This morning, as i read my devotional, I was very inspired by the story of Rosa Parks. This was a woman who in 1955, made a personal life-changing decision that is still talked about to this day! In the city of Montgomery, Alabama, she refused to move to the back of the bus after a white man got on board and wanted to sit in a front seat. Who knew that something as simple as saying "NO" would make history? However, Rosa's mother beleived, "You should always take adavantage of the opportunities, no matter how few they are", and when the right time came, Rosa grasped that opportunity, refused to live in fear, and was determined to have what was rightfully hers. I strongly believe in those few moments after she was asked to move to the back of the bus, she thought of 2 choices she could make; 1) quietly move back, avoid confrontation, jail time, and just continue her simple peaceful life..OR 2) refuse to move, confront the gentleman, be arrested and face lots of legal repercussions. However, inspite of her full awareness of the consequences, she still refused to take the easy way out. She chose to stand up to her oppressor, and thanks to that decision, we now enjoy many civil liberties today. Thanks to her decision, the U.S. supreme court ruled that segregation on buses was unconstitutional; and Parks was the first woman to receive the Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize. Today, over 40 years later, she is still an icon and permanently part of the American history. The personal choice she made that day in 1955, transitioned her from simple anonymous living to a world-changer and history-maker. Why? Because she simply said, "NO!"
How many times have you given up and just decided to take the easy way out? How many times have you let fear paralyze you from doing something you've always wanted to accomplish? Today, determine to take the hard way out. In this fast food microwave society, we have been pacified into doing just the minimum necessary, but I beleive if we increase our efforts just a little, refuse to walk in fear and be determined to make a change, there are no limits to what we can acheive. Quit complaining about the problem, and be the change you want to see. Quit waiting for someone else to bring reform when God has given you all what it takes to do it. Now, i will be the first to admit that i am very aware of the immobilizing grip fear can have on one's life, but like Joyce Meyer says, " DO IT AFRAID"! Instead of letting the fear paralyze you, let it propel you into your destiny. Today, quit reading history, and start working to create history....for it takes just one dynamic decision to catapult you from ordinary to extraordinary.
Have a great, life-changing, make-it-happen kindda day! :)
"Only a fool beleives that harvest comes without toil, so is he that assumes that greatness will come without labor" - Bishop Shaun Cooper.
