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Cornerstones

Guest post by: Jim Stovall

Article Overview: Several years ago while I was speaking to a group of young people, I was presented with a dilemma. I was explaining to my audience of pre-teens that it is vital to always stretch ourselves and grow into tasks that we have never attempted. One particularly energetic young man asked if there was anything I wanted to do that I had not attempted. Before I could think about it, I heard myself say, "I've always wanted to write poetry."

Cornerstones

Several years ago while I was speaking to a group of young people, I was presented with a dilemma. I was explaining to my audience of pre-teens that it is vital to always stretch ourselves and grow into tasks that we have never attempted. One particularly energetic young man asked if there was anything I wanted to do that I had not attempted. Before I could think about it, I heard myself say, "I've always wanted to write poetry."

He echoed my words back to me, saying, "It is vital to always stretch ourselves and grow into tasks that we have never attempted." For your consideration, here is the first of many poems I have written that will always be dedicated to that young man.

If I am to dream, let me dream magnificently.

Let me dream grand and lofty thoughts and ideals

That are worthy of me and my best efforts.

If I am to strive, let me strive mightily.

Let me spend myself and my very being

In a quest for that magnificent dream.

And, if I am to stumble, let me stumble but persevere.

Let me learn, grow, and expand myself to join the battle renewed -

Another day and another day and another day.

If I am to win, as I must, let me do so with honor, humility, and gratitude

For those people and things that have made winning possible

And so very sweet.

For each of us has been given life as an empty plot of ground

With four cornerstones.

These four cornerstones are the ability to dream,

The ability to strive,

The ability to stumble but persevere,

And the ability to win.

The common man sees his plot of ground as little more

Than a place to sit and ponder the things that will never be.

But the uncommon man sees his plot of ground as a castle,

A cathedral,

A place of learning and healing.

For the uncommon man understands that in these four cornerstones

The Almighty has given us anything - and everything.

Today's the Day!

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Article Tags: Cornerstones, Jim Stovall, Keeper of the Flame



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