REWARDS
A young man once studied violin under a world-renowned master. Eventually the time came for his first recital. Following each selection, despite the cheers of the crowd, the performer seemed dissatisfied. Even after the last number, with the shouts louder than ever, the talented violinist stood watching an old man in the balcony. Finally the elderly one smiled and nodded in approval. Immediately the young man relaxed and beamed with happiness. The applause of the crowd had meant nothing to him until he had first won the hearty approval of his famous teacher. So, too, the Christian must do all he does looking for God’s approval and in that be rewarded.
Let the task be the reward.
—Peter Drucker
RIDICULE
Abuse is the weapon of the vulgar.
—S. G. Goodrich
Ridicule is the first and last argument of fools.
—C. Simmons
RIGHT
It takes less time to do a thing right than it does to explain why you did it wrong.
—Henry Longfellow
I care not if God is on my side. My constant hope and prayer is that I may be found on God’s side.
—Abraham Lincoln
It is better to be despised for the right than praised for the wrong.
Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.
—Mark Twain
RIGHTEOUSNESS
A man who claimed to be a citizen of the United States and also of England was arrested in Brazil and tried, court-martialed, and condemned to die. The British and American representatives did all they could to save his life but their plans failed, and the Brazilian government said, “He has violated the law and we are going to execute him.”
The day came for his execution. He stood out in the open field, and the soldiers of the government were ready with their guns; and just before the time to shoot, out came the representative of the English government and the representative of the United States. They walked out and this prisoner was wrapped around with the English flag and then with the American flag. Those two men stood back and said, “If you fire on this man, you fire on the English and the American armies and the English and the American navies. He is covered with the flags of these governments.” The executioners lowered their guns.
RISK
You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.
If no one ever took risks, Michelangelo would have painted the Sistine floor.
—Neil Simon
Sometimes you must go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.
RUMORS
“I hear you made a million dollars in oil in Texas.”
“No. In the first place it wasn’t Texas; it was Kentucky. In the second place it wasn’t oil; it was coal. Also it wasn’t a million dollars; it was two million. And it wasn’t me; it was my brother. Finally it wasn’t that he made two million; he lost it!”
RUTS
Getting back on the right track usually involves getting out of a rut.
Each September in northern Manitoba, the temperature drops and rain freezes. This causes ruts in the dirt roads. A sign by the road reads, “Choose your rut carefully. You’ll be in it for the next 60 miles.”