I was born n 1959. The number one movie that year?
Ben Hur.
Lew Wallace wrote the book. Charlton Heston brought the character of Judah Ben Hur to life. I would watch this on reruns and never knew the back story. It is amazing.
You see, Lew was a Union General during our Civil war. He made a wrong turn during the battle of Shiloh and ended up on the road to nowhere. Missed the entire engagement. Lincoln sent him home. Fired his sorriness. Lew would petition Lincoln for his post. No bueno. Lincoln had moved on. So, Lew went home and got seriously depressed. Had nothing to live for, or so he thought. Started to write and stumbled onto his character, Ben Hur. The dude made a mistake, he wrote, no fault of his own. He was a Jew in the Roman world. Went from tall cotton to rowing (as a slave) on a war ship. I won’t ruin the ending for you, if you haven’t seen this film. It’s an epic ending. Full circle moment. Same was true for Lew.
He went from disgraced general to the best selling author of America’s most popular novel. He made the most of his misery. The obstacle became the way. Always does if you know what to look for and whom to look toward. I believe, all it takes is a mustard seed of faith in a really BIG God. So, whatever your circumstance, do not lose hope. It’s alright to feel down, just don’t stay there. Get up. Dust yourself off. Write. Gain clarity. ACT.
Turn your tragedy into your testimony.
Life is hard. Designed so. Don’t give up. Get up. Move. Do not waste a good, freakin’ crisis. Make the most of it. Lew did. You can too. God, help me lean in, learn, and never give in. God, help me do like Lew did. Damn.
Live hard. LOVE harder…
BUILT TO LEAD 