Jolie Rouge
10-31-2002, 10:37 PM
Abraham Lincoln often slipped out of the White House on Wednesday evenings to listen to the sermons of Dr. Phineas Gurley at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. He generally preferred to come and go unnoticed, so when Dr. Gurley knew the president was coming, he left his study door open. On one of those occasions, the president quietly entered through a side door of the church, took his seat in the minister's study, located just off the sanctuary, and propped the door open just wide enough to hear the preacher.
During the walk home one Wednesday evening, an aide asked Mr. Lincoln his appraisal of the sermon. The president thoughtfully replied, "The content was excellent...he delivered with eloquence...he had put work
into the message.."
"Then you thought it was an excellent sermon?" questioned the aide.
"No," Lincoln answered.
"But you said that the content was excellent, it was delivered with
eloquence and it showed much work," the aide pressed.
"That's true," Lincoln said. "But Dr. Gurley forgot the most important
ingredient. He forgot to ask us to do something great."
There is nothing wrong with average lives and average accomplishments.
Most of the good of the world is built on the accumulated efforts of
everyday people. But, as Lincoln seemed to know, a life should strive
for some greatness.
Are you part of a relationship that, if given more effort, could be
outstanding? Do you volunteer for an organization which is truly doing
something excellent? Have you joined a cause that is attempting
something great? Or have you ever said to yourself concerning a
beautiful dream, "I could never do that," while knowing that if you
were to attempt it and succeed, you could accomplish something
significant?
If Lincoln is right, then every life should strive for some greatness.
Including yours and mine!
__________
You can find this reading and many others in Steve Goodier's book
RICHES OF THE HEART.
just thought I'd share ...
During the walk home one Wednesday evening, an aide asked Mr. Lincoln his appraisal of the sermon. The president thoughtfully replied, "The content was excellent...he delivered with eloquence...he had put work
into the message.."
"Then you thought it was an excellent sermon?" questioned the aide.
"No," Lincoln answered.
"But you said that the content was excellent, it was delivered with
eloquence and it showed much work," the aide pressed.
"That's true," Lincoln said. "But Dr. Gurley forgot the most important
ingredient. He forgot to ask us to do something great."
There is nothing wrong with average lives and average accomplishments.
Most of the good of the world is built on the accumulated efforts of
everyday people. But, as Lincoln seemed to know, a life should strive
for some greatness.
Are you part of a relationship that, if given more effort, could be
outstanding? Do you volunteer for an organization which is truly doing
something excellent? Have you joined a cause that is attempting
something great? Or have you ever said to yourself concerning a
beautiful dream, "I could never do that," while knowing that if you
were to attempt it and succeed, you could accomplish something
significant?
If Lincoln is right, then every life should strive for some greatness.
Including yours and mine!
__________
You can find this reading and many others in Steve Goodier's book
RICHES OF THE HEART.
just thought I'd share ...