Unending Opportunity

"The world is all gates, all opportunities, strings of tension waiting to be struck." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

We have all seen them at various times in our life. It might be in the middle of the night when we can't sleep so we turn on the television. They even creep into full page advertisements in your favorite magazine or newspaper. What I am referring to are those "opportunities of a lifetime" announcements.

Act now they scream out loudly. "Money making franchise opportunity of the century." "A 150 billion dollar business." "Big money in your spare time." The pitch is that this opportunity won't last much longer, so dial that number now.

And I guess the numbers can't be wrong. Infomercials, direct-response TV marketing as it's formally known, are expected to rise to a record $174 billion, by 2014, according to Yoram Wurmser of Direct Marketing Assn. So there are a lot of people jumping at the opportunity that isn't supposed to last.

Their marketing pitch is pretty powerful to say the least. Something else that is pretty powerful is love. Love is not an opportunity that is a limited time offer. Love is an opportunity that is never ending.

As I wrote in my book Love Is, "love is eternal." It is never-ending, unchanging and can never run empty. You have no way of using up or consuming all of God’s love. There is no fuel gauge on that love, no gas station in which to fill back up with more love. It is there, always and overflowing in your life.

So take the opportunity to find and know how powerful love can be in your own life. It is a great thing to have and will help you achieve your best life. Stay inspired my friends.

Mile High Love

"Helping someone is what life is all about." -Willie Stargell

The stories are written everyday, in the back pages of the newspapers and the collective memories of those present. The doom and gloom headlines overshadow with words of destruction and mayhem. The killings and crimes, the sensational and hate shout out at us from all angles.

But these other stories are those of good works, of people stepping forward in love. They are the stories you catch in the corner of the page, next to the local jamboree fair. Most of these stories only get read on the third or fourth reading pass of the newspaper.

Many people will never see this story and in this particular case, it took place at 35,000 feet in the air. It was to be a simple business flight from Atlanta to Boston. Early on a Monday morning and all was going well. The State of Virginia was passing beneath us when the call came out over the intercom.

Was there a doctor, paramedic or nurse on board the plane? Was there anyone in the cabin containing 186 people have the ability to help with a medical emergency? In most cases there always seems to be a doctor close by, but not this time.

The elderly lady had fainted and was now having a hard time breathing. Assistance was needed quickly and the Flight Attendants were doing their best. And then the familiar "bong" noise of someone's Call Button being lit up. We had someone that knew something about medical assistance.

This woman was a nurse if I heard correctly. She knew something of medical conditions and how to assist someone in need. So from her middle seat she sprang the five or six rows to where the elderly lady lay on the floor.

For several minutes a flurry of activity took place. Several minutes more went by and you could see the relief beginning to fill the faces of those around. Eventually she recovered from her affliction and was sitting up in a seat, in good enough shape to chat with those around her.

The nurse had done what was right and what came natural to her. But just having the ability, the training, the talent wasn't enough to spring her into action. It was love of a fellow human being, a self-less act that probably saved a life. In fact, it was love that saved a life.

Love is powerful in many ways and love in this case saves lives.

Tim Tebow Is

"Love stretches your heart and makes you big inside." - Margaret Walker

Mark, a good friend of mine, sent me the following article not too long ago. Its an article written by ESPN sports columnist Rick Reilly. It is titled, I believe in Tim Tebow and is a must read to understand what giving of oneself, what inspiration and what perspective on life is.

There are varied opinions on Tim Tebow and the whole effect he is having on the National footbal League and amongst viewers. A term called Tebowing has even created lots of discussion between people. Each of us can have an opinion but I want to get beyond the outward view people have.

What I am looking at is inward, to what is truly going on inside of this person called Tim Tebow. I also want to see how we can use it as an example of living our lives in respect to others.

Forget the kneeling, forget the "thanking God" statements and forget that he may not be the most talented professional quarterback in football. Look to what he does with his abilities in helping others outside of his professional career. Look to what he gives, which is himself.

The real power of love is in being able to give so freely and courageously of oneself. The true nature of love is to let that love pour from you into the lives of others.

Love is in fact the greatest gift you have been given and the greatest gift you can give to others. Love is inspiring.

Get On With It

"To be always intending to make a new and better life but never to find time to set about it is as...to put off eating and drinking and sleeping from one day to the next until you're dead." -Og Mandino

Most every day you get up and place yourself back into the daily routine. You get up, get dressed, get breakfast and get on the road to work. You fall in line with the other cars going to work, pulling into the parking lot and waiting in line for the elevator.

You tell yourself that there is more you want to do in life. You want to volunteer helping the needy. You want to learn a better job skill. You want to meet someone that you can share your life with. You want, you want, and you want.

But than you get back in line for the elevator, wait to pull out of the parking lot, fall in line with the other cars going home. You feed the dog, you make some dinner, watch some television, get dressed for bed and fall asleep. All in an effort to do it all over again the next day.

You intend to turn your wants into reality, but you do the same thing over and over again. You place yourself on a treadmill going slow somedays, running like mad the next, but never getting anywhere. You see the same thing over and over on the treadmill.

Maybe it is time to actually get up and do something. Maybe its time to get on with it. Get up and go after those things you want in life. No more waiting, no more planning, go now!