The View from the Mountaintop – July 25, 1999
All great achievements have one thing in common: They were doubted—sometimes even scoffed at—by others with less vision. Every great leader, inventor, and pioneer has chosen to ignore the skeptics who said it couldn’t be done. In many cases, these remarkable heroes endured years of persecution and loneliness in order to make life better for the very people who scorned them. Something inside kept telling them not to give up, but to stay the course and believe in their ideas.
We all harbor hopes and dreams, and some of us keep them quietly tucked away in the corners of our hearts, fearing others might not share our passion—might even ridicule our secret wishes. Self-doubt and discouragement are eager companions; they appear out of nowhere, casting shadows of uncertainty where only moments ago the euphoria of a new thought lit our souls with hope.
One cannot help wondering how many brilliant symphonies, ingenious gadgets, beautiful poems, and great advancements we have missed because someone, somewhere, let go of a dream. What liberty and peace the world could know if all well-meaning souls had acted upon their generosity of spirit and continued fighting for justice in nations where justice is not.
Sometimes a great accomplishment requires going it alone, believing that one person really can make a difference. Sometimes we have to rely upon our own instincts, our own enthusiasm, and ignore those who cannot summon the courage or imagination to see a better world.
But if we can persevere—if we don’t allow detractors to dishearten us—we may indeed reach the stars that we alone can see. We can conquer personal weaknesses, use our talents to improve the world, and glimpse what only few are granted: the view from the mountaintop.
Program #3649