Determination!

                                        "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;
                                     for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom,            
                                         in the grave, whither thou goest."  ~Ecclesiastes 9:10


I'd like to share a couple of stories with you that I read in Devotions both this morning and a few days ago.


"Charles F. Kettering, a noted scientist and inventor, believed that the easiest way to overcome defeat was simply to ignore completely the possibility of failure and to keep forging ahead.  He once gave an address to Denison University on this theme.  He told how he had once given a tough project assignment to a young research worker in a laboratory at General Motors.  He wanted to see how the man would react to a difficult problem so he kept from him notes about the project that had been filed in the lab's library.  These notes, written by expert researchers, included various sets of statistics and formulas that proved the assignment the young man had been given was impossible to do.

The young research worker set his mind to the project, and worked virtually night and day for weeks.  He refused to give up or think the project impossible.  One day he came confidently to Kettering to show his work.  He had succeeded in doing the impossible!

A little extra time...a little extra effort...a little extra care...a little extra attention sometimes makes all the difference between success and failure, and not only that, but the difference between good and great."

                                                                           ~~~

"There once was a Louisville University quarterback who dreamed of playing pro football.  Upon graduation, however, no pro team drafted him.  So, he wrote to several teams and finally got an opportunity to try out for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He gave his best effort, but wasn't chosen.  His friends said, 'You got a raw deal...it wasn't meant to be...I guess it's time to hang up your cleats'.  But the young athlete didn't give up.  He continued to knock on doors and write letters.  Finally, he received another invitation.  But again, he didn't make the team.

Most people would have given up long before this point, but not Johnny.  He was fanatic about his personal dream.  From his early days of playing sandlot football, he had been obsessed with this goal.  So, patiently and persistently, he continued to pursue try out opportunities.  Finally, he was invited to try out for the Baltimore team...and he made the third string!  Through training and many long hours of drills and fitness building, he worked his way up to be starting quarterback.  Indeed, he became one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play in the NFL.  The dreamer's name?  Johnny Unitas.

Keep driving until you arrive at your goal line!"



History is filled with determined people.  The 1984 USA All-Around champion, Mary Lou Retton, is another example.  She was in therapy constantly for five weeks leading up to the '84 Olympics after a much needed knee surgery had been preformed.  That year, she came home with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.  With her determination and positive attitude, she not only succeeded what seemed "impossible", she also became the first American to receive an All-Around gold medal.  I admire Mary Lou for that determination.  Not only for her fighting spirit, but because she was also born with hip dysplasia and still went on to perform amazing acts of agility and balance.  

Can you maybe think of some people in history who, though the thought of success seemed impossible, achieved it?  Those are the kind of people who are not willing to give up their dreams.  They have a vision and chase after it instead of expecting it to just be laid on their doorstep.

"Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most people succeed because they are determined to."

Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

In Christ,
Anna