Dear Friends,
I find that the most inspiring stories aren't those of Olympic champions or world-class mountaineers. The stories which impact me most are those of men and women who overcome great obstacles just to do ordinary things. I'm thinking of a man named Bill Porter, whose life was portrayed by actor William H. Macy in the film, 'Door to Door'. Bill was born with cerebral palsy, which made it difficult for him to speak clearly, walk and to use his right arm. He was told that he would never be able to hold a job and never be able to take care of himself. The social service's labelled him as 'unemployable.' They told him his only option would be to receive government disability for the rest of his life. But Bill wouldn't listen. He applied for a job selling household products door-to-door. At first, they turned him down, but he persisted. He offered to take the worst community in the city, just to have the opportunity to prove himself. Finally, they relented and gave him a job. Only commission, no salary. Bill walked ten miles a day, ringing doorbell after doorbell, fighting against pain, and weakness, and fatigue - not to mention the difficulties of just communicating with people. When he made a sale, he had to have the customer fill out the order form, because he couldn't hold a pen to write. And yet, he succeeded. He became the company's top salesman, first in that city, then in the region, and finally in the entire country. He achieved all this, even though he couldn't tie his own shoes or button his own shirt. Imagine. A man who has difficulty speaking and walking, that he could make a career for himself - as a door-to-door salesman! And yet, that's exactly what he did for forty years - that is truly heroic.
All of us face situations where the deck seems to be stacked against us; situations where success, or even survival, seem highly questionable. No matter how insurmountable the obstacles may appear, we have something far greater than Bill Porter’s example on which to base our confidence. We have the promises of God to rely on; we have the presence and the power of God at work in our lives. And that's more than enough to meet any challenge.
Let's remember, when the odds are against us, when the possibility of success seems remote, is that God isn't bound by odds or percentages. We don’t live in a world governed by some blind fate, mindlessly tossing us about. Instead, we live in a world governed by a Sovereign, Personal God.
'Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power. Nothing is too hard for you.' Jeremiah 32:17
'For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.' Philippians 4:13
Shalom,
J.John
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