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August 16, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Don't Sit Around Waiting, by Ron Rose
�
Preparation
How are you with riddles?
Try this one:
All the electricity was out in Aberdeen. None of the streetlights
or traffic signals had power. A dark limousine was cruising down
the newly paved blacktop, with its headlights off. A young boy
dressed totally in black (with no reflectors) stepped out to cross
the street. The moon wasn't out and the boy had no flashlight, yet
the driver stopped to let the boy cross the street. How did the
driver see the boy?
Ben Gates, in "National Treasure", found destiny in the riddle. "The
legend writ, the stain affected, the key in Silence undetected. Fifty
five in iron pen, Mr. Matlack can't offend." His life was driven by a
riddle.
Does your life find destiny in a riddle? Are you looking for maps,
clues, or answers? In the movies, Ben Gates, Harry Potter, Frodo, and
Indiana Jones found their destinies, their "reason for living," in a
driving quest.
What are you driven by? Too many of us have trouble here. Are you still
searching to find your driving force? ... your destiny? Have you read
the book, "Purpose Driven life," and still find yourself in search of
purpose? Or, have you grown comfortable waiting around?
Waiting, or wasting time?
Not sure what you want to do?
Then, go make something up.
You have permission to take your abilities and dreams and make life
happen.
Brandon asked:
I'm not sure what God wants me to do with my life, I haven't
figured out the answers yet; in fact, I haven't found the clues
yet. What if I decide to do something with my life that's not God's
will for me ... not what I'm destined to do?
My response:
Then, He'll let you know; but just waiting around or wishing
something would happen, is a waste. God opens doors all around us,
most of them we never see, because we're waiting for something to
happen, somewhere else.
Inspiration
It was the 1940's in America and Branch Rickey was about to do the
impossible. It wouldn't be easy, but he was going to integrate
professional baseball. Branch was the general manager of the Brooklyn
Dodgers; but for this task he would need a partner, an extraordinary
one.
To begin with, Branch realized that introducing a black player into the
Dodger organization would put him at odds with generations of inbred
racial attitudes; and it would for a while meet with intense
opposition.
What are you waiting for, really?
More than being a great player, this first black man in Baseball, would
have to have strength of character, intestinal fortitude and personal
tenacity. He would have to be a man willing to make history, not sit
around waiting for it to happen. Branch picked Jackie Robinson.
In 1945, Branch made the offer to Jackie. "We can't fight our way
through this, Robinson. We've got no army. There's virtually nobody on
our side. No owners, no umpires, very few newspapermen. And I'm afraid
that many fans will be hostile. We'll be in a tough position. We can
win only if we can convince the world that I'm doing this because
you're a great ballplayer and a fine gentleman."
In spite of what was thrown against them, they would both have to
endure without reprisal.
Jackie looked at the general manager and asked, "Mr. Rickey, are you
looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?" "No, I'm looking for
a ballplayer with guts enough not to fight back," Branch replied.
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier during the 1947 season with
restraint and resolve. Early on players yelled at him to go back to the
jungle, hurled racial epithets, and slung hate. And it got worse.
Jackie played with great skill and astonishing restraint. Everyday he
had to fight the war inside, while playing the game he loved. Jackie
Robinson didn't just wait around for clues.
He didn't waste his days dreaming of destiny, a future that might come
his way; he took action, tough action and created his own destiny.
Motivation
Are you in-play? Or are you waiting on the bench, hoping something
happens this week that changes everything.
What are you waiting for, really? Confidence? Company? Confirmation?
What about faith?
Faith forces us into action, sometimes impossible, dangerous, and
unexpected action, but always action.
---------
(c) 2008 FaithFitness and Ron Rose <ron@faithfitness.net>.
RELATED LINKS:
* The Brevity of Life
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200710/20071014_brevity.html
* Navigating by GPS
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200803/20080309_gps.html
* Steady, It Could Be God
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200505/20050529_couldbegod.html
* Faith Fitness
http://www.faithfitness.net
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200808/20080816_waiting.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
LOOK GREAT, FEEL GREAT: 12 KEYS TO ENJOYING A HEALTHY LIFE NOW, by Joyce Meyer
Joyce guides us to a healthier way of living, reminding us that turning
every issue over to God gives us the strength to make lasting changes.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?250
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