in agreement.

"No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now, who
will take the son?"

Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. "Will you take ten dollars for
the painting? That's all I have. I knew the boy, so I'd like to have
it."

"I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer.
After more silence, the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice.
Gone." The gavel fell.

Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it
and we can bid on these treasures!"

The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was
over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked,
"What do you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a picture of some
old guy's son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions
of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what's going on here!"


The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the
father, whoever takes the son...gets it all."

Puts things into perspective, doesn't it? Just as those art collectors
discovered on that Christmas day, the message is still the same - the
love of a Father - a Father whose greatest joy came from his son who
went away and gave his life rescuing others. And because of that
Father's love...whoever takes the Son, gets it all.
--
_____________________________________

Joshua Li
431 S. Burnside Ave. #12 B
Los Angeles CA 90036
(323)936-8476
Permanent Email: joshli@post.harvard.edu
http://personal.anderson.ucla.edu/joshua.li/