Just a Thought

"A single thought can revolutionize your life as it did mine. A single thought can make you rich or it can land you in prison for the rest of your life." - Earl Nightingale

American author and speaker, Earl Nightingale broadcasted his radio programs for more than three decades on over 1,000 radio stations in 12 countries around the world, making him one of the most listened-to broadcasters in history. Known as the "Dean of Personal Development", and a great philosopher of his time.

Several years back, I heard an old, pre-recorded story by Earl Nightingale.

I found it humorous, inspiring, and worth sharing.

Enjoy the story and take note of the lesson within.

I was staying at a resort hotel, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, in northern Michigan. One evening after dinner I settled myself comfortably in a chair on the porch that runs the entire length of the old frame hotel.

Supposedly it's the longest porch in the world, just to relax and enjoy the delightful evening. There was the light breeze, and a good moon. The lake was beautiful, and the lights of the passing ships could be seen. The evergreens stood out clearly in the moonlight. It was altogether one of those really great times you remember.

Before long a young couple came strolling down the long porch. They were walking arm-in-arm. And I thought that they were all that was needed to make the picture complete. They walked slowly by me and then took seats not far away. They were silent for a moment, and I naturally thought that they were enjoying the remarkable beauty of the scene in the night as much as I was, when the young woman spoke.

I know these were her exact words because I wrote them down as soon as I could stop laughing.

She said, “I hate the smell of horses.”

There are no automobiles on Mackinac Island. All the transportation is done with horses, and they naturally lend their own unique flavor into the island’s atmosphere. I found it charming and a lot less irritating than the noise and fumes of cars, taxis and trucks.

But what made me laugh of course was that in the midst of all that beauty, on one of the most beautiful evenings of the year, in such a romantic and charming a setting, the only thing the young woman noticed that was worth mentioning was the faint odor of horses.

They looked at me and were surprised when I laughed. So, I had to explain why, which neither of them found to be amusing at all. In fact, the young woman seemed somehow offended. And they soon moved away from the strange character who not only eavesdropped but also laughed at them.

The sad thing about it all was that the attractive young woman belongs to that vast army whose members make it their business to spend their lives focusing on the wrong things. I'll bet if the young man gave her a string of pearls, she'd busy herself for a minute on the inspection of the clasp.

On a beautiful day such people can only spot that tiny cloud on the horizon.

They don't appreciate the good qualities in people but complain about their defects. If their children bring home report cards with five B's and 1C. It's the 1C that will get the comments and the attention. They don't look for what's right but what's wrong. In a world of miracles and beauty they see only horse droppings. If you mention this to them, they'll usually say you have your head in the sand and that you have it all backwards.

There's nothing in the world that's perfect and it's our job to eliminate as many defects as we can but pity the poor people who go through life seeing only the fly specks on the window of the world.

That story never grows old to me. Each time I hear it, it’s a refreshing reminder of how our words can dull even the brightest moments in life.

If we're followers of Christ, and familiar with scripture, we know the importance of carefully choosing words - allowing them to flow from discernment and a grateful heart.

....and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5b

Because everything, starts with a thought...

Light filled guidance overflows within scripture - including directing how we speak, or how we hold our tongues.

Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. Proverbs 10:19

Jesus was both fully God and fully human. Pure and holy.

But humor me for a moment.

Remember the miraculous ‘feeding of five thousand’?

And he directed the people to sit down on the grass.

Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and he broke the loaves. Matthew 14:19

What if just prior to thanking God, Jesus commented that he hated the smell of fish?

And to fulfill all righteousness, Jesus was baptized.

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment

heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and

alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love;

with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17 NIV)

Amazingly beautiful! But what if after that God added, “But come on son, try to

keep your sandals from getting so dirty. You're so messy.”

I giggle thinking about such scenarios, but there’s a lesson tucked within.

One, it’s important to know what to include in your speech, but it's just as important to know what to leave out.

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the tongue has “the power of both life and death”.

Bold, but true. If we reflect on our lives, I’m sure it won’t take you long to

recall moments in which words have affected you deeply (for the good, or the not so good).

Again, our words come from our thoughts, and our thoughts from our hearts. I

invite to become deliberate in “capturing” your thoughts.

Throughout the day, become aware, what are you thinking about?

How do you talk to your children? Your spouse? And what about 'self-talk'?

Are you looking for God's goodness in all things?

Do you make the most out of everything and everything situation, or do you look for worst?

Do you honor God with your thoughts?

Or are you part of the grim group that looks for the 'fly specks on the window of the world'?

3-2-1:

3 Scripture Verses, 2 Quotes and

1 Question to Consider

3 Scriptures:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is

helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those

who listen. Ephesians 4:29

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the

knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to

Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. Zechariah 1:13

2 Quotes:

The Bible was not given for our information but for our transformation.

- Dwight L. Moody

Love life and it will love you right back.

- Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

1 Question:

It's so much more than, 'just a thought'. Do your thoughts honor God?