Okay. I admit it.
I’m a Benjamin Franklin fanboy. I can’t get enough of the guy. By 50, he was a world-famous businessman, inventor and journalist. Then he went on to set a founding vision for America, hand selecting the authors of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and aiding both in their work. And through his writings, he proved to be a master of the aphorism—those pithy and memorable turns of phrase that instruct. A stitch in time saves nine? Franklin. God helps those who help themselves? Franklin. We must all hang together or surely we will hang separately? Franklin. It was Franklin who inspired and instructed me to write many aphorisms in Blythe, including “When there is a crisis, let your heart pray, but let your hands work.” Like much of Franklin’s work, that quote acknowledges our Creator and our need for Him, but it also sets a high bar of personal accountability for each of us: Pray, but don’t just leave it there. You’ve got to work, too, if you want to get out of any crisis. Prayer alone won’t do it. Individual action and accountability is also often required to save the day. Yes, it is vital in my view that we keep our hearts and minds open to God—to seek His guidance, wisdom and providence on all matters great and small. (And no, I’ve never prayed for a field goal for my beloved Packers even when they’re playing the Bears. Let’s not bother God with the trivial.) But we shouldn’t leave it there. We are accountable individuals. We are also capable of more than we think we can achieve, IF we act . . . if we hold ourselves to the high standard we’d expect of others in our condition. Wishful thinking never accomplished anything. It is when we seek out God’s direction and take action that we will find solutions to life’s problems. So remember: When there is a crisis, let your heart pray, but let your hands work. (Order Blythe at www.Amazon.BlytheBook.com)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |