...I'm thankful for Opportunities.........

As some of you know, I have been writing commentaries for the Seneca News Dispatch (Seneca, Mo.) and the Midwest Times (Diamond, Granby, and Eastern Newton County, Mo.) - this weeks column follows:

 

            I wonder if we have lost sight of the true celebration of Thanksgiving.  Like you, I have read many articles and commentaries from people over the years noting how “thankful” they are for such a variety of “things”.  I, too, am thankful for my Family and their health, for having a good job at a time when many people do not, and for living in a Country where I can believe and act pretty much the way I want to.  The last item, “being thankful for the Country where I live”, is what made me pause to think.  I did not want to write about the “same old stories” we all hear at Thanksgiving, so I want to focus on the one thing for which I am truly thankful.

            Many of our neighbors have lost their jobs and homes during this economic crisis.  People wonder when our Nation will return to prosperity.  Some people even go as far to say – it won’t.  During a speech given in April of 1959, John F. Kennedy said, “The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity.”  This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for having “opportunities”.  You should be as well.

            We have so many opportunities all around us, every single day.  Maybe someone offers you a new job, or you meet a new person, or you have a great idea pop in your head for an invention.  All of these situations present an opportunity.  It is up to you to decide which ones are worth acting upon and which can be allowed to slip on by.

            Our Society is truly unique in the opportunities we all have.  We can be born poor, into a family who has never had a member graduate from High School, yet we may become rich and educated.  It all depends on how we take advantage of the choices and opportunities laid out before us.  Everyone, in America, had these same opportunities – don’t let anyone tell you different.

            In 1839, a child was born to a salesman who travelled a great deal and was rarely home to savor in the joys of his off spring.  The family was not at all wealthy.  This young child grew up and could have been bitter for the card life had dealt him, but instead he chose to be creative and find ways to occupy his time.  He worked hard and got a job as a bookkeeper.  He was frugal with his money and saved all he could.  As his savings grew, he took his money and partnered with some other investors to purchase some oil refineries.  In 1870, he incorporated his holdings into a little company called “Standard Oil.”  Because he was savvy and acted wisely on the opportunities presented to him, John D. Rockefeller, was worth nearly $1.5 Billion, when he passed away in 1937.

            Like Mr. Rockefeller, American’s Henry Ford, Ronald Reagan, Harry Truman, and our Arkansas Neighbor Sam Walton all took advantage of some form of “opportunity” to advance their lives and make them known to us all.  Now, even though these men were wealthy when they passed away; don’t mistake the point I am after here – it has nothing to do with money.

            The point I wish to make to you and your family this Thanksgiving is this…..take advantage of all opportunities thrown your way.  We live in a rare place, while not without its flaws, that shines above all others on Earth because of what is available to each of us.  We have freedom to date and marry the person of “our” dreams.  We can think freely and outside the box to make crazy inventions – even when others say we are going to fail and we’ve lost our minds!  These are all great things to be thankful for. 

            As I sit down to partake of the wonderful feast in front of me, I am going to pause and thank God for “the opportunities”.