Good Morning, My Dear Friends,
About a dozen years ago, I was invited to preach for three services one Sunday at the Village Chapel in Pinehurst, North Carolina. I remember that Kendall and Amy Davis, along with Ashley and Alyse, made the long drive from Lake Wylie to be there with us. As I viewed the portraits of the former pastors of that historic church, I noticed the name of Russell Conwell. Among other things, he was famous for an address entitled, “Acres of Diamonds.” He had delivered that message thousands of times across America.
His purpose was to remind his listeners that opportunities can be found everywhere, no matter where we live or who we are. Conwell’s thought is of such great significance that it must not be ignored by those who would live successfully. You cannot always determine the importance of something when you examine it at the moment.
Back in the 1800s, there were two articles in a London newspaper. One was on the front page. It was about a tiny showman who gave a performance before England’s Royal Court. Tom Thumb’s tour of Britain made the headlines in all the world’s papers, especially his appearance at the palace. In the same London paper, there was a short article on the back page. It was about the work of a little-known naturalist named Charles Darwin, who had written a book entitled, Origin of the Species. Both stories made the news that day in London, but the wrong story was on the front page. The world has largely forgotten Tom Thumb. The work of Charles Darwin will not be so readily dismissed.
So much of life is illustrated by those news stories. We don’t really know when we have had a good day. Sometimes the best days turn out less than good, and the worst of days prove to be our finest hours. When I preached in the Village Chapel that day in March of 2012, I was one of two finalists to become the next Senior Pastor of that storied church. They ultimately selected the other, an Episcopal priest from Florida. Disappointed at first, two years later I accepted a request from Kendall and Amy Davis, along with Sean and Lydia Smith, to help launch Imagine Church, which would go on to become the capstone of nearly five decades of parish ministry. A circumstance can knock us down and keep us down, or we can use it as a ladder to meaning and purpose.
Wise is the person who learns to take a wider view of life. It’s a mistake to become too discouraged about any circumstance. People who find life exciting are those who wait for the ill wind to blow good.
A long time ago, Jesus of Nazareth was brought to trial for his life. He went to his death on a Roman cross with courage and dignity. Time has exonerated Jesus of all guilt. Despite those efforts to silence him, today the voice of our Savior is heard to the ends of this earth. Every circumstance is filled with opportunity if we have the will and the courage to take the longer view of life.
This is the way life often works,
Bruce Jones, Pastor
Imagine Church
