Are You An Enthusiast?

Centuries ago, Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius said, "Vex not thy spirit at the course of things; they heed not thy vexation. How ludicrous and outlandish is the astonishment at anything that may happen in life."

Translation: "Fahgetaboutit!

While his realistic and calculated assessment of fate seems logical, it overlooks the secret of dreamers: enthusiasm. Those of us who "expect great" know how powerful the will of the heart can be. Possibility is what happens when spirit meets a dream.

Did you know that the word enthusiasm comes from the Greek word theos, meaning God and thus, entheos means “to have God within”? Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

Keep in mind that what eventually happens is not as important as how we feel about what eventually happens.

I remember a story of two weekend golfers who both averaged in the 90’s. One of them teed off on a Saturday morning and couldn’t believe the round he was having as he “birdied” the first nine holes. That is, he was nine strokes under par with nine holes to go. If he could just par the last nine, he would set a new course record. As it turned out, he “bogied” the last nine (one over par on each) and ended up with an even par 72.

It was the best round of his life, yet he was furious about what happened.

Golfer number two teed up that afternoon and as he was accustomed to doing, bogied the first nine. He was a having an average round and enjoying his friends. Low and behold, he then birdied the last nine holes, also shooting a 72 and celebrated into the night. He too, had experienced the best round of his life.

Two golfers with the same outcome, but each with a different outlook.

So, today, this hour, this moment, let your outlook be one of gratitude as you fill the other half of your glass of life with enthusiasm.

William Shakespheare answers Marcus Aurelius with, "Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt."

I’m golfing with Bill.

The Sneeze

One of the most positive people I ever met, Bill Conway, sent me a story recently that, though quite inspiring, could easily have been imagined. After doing a little research, I found that it did indeed happen on May 20, 2001 during the commencement excercises at Washington Community High School in Washington, Illinois.

With the help of the ACLU, the family of that years valedictorian brought suit to prevent the inclusion of the invocation and benediction traditionally given at the school's commencement ceremony. Three days before the event, the court ruled in favor of the family, barring the inclusion of prayers in the ceremony on the basis of their having been deemed "school sponsored."

What took place is truly heartwarming.

They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing . and the traditional caps, they looked almost ..... as grown up as they felt.

Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears. This class would NOT pray during the commencements----not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.

The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.

The speeches were nice, but they were routine.....until the final speech rece ived a standing ovation.

A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then it happened.

All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!

The student on stage.. simply looked at the audience and said, “God Bless You, each and every one of you!” And he walked off stage...

The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future, with or without the court's approval.

Amen!