The
difference between great people and everyone else is that great people
create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their
lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next. The
difference between the two is the difference between living fully and
just existing.
Destiny is not a matter of chance. It's a matter of
choice. It's not something to
hope for but something to work for.
Yesterday
is a dream, tomorrow a vision. But today well-lived makes every
yesterday a dream of happiness, and
every tomorrow a vision of hope and better tomorrow. Look well, therefore to this
day.
In January
2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina invited their favorite son,
Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy Graham, now 93 years old (2011), has with Parkinson's disease. He
initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with
Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a
major address. Just come
and let us honor you."
So he agreed.
After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the
rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "
I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this
month has been honored by Time Magazine as the Man of the Century.
Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor
came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he
came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find
his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he
looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat
beside him. He still couldn't find it.
The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who
you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.'
Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle
punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned
around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking
under his seat for his ticket.
The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr.
Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a
ticket. I'm sure you bought one.'
Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too, know who I am. What
I don't know is where I'm going.'"
Having said that, Billy Graham continued, ''See the suit I'm wearing?
It's a brand new suit. My children, and my grandchildren are telling me
I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more
fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and
for one more occasion.
You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be
buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you
to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing. I want you to remember
this: I
not only know who I am. I also know where I'm going."
By Tim
Pedrosa
It's
only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on
earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, we will
then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we
had.-the
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross |