I was very blessed to have been given the opportunity to attend the Women of Faith Conference in Anaheim a month ago. One of the speakers there was (a man) Andy Andrews. He mixed some very funny stories in with some gold nuggets of wisdom and teaching. I picked up one of his books called, The Traveler's Gift.
This book gives seven secrets for success, but reads like a novel, not a self-help book. It is a modern day parable about a man who has found himself in the hardest point of his life and wanting to give up. He is given an opportunity to go back in time and talk to some of the most influential people in our history, and gain wisdom from them as they face the most crucial decisions of their lives.
David Ponder (the main character), visits Abraham Lincoln, King Solomon, Anne Frank, Harry Truman, and others who teach him their secrets of success. These encounters, give David a second chance to live his own life with purpose and courage despite the obstacles he faces.
I am going to tell you the seven secrets, and if any of them strikes a cord with you, I highly recommend reading this book to find out more about the secrets.
1. The buck stops here - you are in control of your destiny
2. I will seek wisdom - you are guided by who you surround ourselves with and what you read
3. I am a person of action - you need to move, not be frozen with fear
4. I have a decided heart - you decide what has power over you, and press toward your goal
5. Today I will choose to be happy - Count your blessings and have hope
6. I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit - Forgiveness is huge
7. I will persist without exception - No fear
All of these secrets were fabulously woven into a beautiful story, but if I had to pick one, the last one moved me to tears. After reading the chapter on being persistent, I realized that I have let busyness, fear, and Satan, get in the way of some of my goals. My biggest goal is to write a book so that I can share my faith is a larger way. Busyness has gotten in the way because there is always something to do, and I feel the need to clear my desk before I sit down and dig into such a big undertaking. Fear of not being able to write a book that flows in a meaningful way is the other obstacle I face. It is easier to write a Blog than to think about an entire book. To top off all of my reasons for not writing, I have Satan who throws fatigue and self-doubt into the mix.
"Reason can only be stretched so far, but faith has no limits. The only limit to your realization of tomorrow is the doubt you hold fast today." - The Traveler's Gift.
In the final encounter, David meets the angel Gabriel. Gabriel shows David a place where all lost hopes and dreams are kept. It is a big heavenly warehouse, of sorts, that holds the dreams that never came true because of despair and discouragement. This was the chapter that had me weeping. How sad to think that a book could be in a big pile of dreams never realized.
"A sailor who fearfully watches stormy seas lash his vessel will always steer an unproductive course. But a wise and experienced captain keeps his eye firmly fixed upon the lighthouse. He knows that by guiding his ship directly to a specific point, the time spent in discomfort is lessened. And by keeping his eye on the light, there never exists one second of discouragement. My light, my harbor, my future is within sight! I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith." - The Traveler's Gift
Faith is better than reason. Faith can take you farther than you ever thought you could go. I have always expected miracles to happen, and because of that, I have seen them! I will not let fear take away what is promised to me in God's Word. I will persist through pain, fatigue, and fear because I know that God has set the course for me, and my true desire is to follow that course with my eyes fixed on Him, a lighthouse that will never crumble despite the biggest storm.
You have the same tools as I do to attack whatever it is that is holding you back from living a purposeful life in Christ. I pray that you will persist by using God's Word as your stronghold.
Blessings,
Sandy
