Tuesday; November 25

        That noise you heard sixty-two years ago was the echoing of sobbing all across our nation.  We had lost another president to an assassin’s bullet.  In one century, we had lost four presidents to violence:  Abraham Lincoln (1865), James Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1901) … and now, John Kennedy.  Thankfully, it had been over sixty years since the last assassination, but on this November day, that probably wasn’t much consolation as our nation paused to lay its most recent casualty to rest.  The new-age, idealistic leader with the young family was gone.  Like with most martyrs, I believe that President Kennedy’s life has taken on a very special significance since that day in Dallas in 1963, but love him or hate him, he was colorful and quotable.  The other day, I came across a quote I don’t believe I had ever noticed, “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.".  A brief look at President Kennedy’s life would reveal that even coming from privilege, he had experienced challenges.  In health, in war, in politics … his path wasn’t easy, but he kept looking forward.

        Sometimes I wonder if we mistake what it means to be blessed.  It is convenient to think that it is a gift to have few problems, but is that really the best we can receive?  The thing that makes us productive isn’t the removal of challenge, we make a bigger mark when we overcome them.  A lot of people can avoid troubles; the sign of a leader is to be up to the task.

        Are we hoping to dream?  If so, we’d better be prepared to work!

        Think About It!

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