Success

“I saw that wisdom is better than folly,

Just as light is better than darkness."

(Ecclesiastes 2:13) 

            In our democratic society, we are pressed into a competitive market place for our goods and services. That is supposed to be what makes America great. Success is often a matter of having more "stuff". We are building 5, 6 and 7,000 square foot houses, owning bigger boats, luxury cars abound etc. All this is very good for the economy, but is it good for our souls?  

Aristotle Onassis definition of success was to "... keep climbing higher and higher-just for the thrill." 

Barbra Streisand said, “success for me is having ten honeydew melons and eating only the best part of each."  

            Because you are reading this Good News today, I pray that your definition is more closely better epresented by Dr. Gary Rossberg's perspective:

    “Success is not just a matter of money, power and ego, but also issues of the heart-like compassion, bravery, generosity and love. It is an issue of character, not performance. ...of being the person God wanted you to be, not how much salary you can pull down. ...".  

            If we sit in our homes surrounded by our "stuff" and still feel underachieved; If we sit on the couch next to our spouse and still feel lonely; we need to go back to the simple things we learned growing up and search our faith for the definition of success. We will find that Rossberg is very close to the answer.  

Thought for Today:  Today let us look at our calendars and try to evaluate where our efforts are taking us. Let us review our goals and our interactions with others. Let us fit our lives into Rossberg's perspective rather than the more material views of success.  

Prayer for Today: Dear heavenly Father, our world has changed. Terror seems to be taking over well beyond faith and love. Somehow we pray for an answer to how it all fits Your plan. We pray for your guidance and somehow for the ability to keep the power of your light above the darkness that seems to be closing around us.

Amen