Stepping Stones not Stop Signs
Thomas Edison was afraid of the dark, yet
he overcame that obstacle in a big way and invented the light bulb. It is said
that one can ran away from the stones thrown at him or collect them and make
for himself a house or a fence. It is all in the attitude we take. Charles
Caleb Colton stated beautifully:
“Times
of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest
minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace and the brightest thunderbolt
is the one elicited from the darkest storm.”
John Mason adds that the door of
opportunity swings on the hinges of adversity. The highway to success is full
of potholes of failure. It is not a smooth road because each success story is
particular to each person and therefore, it is a way not travelled before. Each
successful person had to beat his own path, drive through the highway and
leaving fears behind. The obstacles of life are intended to make us better not
bitter. They are a call to strengthen and not to quit. If you like things easy,
you will have lots of difficulties because such a life doesn’t exist but if you
like challenges, you are on your way to the top. The most successful people are
the ones who tackled the biggest challenges, solved the biggest problems or
overcame the hugest of obstacles.
Bottom line, you are the captain of the
ship of your life. Have the attitude of Louisa May Alcott when she said; “I am not afraid of storms for I am learning
how to sail my ship.” Beautiful.
See problems as exams. An opportunity to
showcase your best self. “The gem cannot
be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” A Chinese
proverb that says it all. Jesus encourages us when He says that: “Here on earth, you will have many trials
and sorrows but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.” People of faith
know that we are pilgrims in this world. Joyful pilgrims who know that the
biggest problems in life have been conquered and that we don’t need to fight
alone for God, a brother, not a policeman or an old man up in the skies, is
right on our side.
Problems help us to discover ourselves, our
genius and help us shine even the more. The main thrust is for us to change our
attitude. Obstacles are not stop signs but stepping stones to a life of super
abundance.
Marin Luther King Jr. sums up these ideas
very smartly:
“The ultimate
measure of man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but
where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
