by Dr. Cecil Clements (24th April 2012)
My joy has been doubled. This past week has been great for me. I became a grandfather and I’ve spent the week enjoying my little grandchild Diya. She is so precious and the high point of the week has been spending time with her and my son and daughter-in-law. It’s been a good experience, a mountaintop experience.
Seeing my son enjoying his fatherhood is so strange. It took me back to many instances when we had a valley with him; things were not going so well, his health wasn’t good, at one point rushing him to a hospital because he had 3 times the amount of theophylline that his body could take due to a doctor’s mistake. We thought we’d lose him, but we didn’t. God was gracious and it’s great to see him as a father and me, a grandfather.
But reflecting on mountaintop experiences and the valleys that we find ourselves in, I thought – mountaintops come and go but it’s the valleys that really take the stuffing out of us. It’s the valley that shows what stuff we’re made out of, brings out character and helps us find what we are truly made of. But it’s also in the valley that we find that our energy levels are down and we wonder whether it’s time to quit or how long can we just be going through the motions.
People who write about these things say that the key to being in ‘valley moments’ is to find ways to recognize that we are in the valley and then be able to make sure that we move out of it to a more secure foundation. One of the things that I love about Sony Corporation, and I’ve shared this with you before, is their vision statement. It was written at a time when Japan had just come out of the war, everything was in the doldrums and everything was devastated. Yet they believed in something far beyond what they were in at that point. They believed that they could climb the mountaintop. Their vision statement read like this:
Isn’t that amazing? Written soon after the war, a devastated nation, no infrastructure available; and yet one person or a couple of people were willing to look ahead and say, “Out of this I can see something that is tangible and powerful, something that can change everything within my country and will become a name that will become synonymous with quality around the world.”
Rachit Chawa from Bangalore, reviewed the book ‘Made In Japan’ which is the story of Akio Morita, the co-founder of Sony. He says, “It took a lot of time, a lot of determination, devotion, hard work and sacrifice. It was not built in a day. Sony did not happen overnight. There were no great shortcuts.”
Isn’t that true? Nothing really comes easily. There’s always need for effort to be able to think that there’s a place to go even when we are down and out is wonderful, but to get oneself out of that situation, needs effort. Yet effort is at such a premium at times like this. We wonder whether we really have the effort to get out; but we must make the effort.
Bill Blackman says, “Great changes may not happen right away, but with effort, even the difficult may become easy.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes says, “The mode by which the inevitable comes to pass is effort.”
Effort is the key. It’s crucial in getting out of the situation, to be able to walk through the valley, takes effort. It’s something that you and I need to put in. but I want to expand on this a little. Effort is required, but it’s also important to know where and when and how to put effort.
I remember a story of a giant ship engine that had failed and the ship owner tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure out how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, from top to bottom.
Two of the ship’s owners were there watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly the engine lurched into life. he carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed!
A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for $10,000.
Effort is so important, but knowing where to make the effort, makes all the difference. As you try and work through the low times in your life, when things don’t seem to be going well, the steam is running out, it is important to realize that effort is important. And even more important, the place of effort is important.
Peter Drukker says, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” This really highlights how important effort is.
I wonder where you are this morning my friends. Are you in a place that is difficult? Are you low in energy? is your vision blurred? Are things not going the way you would like them to? Maybe this is just a valley for you. It’s been a long time and you are wondering whether to just give up.
I want to close with this poem – ‘Don’t Quit’.
Take a deep breath, sit down for a while, regroup, think about what has happened, think about new things, new perspectives. Look around at all the things that can motivate you, challenge and remember that success is failure turned inside out, that the silver tint of the clouds of doubt will go away because you can never tell how close you are to success if you give up now. It may seem far but could be round the corner. So stick to the fight when you’re hit the hardest, and when things seem at their worst, that’s the time you should not quit.
Remember this: the turtle only moves ahead when he has his neck stuck out. On my table I have a little glass cube that has embedded in it, the globe with an eagle on the top. It always reminds me that the bird is about to fall, it transcends the things that can capture it. I’m inspired by it more because of the scripture written under it:
Isaiah 40: 29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
I can trust God in the valleys, putting the effort in the right place and He will show me that like the eagle, I will soar and not faint. This morning if you’re down and out, if you’re weary and things are taking their toll, I want to challenge you. Don’t quit. Take a deep breath. Maybe you need to put effort in the right place and allow that effort to take you out. But don’t quit.
God Bless Us All.
My joy has been doubled. This past week has been great for me. I became a grandfather and I’ve spent the week enjoying my little grandchild Diya. She is so precious and the high point of the week has been spending time with her and my son and daughter-in-law. It’s been a good experience, a mountaintop experience.
Seeing my son enjoying his fatherhood is so strange. It took me back to many instances when we had a valley with him; things were not going so well, his health wasn’t good, at one point rushing him to a hospital because he had 3 times the amount of theophylline that his body could take due to a doctor’s mistake. We thought we’d lose him, but we didn’t. God was gracious and it’s great to see him as a father and me, a grandfather.
But reflecting on mountaintop experiences and the valleys that we find ourselves in, I thought – mountaintops come and go but it’s the valleys that really take the stuffing out of us. It’s the valley that shows what stuff we’re made out of, brings out character and helps us find what we are truly made of. But it’s also in the valley that we find that our energy levels are down and we wonder whether it’s time to quit or how long can we just be going through the motions.
People who write about these things say that the key to being in ‘valley moments’ is to find ways to recognize that we are in the valley and then be able to make sure that we move out of it to a more secure foundation. One of the things that I love about Sony Corporation, and I’ve shared this with you before, is their vision statement. It was written at a time when Japan had just come out of the war, everything was in the doldrums and everything was devastated. Yet they believed in something far beyond what they were in at that point. They believed that they could climb the mountaintop. Their vision statement read like this:
“We will create products that will become pervasive around the world. We will be the first Japanese company to go into the American market and distribute directly. We will succeed with innovations like the transistor radio that American companies have failed at. Fifty years from now our brand name will be as well known as any on earth and will signify innovation and quality that rivals the most innovative companies anywhere. ‘Made in Japan’ will mean something fine, not shoddy.”
Isn’t that amazing? Written soon after the war, a devastated nation, no infrastructure available; and yet one person or a couple of people were willing to look ahead and say, “Out of this I can see something that is tangible and powerful, something that can change everything within my country and will become a name that will become synonymous with quality around the world.”
Rachit Chawa from Bangalore, reviewed the book ‘Made In Japan’ which is the story of Akio Morita, the co-founder of Sony. He says, “It took a lot of time, a lot of determination, devotion, hard work and sacrifice. It was not built in a day. Sony did not happen overnight. There were no great shortcuts.”
Isn’t that true? Nothing really comes easily. There’s always need for effort to be able to think that there’s a place to go even when we are down and out is wonderful, but to get oneself out of that situation, needs effort. Yet effort is at such a premium at times like this. We wonder whether we really have the effort to get out; but we must make the effort.
Bill Blackman says, “Great changes may not happen right away, but with effort, even the difficult may become easy.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes says, “The mode by which the inevitable comes to pass is effort.”
Effort is the key. It’s crucial in getting out of the situation, to be able to walk through the valley, takes effort. It’s something that you and I need to put in. but I want to expand on this a little. Effort is required, but it’s also important to know where and when and how to put effort.
I remember a story of a giant ship engine that had failed and the ship owner tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure out how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, from top to bottom.
Two of the ship’s owners were there watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly the engine lurched into life. he carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed!
A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for $10,000.
“What?!” the owners exclaimed, “He hardly did anything.”
So they wrote to the old man asking for an itemized bill.
The man sent a bill that read: “Tapping with a hammer: $2.00
Knowing where to tap: $9,998.00
Effort is so important, but knowing where to make the effort, makes all the difference. As you try and work through the low times in your life, when things don’t seem to be going well, the steam is running out, it is important to realize that effort is important. And even more important, the place of effort is important.
Peter Drukker says, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” This really highlights how important effort is.
I wonder where you are this morning my friends. Are you in a place that is difficult? Are you low in energy? is your vision blurred? Are things not going the way you would like them to? Maybe this is just a valley for you. It’s been a long time and you are wondering whether to just give up.
I want to close with this poem – ‘Don’t Quit’.
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill.
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Take a deep breath, sit down for a while, regroup, think about what has happened, think about new things, new perspectives. Look around at all the things that can motivate you, challenge and remember that success is failure turned inside out, that the silver tint of the clouds of doubt will go away because you can never tell how close you are to success if you give up now. It may seem far but could be round the corner. So stick to the fight when you’re hit the hardest, and when things seem at their worst, that’s the time you should not quit.
Remember this: the turtle only moves ahead when he has his neck stuck out. On my table I have a little glass cube that has embedded in it, the globe with an eagle on the top. It always reminds me that the bird is about to fall, it transcends the things that can capture it. I’m inspired by it more because of the scripture written under it:
Isaiah 40: 29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
I can trust God in the valleys, putting the effort in the right place and He will show me that like the eagle, I will soar and not faint. This morning if you’re down and out, if you’re weary and things are taking their toll, I want to challenge you. Don’t quit. Take a deep breath. Maybe you need to put effort in the right place and allow that effort to take you out. But don’t quit.
God Bless Us All.
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