Inspiring Others

David Jordan has some intriguing thoughts to share. He says, “The world stands aside to let anyone pass who knows where he is going.” This applies to those who learn where they are going late in life as well as for the young. At age 53, Margaret Thatcher became Britain’s first female Prime Minister. At 64, Francis Chichester sailed alone around the world in a 53 foot yacht. At 65, Winston Churchill became British Prime Minister for the first time and started the epic struggle against Hitler. At 72, Golda Meir became Prime Minister of Israel. At 75, Ed Delano of California bicycled 3100 miles in 33 days to attend his 50th college reunion in Worchester, Massachusetts. At 76, Cardinal Angelo Roncalli became Pope John XXIII and started changes in his church. At 80, Grandma Moses, who started painting in her late 70’s, had her first one-woman exhibit. At 81, Benjamin Franklin skillfully mediated between disagreeing factions at the U. S. Constitutional Convention. At 80, Winston Churchill returned to the House of Commons as a member of Parliament and also exhibited 62 of his paintings. At 99, CD Madsen scored his very first hole-in-one from 108 yards at Marin Country Club in Novato, California. On his 100th birthday, ragtime pianist Eubie Blake exclaimed, ‘If I had known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.”

How inspiring to so many of us who are living long and looking for where we are going with the remaining years. If it seems you know where you’re going the world will step aside to let you pass to your goal.

In an interview with Fox News, Wink Martindale, now 85, former Memphis radio and TV star who became known and successful nationally, was asked what motivated him to pursue a lifetime in Television and Media said, “It was what I heard Art Linkletter say when asked when he was going to retire. Linkletter answered, “Retire…from what. I’m not tired.” That should motivate us too.

I’ve know where I was going since my early youth. I know where I’m ultimately going, just as many of you do. My goal in these later years of my life is expressed in II Corinthians 5:9, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” It keeps getting better!

Till next time,
Don Johnson, Chaplain of Kirby Pines