'Unrecognized opportunities

Unrecognized opportunities

There is a legend of an artist who long sought for a piece of choice sandal-wood out of which to carve a Madonna. At last he was about to give up in despair, leaving the vision of his life unrealized, when in a dream he was bidden to shape the figure from a block of oak wood which was destined for the fire. Obeying the command, he produced a masterpiece from the piece of common firewood.

In like manner, many people wait for great and brilliant opportunities for doing the good things, the beautiful things, of which they dream — while through all the common days, the very opportunities they require for such deeds, lie close to them, in the simplest and most common passing events.

They wait to find choice sandal-wood out of which to carve Madonnas, while far more lovely Madonnas than they dream of, are hidden in the common pieces of oak which they burn in the open fireplace, or spurn with their feet in the yard.

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God!" 1 Corinthians 10:31

Back to Glimpses Through Life's Windows