YOU MAKE YOUR OWN WEATHER
Settling for the story:
Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama 1977 a conversation between Fred Crowell, Basketball Coach & Dr. Joseph King, 88-year-old professor emeritus ensues.
“Good morning Dr. King,” smiled Coach Crowell. “And a good morning to you coach,” DR. King replied.
“Dr. King, may I ask you a question,” I proposed. “Yes, of course,” replied Dr. King, a short, slender English looking gentleman.
“Dr. King, I have watched you for nearly two years. I want to be like you when I am your age. Please give me the best piece of advice to help me reach this goal,” I asked sincerely.
A long pause, a quick look upward, a smile on the face, Dr. King said, “You make your own weather!” He turned quickly and walked away leaving me to think of his one piece of advice.
I began to ruminate about my life experiences. I grew up in the San Juan Islands of Washington state; lived in frigid Fairbanks, Alaska, spent two summers in hot, smog laden San Bernardino, hot humid Tulsa Oklahoma and even more humid Birmingham, Alabama.
Each location presented totally different weather. Rain, freezing cold, heat, humidity, yet all had one thing in common; people. Some happy, some sad, some cheerful, some angry.
Dr. King’s advice that day changed my attitude about rain, snow, ice, hot and humid days. These were not going to impact my attitude. The weather was not going to decide my day. As a Finnish quote goes; “There is no bad weather just bad clothing.”
I learned climate describes weather over a period of time; whereas weather describes the present surrounding environment. Bad day weather is acceptable but a bad climate as attitude is not acceptable for our lives.
We make our own weather; We prepare for the weather. Weather is what we make each day.
The following are my ideas on how we can make sunny, warm days in our innermost being:
- Choose to be grateful and thankful.
- Choose to speak life not death statements.
- Dress each day for your personal success.
- Seek counsel from wise people
- Don’t travel with negative, destructive people
- Don’t lounge with people who habitually live in sin
- Meditate day and night on God’s laws of living well
- Box yourself into Psalm 1 (great counsel for youth relationships)…
