Believing In Each Other

Perhaps one of the most telling and far-reaching alms-giving we can do this Lent is to believe in someone. It's amazing how many folks do not believe in themselves, just plodding along from day to day in low gear. As amazing is how often these people are told or sense that others do not believe in them. With two strikes against them, it's awfully hard to keep "chin up" and move ahead. One such person wrote to me recently decrying his teamates for their lack of belief in his ability to take on a lead role on his team next year. He said that the only ones who believe in him are his dad, himself, me and God. That he should include God among his supporters said a lot about him. It bespeaks his future success. Not many would include God in their list of supportive believers. It will be interesting how far that faith will carry him. No doubt he will find himself in the position he covets.
Billy Mills, the 1964 10K Olympic Champion wrote in his journal during the months of training before the Tokyo Olympics: "Believe, believe, believe." While riding the bus to the stadium from the Olympic village, another runner asked Billy who he thought would win, for there were two outstanding runners favored, one from Australia, and the other from Ethiopia. He answered, "Billy Mills." The runner asked, "Who's that?" Yet Billy had visualized himself breaking the tape many a time in practice and in his imagination and dreams. And that's just what happened, with the Australian and Ethiopian falling behind him in second and third places.
Billy believed in himself and it worked. What a gift it would be to let someone know that we believe in him or her. We could help them leap forward to achieve the great things they imagine or dream of. May God guide us to the person who needs our belief!
Bro. Rene
P.S. I'll be in Bal Harbour, Florida till Tuesday, so slices of Daily Bread might not appear daily. I'll do my best.