Good morning, Dear Church Family and Friends,
At the funeral of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy made this famous observation, “There are those who see the world as it is and ask, ‘Why?’ There are others who see the world as it should be and ask, ‘Why not?'” His latter statement describes the mindset of those who make this world livable. These are the ones who have pulled us up the hill toward a more perfect society.
George Washington will be remembered for many things, but the finest portrait we may have of him comes from that terrible winter at Valley Forge. We are told that he walked among his cold and hungry soldiers worrying about their welfare. It was out of this struggle that our nation was born — a nation committed to the noblest and highest aspirations of humankind. We owe an unpayable debt to people who have worried when things were wrong and were dedicated enough to try to right them. Worrying for the proper reason may be the way life needs to be lived.
I can remember back to a teacher I had for a creative writing class in high school named Mrs. Tarlton. She was always kind but firm. I recall one paper I had submitted for her class. A couple days later she handed it back to me with one sentence written across the top: “You are capable of more than this!” I sometimes think of Mrs. Tarlton and her comment when writing sermons or devotions today. Even though her words sometimes troubled my soul, today I recognize that she was not my enemy but my friend as she encouraged and challenged me in the art of writing.
In one of his finest essays, Emerson made a thoughtful observation: “There is a time in everyone’s education when one arrives at the conclusion that envy is folly and imitation is suicide . . . my life is for itself and not a spectacle. What I must do is all that concerns me, not what other people think.”
We are all unique; no two of us are alike. To surrender our individuality is to destroy a special part of creation. The happy people are those who do not waste time worrying over what they are. Happy people dream about what they can become and keep that dream alive until they find a way to make it come true. It is all right to worry when you worry that way.
May all your worries be constructive,
Bruce Jones, Pastor
Imagine Church
