A friend from Nashville sent me a text sharing a mention of a struggle she is going through.
Not being able to provide support in person, I sent her the following email:
Gail,
In March 1981, I attended a work seminar on leadership in Chicago. I was 24 years old, knew everything, had money, had babes and was living the life.
One morning, the seminar leader started the day off by asking how everyone was feeling. It was 7 am. We laughed and said to table mates that it was too early to be leaders.
The leader then said that each of us was going to face a weighty, personal or workplace struggle in the future. He offered his approach to life and its challenges.
His way of putting things in perspective was so simple, yet so powerful I remember that morning; what I was wearing, who I drank with the night before and who was sitting at the round table as he spoke.
His words..."Each morning, I rush downstairs, open the front door and snatch the paper off the porch. Without hesitation, on the porch, I find the section with the death notices listed and drop the rest of the paper. I search the list carefully. When I discover that my name is not there, I know that it is going to be one glorious day, no matter what challenge is in front of me to deal with this day. I am breathing, I am alive. There is hope."
It took me almost 30 years and several personal struggles to realize how powerful his words were that cold, windy morning in Chicago back in March of 1981.
You are never alone on your journey as the Giver of life is with you.
Greg
