xinggeyumingyun

God only controls half of it.

xinggeyumingyun@newsletter.paragraph.com (xinggeyumingyun) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:18:17 GMT

No two people in the world have the same destiny. Don't bow down to the whims of fate; instead, seize control of it and bravely create your own life. When you're old and look back, you'll realize that half of your destiny is in your hands, and the other half is in God's. Your entire life lies in using what you have to exchange for what God holds. The longer you strive, the more you control. When you're utterly desperate, don't forget that you possess half of your destiny; when you're overjoyed, don't forget that God still holds the other half. This is the essence of destiny, the destiny of a lifetime. Our struggles will not be in vain. God is the fairest; the more you give, the more God will loosen his grip on your destiny, allowing you to achieve the greatest possible happiness.

President who has been re-elected three times

xinggeyumingyun@newsletter.paragraph.com (xinggeyumingyun) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:17:11 GMT

In American history, there was a president who was elected three times: Franklin D. Roosevelt. Who would have thought that such a great figure was a person with disabilities in his childhood? As a child, Roosevelt was timid and fragile. In school, he was afraid of being called on by his teachers because he had protruding teeth and his speech was unclear. His gait was also strange, and his limbs were stiff, often drawing ridicule from others. Roosevelt was aware of his shortcomings, but he didn't shy away from them, nor did he become pessimistic or depressed. He used the ridicule of others as motivation, striving to overcome his shortcomings. What he couldn't overcome, he turned into his strengths. His speeches lacked a booming voice and elegant posture, yet for some reason, everyone felt he was the most powerful orator. If a person with a physical disability could be elected President of the United States three times, then why don't we, who are physically able, make good use of our own conditions and sing our own song of life? Compared to those who are physically challenged yet determined, shouldn't we feel ashamed of ourselves?

Shi Nai'an Watching Tiger

xinggeyumingyun@newsletter.paragraph.com (xinggeyumingyun) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:16:02 GMT

When Shi Nai'an was writing Water Margin, he got stuck on the part about Wu Song fighting the tiger. He wrote it several times, but felt he hadn't captured the tiger's power enough, nor could he adequately portray Wu Song as a tiger-slaying hero. After several days of worrying, Shi Nai'an went for a walk in a nearby forest. He overheard woodcutters saying that tigers roamed the deep mountains ahead, and he secretly prepared to go and search for them. The next day, Shi Nai'an went alone to the tiger-infested forest. Several hunters tried to dissuade him, but he didn't back down. He entered the forest and saw ancient trees reaching for the sky, blocking out the sun. He climbed a large tree, sat on a high branch, and waited for the tiger to appear. Coincidentally, a tiger's roar came from not far away. Suddenly, a deer darted past below the tree. Then, a striped tiger gave chase. Shi Nai'an, disregarding his fear, focused intently on observing the tiger until it disappeared from sight before climbing down from the tree. He quickly ran home and wrote down his exciting tiger-watching experience in the story of Wu Song fighting the tiger, which led to the thrilling scene of Wu Song fighting the tiger. Therefore, nothing is easy to achieve.

Born in hardship, die in comfort

xinggeyumingyun@newsletter.paragraph.com (xinggeyumingyun) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:15:07 GMT

Mencius said, "One is born in hardship and dies in comfort." He admonished the rulers of various states that even in times of peace and prosperity, they must strive for good governance, otherwise they risk ruin by indulging in comfort. This famous saying still holds guiding significance for us today. We often become complacent about our strengths and stop working hard; yet we are concerned about our weaknesses and constantly strive to improve ourselves. Over time, quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes, and our strengths may become weaknesses, and our weaknesses may become strengths. Therefore, although we live in a peaceful era, we should still remember the principle of "Born in hardship and dies in comfort." We should always maintain a sense of crisis and a high fighting spirit, creating opportunities for challenges and personal growth. Only then can we seize opportunities when they arise.

Spider and King

xinggeyumingyun@newsletter.paragraph.com (xinggeyumingyun) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:14:03 GMT

Centuries ago, England and Scotland were not united; both sought to annex the other. One year, the English launched a war and quickly occupied most of Scotland. King Bruce of Scotland led his army in a fierce resistance, but after five defeats, they were utterly routed by the English. During his escape, Bruce sought refuge in a small hut. Bored and frustrated, the king saw a spider weaving a web on the roof beam. Soon, the web was complete. Feeling defeated and homeless, even less than a spider, the king ripped the web off. The spider, however, was not alarmed. It used its legs and arms to weave a new web. The king thought, "If the spider can persevere in defeat, can't I rise again?" So, he regrouped his army, made thorough preparations, and seized a good opportunity. The Scots won a brilliant victory, driving the English back to their homeland. Our lives are not always smooth sailing, just as the ocean has its tides. Therefore, we must be brave enough to admit defeat and not succumb to it.