Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday March 16, 2010

I love to work on ideas and find quotes, statements by people who have done something whose example may inspire me and others. I know "others" should come before "me," but if someone's speeches or articles do not inspire me, it's a safe bet I will not be able to use their words to inspire others.

John W. Gardner was a very interesting man who inspired millions of people from varied backgrounds to rise above the mass in achievement. He served in different capacities under Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Carter and Reagan. Mr. Gardner wrote:

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems."

As long as problems are defined as such, no progress can or will be made. Only when we see with our mind the truth that every problem contains the secret to its solution can we hope to rise above the crowd and be a true blessing.

While I talked with a friend who operates a large Parochial/Christian School, the reality of the current financial crisis was the topic. The necessity of reducing staff, of losing students who could no longer afford the much higher quality of his school was the subtopic. We realized that the words, crisis, losing, work harder had to go if we were going to lock onto a solution. I say "a" solution because most problems have more than one. I know in my younger days even algebra had more than one; Vera, Isabel, or Dolly. I knew I could count on my two older sisters or the then love of my life, Dolly. I was not the love of Dolly's life, she merely pitied me. But one would have the answer.

The truth be told most organizations are overstaffed and reducing in this area is good. Losing students can be turned around by making a way for the student/parent to earn the tuition and working harder probably is NOT the answer. Working more effectively is the only sensible answer. Just about every organization could use a healthy course of discipline and schools are not exempt. Bill O'Riley told of the parochial school which he was forced to attend. One teacher armed with "habit and ruler" taught, effectively, sixty students.


Emerson nailed it when he wrote, "This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it."

Could it be that the Lord has permitted “these times” to come upon us that we might turn to Him in prayer as suggested in James 1:5:

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

It is considered quaint to "ask God" but it is His way of making us effective in what we do.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit.

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