DOING SOMETHING GREAT

When was the last time you were challenged to do something really...well... great?

President Abraham Lincoln helped me to understand that there is a bit of greatness within all of us. It is said that he 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 aside 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 averageaccomplishments. Most of the good of the world is built on theaccumulated 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? Or 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 knowingthat if you were to attempt it and succeed, you just might ac­com­plish something significant? If Abraham Lincoln is right, then every life should strive to reach a little further today than it did yesterday, for there is some greatness in each of us.

Steve Goodier

Diligent preparation leads to outstanding achievement. What are you preparing for right now?
In every moment, in every action, you are preparing yourself for one thing or another. Prepare yourself for the life you desire to lead, and it will come to be.
Opportunities are constantly coming your way. Yet in order for them to be of any value, you must be prepared to take hold of those opportunities.
The sooner you begin to prepare, the more you can achieve. Being prepared gives you considerably more options, and puts time on your side.
Live joyfully and completely in each moment, knowing that you are preparing yourself for the times to come. Build one day upon another, with focus, positive intention and purpose, and you'll build a life that's truly spectacular.
Each moment is your opportunity to prepare yourself for reaching higher and higher levels of fulfillment. Prepare well, and your life will reap many great rewards.
Ralph Marston