Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “There is no planet, sun, or star could hold you if you but knew what you are.” How can we in fact fulfil our potential?
A young unknown Hollywood film director had a great idea for a movie. He worked out the finances and decided it could be filmed and edited for around $700,000, at a time it was thought impossible to make a film for under a million.
Eventually he found a backer in United Artists but they got cold feet and withdrew at the last minute. After a great deal of dithering Universal Pictures backed the movie which went on to become one of their most successful films of the seventies. The name of the movie: American Graffiti!
The same young man came up with another great idea for a movie but even Universal who’d made a lot of money out of American Graffiti, turned him down. Eventually Fox gave him some backing and no doubt the executives at United Artists and Universal never ceased to regret their decision.The young man’s name: George Lucas! His great idea was the Star Wars Trilogy which went on to make millions of dollars even without television and video rights.
Sadly, once we’ve achieved a degree of success we become well known and bankable, but that’s the very time we are not in need of so much support. From the time we had to hold our own in the school play ground most of us would have been thankful for a bit of support and encouragement. An affirming and encouraging spirit is missing for so many which is why depression is at epidemic proportions around the globe. What will make a difference? Leo Buscaglia said , “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” I am convinced God is looking for those who will see the potential in others and help them complete it. When Jesus called the apostle Peter the rock, he was not looking at what he was but what he could become. If we can allow ourselves to see as God sees who knows how many lives may also be able to make rock solid contributions.