To the Preacher … life’s a sermon
To the Teacher … life’s a lesson
To you my friend … what is life?
That is not a rhetorical question … you chose (or should have) to be who you are. No mandate from “on high” … no other should have power over your choice. You alone are responsible.
I do believe from years of close observation that everyone is blessed with unique authentic talents. Let’s agree to name them “gifts” and further to agree everyone has them. Those who search and explore themselves from within discover what “gifts” they have and IF they align their lives with them invariably achieve success … not simply success in the World’s eyes … but deeply satisfying success – many call such success Joy!
You have a life … you have a talent/gift – please don’t waste it. No one tells you how to live – You Do! A good friend of mine, Jim Olsen, from Salt Lake City, UT was introduced to me by someone who described him as someone who’s “give a darn … didn’t give a DARN!” Upon meeting with Jim he even described himself that way … followed by an emphatic – “I used to!” (and he wanted it back)
C..S. Lewis wrote – “if you want to be warm – get by a fire; if you want to be wet – get by water; if you want Joy – get by those who have Joy.” So it is, I say it this way, if you’re not pleased with where you are in life get where you want to be, around those who support you, and allow their Joy to suffuse into your soul. This will require change on your part. This will require hard work; it will involve being honest with yourself; honest with those (everyone) around you; focused on the “gift” you possess.
Perhaps you remember the line in the movie “Apollo 13” when the mission director informed all of his team members, “Failure is not an option.” In that circumstance the message was intended for “the team” but it transcends to include each and every one of us – you cannot fail until you decide to quit!
Many of us are familiar with the cliché that there are (3) types of people in the World … those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who have no idea – my challenge to you today is to discover who you are, what your gift is, and then focus your life on sharing that gift with those around you in all you do … become the person who knows what his or her life is about and live it!
Live large … don’t waste your gift … there is only one you in this World and I know with every fiber of my being the World needs your gift!
