Category: Endurance - Grace Drops

Rooted Together

7/3/2014

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

The huge redwood trees in California are considered the largest things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are three hundred feet high and over 2,500 years old. One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth.

The redwoods actually have a very shallow system of roots, but they all intertwine. They are locked to each other. When the storms come or the winds blow, the redwoods stand. They are locked to each other, and they don’t stand alone, for all the trees support and protect each other.

Over the years our world has changed and become much more transient. Families are often separated by states, if not countries. Communities see a constant movement as newcomers move in and others suddenly, because of business or family obligations, pack up and are on their way to new beginnings. Our root system has become more shallow than in years gone by.

It is for this reason that we must strive to find values that are worth living for and build relationships that intertwine and make us strong. While we may work to sink our roots deep into our community, our commitment to one another can help us weather the storms of life. Let’s learn a lesson from the redwoods.

© 2008, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 6 (2008).

Ever Have One of Those Days?

4/3/2014

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

Sometimes we start out with the best of intentions and then things just don’t go the way we planned. It’s like the letter the bricklayer wrote to his boss requesting sick leave:

“I arrived at the job after the storm, checked the building out and saw that the top needed repairs. I rigged a hoist and boom, attached the rope to a barrel and pulled bricks to the top.

When I pulled the barrel to the top, I secured the rope at the bottom. After repairing the building, I went back to fill the barrel with the leftover bricks. I went down and released the rope to lower the bricks, and the barrel, which was heavier than I am, jerked me off the ground.

I decided to hang on. Halfway up, I met the barrel coming down and received a blow to the shoulder. I hung on and went to the top, where I hit my head on the boom and caught my fingers in the pulley.

In the meantime, the barrel hit the ground and burst open, throwing bricks all over. This made the barrel lighter than I, and I started down at high speed. Halfway down I met the barrel coming up and received a blow to my shins. I continued down and fell on the bricks, receiving cuts and bruises. At this point I must have lost my presence of mind, because I let go of the rope and the barrel came down and hit me on the head. I respectfully request sick leave.”

I’m sure we all have empathy for this diligent worker. Some days are like that. I’ve heard people say that they are at the end of their rope. We find that often the only answer we can find is just to “tie a knot in the end and hang on.”

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 5 (2007).

The Write Stuff

11/20/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

A sky-diving instructor was asked, “How many successful jumps must a student make before he or she can become certified?”

He answered, “All of them!”

Sky diving, however, is the exception. Is your life built on a series of successes? Do you usually attempt something new and immediately succeed, then succeed again and again?

More likely, you may find that it is the other way around. Your successes are often built on smaller failures. You fell off the bike a few times before you learned to ride. And you produced a few culinary failures before you baked a successful layered cake or prepared a satisfactory omelet.

Tom Hopkins observed, “The number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep on trying.” And Winston Churchill stated, “Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” They both agreed that discouragement rather than failure, is the enemy of success. Those who can remain hopeful and focused, though they fail, are those who will eventually succeed.

In all, Emily Dickinson is said to have written more than nine hundred poems. Though only four were published in her lifetime and the first volume of her poetry was not published until four years after her death, Dickinson’s success is attributed to the fact that she did not allow discouragement to keep her from her poetry.

Where would we be today had Emily Dickinson lost her enthusiasm for writing? Because she kept her desire alive, we now remember her as one of the great poets of all time.

It’s good to remember that success may be just beyond the next failure, and you’ll get there, not because you’re destined to, but because you’re determined to.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 5 (2007).

How's Your Vision?

11/6/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

Helen Keller said, “The greatest tragedy in life is people who have sight but no vision.” How’s your vision?

A Hollywood producer scrawled a curt rejection on a manuscript that became “Gone With the Wind.” He had no vision for what that book could become.

Henry Ford’s largest original investor sold all his stock in 1906. What could have happened had he shared Ford’s vision for his company?

Orville and Wilbur Wright felt excited. On December 17, 1903, they had finally succeeded in keeping their homemade airplane in the air for 59 seconds. Immediately, they rushed a telegram to their sister in Dayton, Ohio, telling of this great accomplishment. The telegram read, “First sustained flight today fifty-nine seconds. Hope to be home by Christmas.”

Upon receiving the news of the successful flight, their sister was so excited that she rushed to the newspaper office and gave the telegram to the editor.

The next morning the newspaper headed the story: “Popular Local Bicycle Merchants To Be Home For Holidays.”

Can you see the real story? Are you looking for the hidden potential lurking behind every situation? Do you recognize those obscure opportunities cleverly disguised as glaring problems?

Your sight may be perfect, but how’s your vision?

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 4 (2006).

The Tea Cup

11/4/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

There was an American couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'let me alone, but he only smiled, 'Not yet.'

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy! I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.' Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as He shook his head, 'Not yet.'

Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'There, that's better,' I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.' Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'

Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself. And I did. I said, 'That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.'

'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 4 (2006).

Good Only if Used

8/22/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

A familiar sight along the highway that I drive to work is a restaurant that has gone out of business. Some locations seemed to be doomed to failure. It isn’t long before the building begins to look seedy and “run down.” I find it curious because it isn’t as if they would have painted the building, or remodeled during that time. It seems that the absence of customers, of life, has caused the building to deteriorate.

It reminds me of a little story about Nicollo Pagannini, the great violinist that I referred to in a previous story, “Beautiful Music.” He willed his marvelous violin to Genoa, Italy, the city of his birth, only on the condition that it not be played. It is a peculiar wood in that as long as the violin is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, the wood begins to decay.

The exquisite mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that life, withdrawn from all service to others, loses its meaning.

If you want your life to have joy and meaning, if you want to retain your value and your worth and not disintegrate into a worthless relic, you must serve and remain active.

© 2006, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 4 (2006).

Overcoming Obstacles

5/27/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

The artist Michelangelo often stirred up the opposition of the contemporary artists of his day. Many of them envied his magnificent abilities. One example was the architect Bramante.

Pope Julius retained Michelangelo to build him a splendid tomb. Michelangelo gladly accepted the project and spent eight months in a marble pit personally cutting and selecting the most perfect stones. When he returned, he found the pope had second thoughts. Bramante had turned Pope Julius against the project. The Pope cancelled it.

Later the idea for another special project entered the Pope's mind. Bramante saw the project as a time consuming trap for which there would be little public recognition. Bramante recommended Michelangelo for the job.

The great artist saw the trap. He knew what Bramante was up to. He wished to turn the project down but did not want to refuse the Pope's request. So Michelangelo went to work. He spent many years doing the slow and tedious labor the project required. It was the Sistine Chapel.

The inspiration that flowed through Michelangelo can likewise flow through any human being. That is what the inspiration wants to do. It cannot be stopped. It is a living, powerful river that easily circumvents all obstacles.

Michelangelo collected his inner forces for a complete victory. Likewise, we must not fear to face the trickery of some people and expose it for what it is. This is not negative, but intelligent protection and spiritual perception.

In his many books on inner development author Vernon Howard refers to Michelangelo several times. He quotes him as saying, "The more the marble wastes, the more the statue grows." And, "I released the statue from the stone." He chiseled away all that was unnecessary, and David emerged.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 3 (2005).

Blind Ambition

5/17/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

Challenges and obstacles are a part of life. Success and greatness are measured by how we overcome them. When I moved to Alabama in 1974, I heard about a local legend named Charlie Boswell. The following story is one of many that surround this amazing man:

Blind Ambition, by: John Kanary, A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Charlie Boswell has always been one of my heroes. He has inspired me and thousands of others to rise above circumstances and live our true passion. Charlie was blinded during World War II while rescuing his friend from a tank that was under fire. He was a great athlete before his accident and in a testimony to his talent and determination he decided to try a brand new sport, a sport he never imagined playing, even with his eyesight . . . golf!

Through determination and a deep love for the game he became the National Blind Golf Champion! He won that honor 13 times. One of his heroes was the great golfer Ben Hogan, so it truly was an honor for Charlie to win the Ben Hogan Award in 1958.

Upon meeting Ben Hogan, Charlie was awestruck and stated that he had one wish and it was to have one round of golf with the great Ben Hogan.

Mr. Hogan agreed that playing a round together would be an honor for him as well, as he had heard about all of Charlie's accomplishments and truly admired his skills.

"Would you like to play for money, Mr. Hogan?" blurted out Charlie.

"I can't play you for money, it wouldn't be fair!" said Mr. Hogan.

"Aw, come on, Mr. Hogan...$1,000 per hole!"

"I can't, what would people think of me, taking advantage of you and your circumstance," replied the sighted golfer.

"Chicken, Mr. Hogan?"

"Okay," blurted a frustrated Hogan, "but I am going to play my best!"

"I wouldn't expect anything else," said the confident Boswell.

"You're on Mr. Boswell, you name the time and the place!"

A very self-assured Boswell responded "10 o'clock . . . tonight!"

The Burning Hut

5/1/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost.

He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 3 (2005).

Getting It Together

4/15/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

Once there was a little boy who wanted his Dad to teach him how to play catch. One sunny day the little boy's father was sitting on the couch drinking and watching a baseball game. The boy rushed into the house exclaiming, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, show me how to play catch!"

The father, blankly staring at the television screen, replied, "In a little while son. Let me finish watching this inning. Come back in five minutes."

"Okay, Daddy," said the boy and ran out of the room. Five minutes later the boy returned screaming, "Daddy, let's go, let's play some catch now!"

The father turned to the boy and said, "Hold on son. The inning is not quite over. Come back in five more minutes."

"Okay, Daddy," said the boy as he shuffled out of the room.

Five minutes later the boy returned ball and glove in hand eagerly awaiting for his father to play some catch.

"Daddy, Let's go. I want to be Ken Griffey, Jr.!" shouted the boy.

By this time the father had cracked open another cold one and another inning was taking place. Frustrated by the boy's constant hindrances, the dad scanned the room. He noticed a magazine underneath the coffee table. On the cover of the magazine was a large picture of the world. The father, who was angered and annoyed, bean tearing the magazine cover into small pieces. After a few moments of shredding the magazine cover, the father placed the torn pieces in front of the boy. He said, "Son, once you put this picture of the world back together we can play catch. But do not interrupt me again until you are done!"

Apprehensively, the boy took the magazine and sulked into his room as he sobbed. "Okay, Daddy, I won't."

A few moments later the boy returned and said, "I'm done, Daddy. Can we play catch now?"

Stunned, the father glanced toward his child. There in his small hands laid the magazine with the world pieced perfectly together. Amazed the dad asked his child how he put the world together so quickly.

"It was simple," stated the boy. "On the back of the world was a picture of a person. Once I put the person together, that's when the world came together."

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).