Thursday; July 30


          According to one of those “This Date In History” websites, today is the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s first professional performance.  On July 30, 1954 Elvis opened the Overton Park Shell Concert in Memphis by singing “That’s Alright Mama” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky”.  (In and of itself, putting those two songs together in a set predicts the type of career the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll would have.)  Oh, and by the way, who were the headliners for the show – Slim Whitman and Billy Walker.  Just about everyone I know is familiar with Elvis Presley, not everyone has heard of the other two guys.
          The reason I bring up this event is that it is a reminder that we never know the potential of the people waiting in the wings.  I am sure that on that day in 1954 no one had a clue that the kid from Tupelo, Mississippi would not only eclipse the popularity of the headliners, he would surpass just about everybody else in popular music! 
          Who are the up-and-comers in our world?  Maybe it is in our offices, our classrooms, our churches or in in our communities – but who has the potential to make a major difference?  The ability to identify these folks is just the first step in making a difference, we then must do what needs to be done to bring them along.  We must never be accused of limiting someone’s potential – especially to maintain our own status. 
          Let’s make sure we support those who come after us.  Not only will we make life better for them, we will also have a positive impact on all of those who are influenced by them.
Think About It!

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