Did You Bring Along Your Brolly?
January 5th, 2009 . by Jeff McCall
A small agricultural community was suffering from a severe drought. If the rains didn’t come soon the crops would be ruined and the farmers and their families would most likely starve. The people turned to their preacher for a solution.
The preacher told them all to “come to church on Sunday”, when they would all join together and pray for rain.
Sunday came and the whole community turned out for the church service. There was hushed quiet as the preacher climbed up to the pulpit to speak.
He looked around the expectant faces of the congregation and studied them pensively. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak: “I suggest that you all go home” he said “there will be no rain today.”
The congregation were aghast. “But you promised us rain” they cried.
The preacher turned to address them again and said: “I see that not one of you has brought an umbrella or a raincoat with you today. How can you hope to pray for rain, if in your hearts you have no faith that it will come?”
Think about that message for a moment. How can you hope to achieve anything, if in your heart you have no faith that you’ll actually achieve it?
The Oxford English Dictionary gives the following definitions for the word ‘faith’:
– trust, things believed, loyalty, fidelity, confidence.
Well these cover all the angles!
To succeed with anything you first need to trust in your own ability to succeed and be loyal to that trust. By that I mean don’t go changing your mind every five minutes. You know the drill ” Yes I know I can achieve that!” one minute and then “Well now I’m not so sure!” the next.
Stepping on from this you also need the confidence and self belief to see the thing through to its completion.
Let me paint another image of faith for you, again involving the rain.
You’ve probably heard stories of the legendary ‘rain dance’ carried out by the American Indians. Apparently they could dance to make it rain.
“But!” I hear you cry, “They just danced until it began to rain. There’s nothing mystical about that!”
No my friend you’re right. But they had the faith to continue dancing, knowing that if they danced long enough the rain would come.
Take a look in the mirror. Do you have enough faith to continue ‘dancing’ until you achieve the dreams you desire?
Do you have enough faith to ‘carry your umbrella’ even though your associates may have fallen by the wayside. Certain in the knowledge that good fortune will rain down upon you?
If you don’t have faith in yourself and your ability to succeed, then you’re sunk even before you launch your boat. Faith is a very powerful emotion that can conjure up all sorts of amazing phenomena. Remember, that faith requires trust, self-belief, loyalty to yourself and above all confidence in your own abilities. If you’re ‘packing’ all those weapons then you’re really a force to be reckoned with.
Be successful.
Good post Jeff ,I like the story .
the ending give you something to think.
Thanks Fro Great Post
Dawid Ryba
Hi Jeff, Michael here, a fellow Alex Jeffrey’s Student! Just wanted to pop in and say hello! I admit, I did NOT bring my Brolly! Your article has touched me. It has given me pause as to what FAITH really is! Jeff, THANK YOU! I truly enjoyed the read!
There is a scripture that says, “He that endures to the end shall be saved”, in other words, keep on keeping on, doing the work required, and in the end, you will reap the reward of a profitable business.