"Do the right thing.
It will gratify some people and
astonish the rest."
-Mark Twain
I don’t think Mark Twain (1835-1910) was referring to Sal, Mookie, Radio Raheem, or Buggin’ Out (Spike Lee-1989) when he said this. Although their methods of doing the right thing did both gratify and astonish, Mark was speaking to all of us without realizing it. He was making a proclamation for each of us to remember that no matter how we set out to follow the straight and narrow everyone’s response will be different.
I’m reminded of a quote that my 6th grade teacher handed out on the first day of school that I still have in my “time capsule” (a box in the storage closet) lol and that is “Do what you feel in your heart to be right; you’ll be damned if you do, damned if you don’t” –Eleanor Roosevelt. In 6th grade, at a time where you are learning about yourself, this was a great message to tuck away in the belt of life quotes. Because honestly, every decision you make will be based upon whether YOU thought it was the RIGHT one for you or for your situation. We can only be responsible for ourselves and with that comes the celebration of our decisions and/or the criticism.
So my question is this: Which business are you in? The gratification of other people? OR The business of astonishment?
Do you want to be remembered for playing it safe because that’s what people expected for you to do or remembered for taking a leap of faith into where God is calling you to be?
I didn’t write poetry, share my testimony, reach out to people, and attempt to be a light because it was what people wanted me to do. It wasn’t popular and to some it may have been wrong. But God didn’t give me this story, these words, this gift to gratify. No! He created me for even a moment as this and as astonishing as it might be to some, I feel like I’m doing the right thing!
Be significant.
Be astonishing.
Be called.
Be YOU on purpose!
It will gratify some people and
astonish the rest."
-Mark Twain
I don’t think Mark Twain (1835-1910) was referring to Sal, Mookie, Radio Raheem, or Buggin’ Out (Spike Lee-1989) when he said this. Although their methods of doing the right thing did both gratify and astonish, Mark was speaking to all of us without realizing it. He was making a proclamation for each of us to remember that no matter how we set out to follow the straight and narrow everyone’s response will be different.
I’m reminded of a quote that my 6th grade teacher handed out on the first day of school that I still have in my “time capsule” (a box in the storage closet) lol and that is “Do what you feel in your heart to be right; you’ll be damned if you do, damned if you don’t” –Eleanor Roosevelt. In 6th grade, at a time where you are learning about yourself, this was a great message to tuck away in the belt of life quotes. Because honestly, every decision you make will be based upon whether YOU thought it was the RIGHT one for you or for your situation. We can only be responsible for ourselves and with that comes the celebration of our decisions and/or the criticism.
So my question is this: Which business are you in? The gratification of other people? OR The business of astonishment?
Do you want to be remembered for playing it safe because that’s what people expected for you to do or remembered for taking a leap of faith into where God is calling you to be?
I didn’t write poetry, share my testimony, reach out to people, and attempt to be a light because it was what people wanted me to do. It wasn’t popular and to some it may have been wrong. But God didn’t give me this story, these words, this gift to gratify. No! He created me for even a moment as this and as astonishing as it might be to some, I feel like I’m doing the right thing!
Be significant.
Be astonishing.
Be called.
Be YOU on purpose!
#nomakeup
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