Steve Goodier writes wonderfully insightful inspirational pieces that he's included in many books. He also regularly emails some of his writings to subscribers. Here's a wonderful piece he sent out recently:
FIRE IN THE HEART
The teacher quizzed her class: "He drove straight to his goal. He looked neither to the right nor to the left, but pressed forward, moved by a definite purpose. Neither friend nor foe could delay him, nor turn him from his course. All who crossed his path did so at their own peril. What would you call such a man?"
A student replied, "A truck driver!"
If he is a truck driver, he is likely a successful truck driver, for anyone who pursues a vision with such passion is sure to be a success.
Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel got it right when he said:
"The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference."
Nothing will kill a dream or douse the fire of a good idea more quickly than indifference. To whatever endeavor you commit yourself, be on guard primarily against that spirit-quenching attitude of apathy.
At what do you wish to succeed? A project? A job? A relationship? A
personal mission? A financial goal? A life purpose? "Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something," says Mary Lou Retton. "It's our goal in life to find it and keep it lit."
In order to succeed greatly, one must care greatly. For indifference is no match against a well-attended fire in the heart.
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This reading is found in Steve Goodier's popular book
A LIFE THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE: 60-Second Readings That Truly Matter
If you'd like to subscribe to Steve's emailed inspirations, send a blank e-mail to LifeSupport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You'll be subscribed automatically.
Steve's web site can be reached here.
3 comments:
And for the second time today you give me reason to quote Calvin Coolidge!
Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
Icepick:
Thanks for making it Calvin Coolidge Day.
That is a great quote,
There are limits to what he says, though. It's been my experience that pressing on on one's own steam is, ultimately, a futile exercise. That's where God comes in. The apostle Paul had some good things to say about pressing on.
But I love being reminded of that statement by Coolidge. He is a completely underestimated fellow. While I wouldn't put him in the pantheon of great Presidents, as did Ronald Reagan, he was not the dolt he's sometimes dismissed as being. One of my favorite CC quotes is what he told the Boston police, while he was governor of Massachusetts, when they went on strike:
"There is no right to strike against the public safety by anybody, anywhere, anytime."
Clarity was needed at that moment and Coolidge displayed it.
Thanks again for stopping by...As I say, that's a terrific quote!
Mark
Icepick:
This is sort of cool(idge). Immediately after posting my reply to your comments here, I opened my daily emailed inspiration from Pastor Glen VanderKloot. Here it is, copied and pasted in full:
March 31, 2006 Issue 335e
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WELCOME to the daily issue of ONLINE WITH FAITH.
ONLINE WITH FAITH is a ministry of Faith Lutheran Church,
2313 Whittier Avenue, Springfield, IL, 62704, Glen VanderKloot, Pastor.
If you have any questions, comments, or prayer
requests please be in touch with us at
pastor@faithlutheran.com.
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Thought for the Day
President Calvin Coolidge once invited friends from
his hometown to dine with him at the White House.
Unsure of their table manners, the guests decided to
imitate the president. They watched closely to see
which utensils he used, what foods he ate and when.
Their strategy seemed to succeed until coffee was served.
Coolidge poured some coffee into his saucer. They
did the same. He added sugar and cream. His guests
did, too. Then the president bent over and put his
saucer on the floor for the cat!
Be careful whose example you follow....
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Scripture
John 13:15 NRSV
For I have set you an example, that you also should
do as I have done to you.
Prayer: Lord, help me to use you as my example to follow. Amen
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Coolidge synchronicity!
Mark
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