Category: Magnificent Mindset

Loren Eiseley has inspired many to make a difference in the soul-stirring tale, The Star Thrower. A wise man often went to the beach to write, and one day, he saw a man, apparently dancing along the sea shore. As the wise man got closer, he realized the man wasn’t dancing. He was throwing beached starfish back into the ocean. When the wise man saw how many starfish he had yet to rescue, he said, “But, young man, do you not realize there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!” The young man bent down, grabbed another starfish, threw it back into the ocean, and said, “I made a difference to that one!”

What I admire most about the young man is his initiative. Instead of waiting for the tide or someone else to rescue the beached starfish, he did something about what he observed. I admire the woman with the issue of blood for the same reason. When she heard about Jesus, she didn’t sit idle until He made a house call. Instead, she did something! She went and found Him, and she received the healing she so desperately desired.

This email is encouragement for you to take initiative. It’s not enough to believe; you have to put legs on your faith. James said it like this, “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless” (James 2:17, NLT). Don’t let your dreams sit idle. Do something, for you never know the difference your initiative can make!

A quote I love says, “And on the 10,000th try, there was light.” Thomas Edison didn’t discover electricity during his first attempt, but he didn’t quit. He persevered, and 9,998 failures later, he did it! Although it may not have been popular then, Thomas Edison would be the ideal spokesperson for the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.”

And, in the 12th year, there was healing. Although the woman with the issue of blood initially sought healing from the wrong sources, her perseverance must be commended. She had heard the same answer for twelve years – “There isn’t a cure for your disease.” – yet she kept searching. She spent all of her money, but she kept going. 12 years later, she found Jesus and got more than she bargained for!

I’m convinced: God is partial to those who persevere. Jesus said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7, NLT). And that’s my advice for you. Persevere! Keep going! Don’t let failure thwart your progress, for you never know which attempt might end successfully.