THE BLOG
Inspirational Blog
Take a moment to be encouraged, challenged and inspired.
The Grace Effect
One of the most incredible moments in college graduation commencement history occurred on May 19, 2019, at Morehouse College, a liberal arts college in Atlanta, GA. The guest speaker for the commencement was Robert Smith, founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, an investment firm which helped make Smith a billionaire five times over. Having received an honorary doctorate just moments earlier, making him a member of the class of 2019, he stunned the graduates and their families when he announced in his address, “On behalf of the eight generations of my family that have been in this country, we’re going to put a little fuel in your bus. This is my class, 2019. And my family is making a grant to eliminate their student loans.” The nearly 400 graduates had accumulated nearly $40 million dollars in student loans, making the gift the largest in school history.
But My Dog Doesn’t Bite
A few years back I had an exercise regimen that consisted of walking four miles as fast as my short legs could take me, four to five days a week. One day to change things up I decided to walk through a neighborhood I’d never walked in. About a quarter of a mile into the subdivision my worst fear was realized. Accompanied by a bark and growl that let me know his intention was not to offer me a bottle of water, a medium sized dog (we’ll call him Brutus) came charging at me across his yard. I braced for the worst because the last thing I wanted was for Brutus to do a taste test on one of my calves.
You Make Your Choices and Your Choices Make You
One of the most renowned poems in American literature is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. I remember in high school and college the efforts we students and our teachers made to give deep meaning to the poem regarding choices we have in life. What I have since learned is that Frost never intended for the poem to be seen as a serious discourse on making life choices. Frost admitted in writing that the poem was not intended as serious commentary on decision making, but to poke fun at his poet friend Edward Thomas who had trouble making decisions, and once he finally did, found himself second guessing his choice. Despite the light hearted nature intended by Frost, it is not hard to glean from the poem life principles about decision making and the impact it has on our lives.
Author & Pastor Jerry Long
Jerry Long is a semi-retired minister living in metro Greenville, SC. He holds degrees from Clemson University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Purchase Ponderings of a Pastor, a collection of these inspirational thoughts, from Amazon.
Jerry may be reached at [email protected].