Courage

Please, don’t deny yourself the inspirations and motivations to be gleaned from Ben’s story. If you watch one video today, make this that video. Via, and with credit to my friend Heather Gioia and her site, oohgioia. Thanks, Alan Sexton

There are some stories that take a lot of courage for anyone to tell – I for example have my own – this 18 year old boy has the courage and wisdom beyond his years.

Ben Breedlove / Photo credit ABC News

Ben Breedlove has struggled since about the age of 13 months old with a life-threatening heart condition. Before Christmas, Ben posted the below YouTube videos that told everyone about his life struggle. Click here to continue reading, to watch Ben’s videos…

President Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Address

     “Under one such marker lies a young man–Martin Treptow–who left his job in a small town barbershop in 1917 to go to France with the famed Rainbow Division. There, on the western front, he was killed trying to carry a message between battalions under heavy artillery fire.

     We are told that on his body was found a diary. On the flyleaf under the heading, ‘My Pledge,’ he had written these words: ‘America must win this war. Therefore, I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.’

     The crisis we are facing today does not require of us the kind of sacrifice that Martin Treptow and so many thousands of others were called upon to make. It does require, however, our best effort, and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together, with God’s help, we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us.

     And, after all, why shouldn’t we believe that? We are Americans. God bless you, and thank you.”

 ~President Ronald Reagan, excerpt from his First Inaugural Address, January 20, 1981

“American Hardship”

By Alan Sexton/Green Mountain Scribes

Most among us likely agree that America currently faces tremendous challenges, many of which are particularly disconcerting because these are without precedent. Sadly, most of these perils and the subsequent suffering are caused by increasingly intrusive centralized government.

Reassuring Words via The Prophet Isaiah

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Self-Made Men By Frederick Douglass

We are sometimes dazzled by the gilded show of aristocratic and monarchical institutions, and run wild to see a prince. We are willing that the nations which enjoy these superstitions and follies shall enjoy them in peace. But, for ourselves, we want none of them and will have none of them and can have none of them while the spirit of liberty and equality animates the Republic.

 Excerpted from Self-Made Men, by Frederick Douglass, 1872

Ageless Wisdom

“What you are aware of you are in control of; what you are not aware of is in control of you.” ~ Anthony de Mello

Anthony de Mello (1931~ 1987) was a priest and psychotherapist, widely known for his books on spirituality, internationally acclaimed spiritual guide and public speaker.