A friend of mine, Jerry, once told me about an experience he had with a never-give-up optimist in Paducah, Kentucky. He got on an elevator at Lourdes Hospital and as the door closed he noticed that he was alone with an elderly man.

Jerry said the fellow looked emaciated, like a POW. He was slumped over in a wheelchair, about to fall out and had an IV in his arm. To Jerry, the man was so thin and frail that he looked like he was about to die.

As the elevator door closed, the man began to hum a cheerful tune and Jerry said to him: "Good morning, Sir."

The fellow cheerfully replied: "Good morning to you, too, Sonny!"

Jerry responded: "You must be doing all right today."

The never-give-up optimist said: "You bet, Sonny, I can sit up and take nourishment

I was born with an orientation against instructions. Who needs them? (I had a VCR once that flashed "12:00" for years because I wouldn't read the instruction booklet.)

Those little manuals and pamphlets and charts just get in the way. "Put bolt B into the hole in part A and part C and attach with nut G." Now that's not cool at all. It is confining, narrow minded, and old fashioned!

Who has the right to dare to tell us that there is only one correct way to assemble a product? Isn't it every person's right to assemble things the way she or he chooses? Instructions are intolerant of my preferences.

And what about all those judgmental building inspectors who tell people that they didn't put their plumbing in the right way or that their wiring isn't up to code? Don't they know that a building code is nothing but tradition, superstition, and judgmentalism?

Everyone is smart enough and has a right to make her or his own codes and rules and instructions. If she is comfortable with her wiring and plumbing, those intolerant inspectors should show some love and leave her alone.

Whew. When you look at it that way, much of today's anti-morality doesn't make sense, does it?

B. roamed around the country for many years, drinking and using drugs. Once he was sleeping in the woods in Mississippi and heard noises. He looked in that direction and saw a group of white men lynch two black men. Fortunately they never saw, B.

Another time B. was hitch hiking and was offered a ride with a group of men who were riding in the back of a pick up truck. As the truck was going full speed down the highway, the men began to rough B. up and to pelt him with racial insults. Then they wrapped him in a blanket and threw him off the speeding truck.

After years of wandering, homelessness, and addiction, B. checked himself into a Christian rehab. He has now been clean and sober for three years by the power of Jesus Christ. B. is an awesome individual who has a wonderful attitude. He is also a powerfully inspiring singer.

D. was also a drug user. She was hooked on heroin. After years of despair and hopelessness someone told her about Teen Challenge, so she went through the program and encountered Jesus Christ. Today D. has a wonderful family and is one of the most inspiring speakers I have ever heard. D. has been clean and sober for 20 years.

The shadows have grown long,

Giving warning of approaching darkness;

And people are searching

For their artificial lights,

To give them strength,

To make it through the night.

Yet many see not the greatest Light of all,

Because their supposed lights

Are too bright in their eyes,

And their heads are filled

With fantasy.

Motivation Quotation -- "Human beings have an amazing capacity for accomplishment and understanding. Our potential for achievement is limitless! We can accomplish nearly anything in life -- as long as we have sufficient desire, belief, and dedication." --Andrea Pennington

Hand Me Some Motivation: It is so easy to get discouraged in life -- to buy the lie that says we are nothing more than average -- that our life and circumstances can never be amazing. The truth is, however, that as human beings we really do have a tremendous capacity for accomplishment. All we need is the desire, the belief, and the dedication to release that amazing capacity.

Motivation is the key. Without motivation our desire for self-improvement drains away, our belief in ourself blows apart, and our dedication decomposes. Wouldn't it be great if we could go to a hope filling station when our hope tank is on empty?

My motivation filling station has several pumps that feel me with motivation: positive people, positive thinking books, prayer, uplifting quotations, hope building affirmations, the Bible, and surrender to my higher power -- Jesus Christ.