Recently I joined the family of Shorter University, a liberal arts Christian school.
As I am going through my orientation training I have also been meeting some of the students. Since my direct involvement is with those students twenty one and over there are students who have not attended college for years or never at all.
To meet them is to be inspired by them.
There was Telease, a woman in her, I am guessing, in her mid twenties, I am not sure. My gosh, the confidence and the “can do” spirit that came from within her was fantastic, to say the least. It was truly contagious. I wanted to take her immediately to others and let her confidence rub off on them, to let them know that they can also achieve beyond what they thought possible.
Then there was Lily. She told me how she was retired from FEDEX and had put in her dues and now had completed her work for her Associates and now working toward her Bachelors degree. When she said she was looking forward to the day when she would be able to “walk”, as in graduation, was truly inspiring. I want to be there when she does.
One can not help but be inspired when around someone who has been empowered.
You can not help but be affected by it.
These students have found something that has allowed them to push themselves outside the box and beyond their sphere of confidence.
What keeps us in our box? Why do we hide inside our closet of comfort not willing to go out into the world around us and see what is out there waiting for us to accomplish.
I am meeting the people of empowerment every day and want to meet more.
Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
These adults are changing the world. Lily’s kids are also enrolled at Shorter University. She’s changing the world. Telease changes the world every time she walks into a room and introduces herself.
Going back to school may not be what God has intended for you.
If not, that is fine. But then, what is His intentions for you? Why are you alive on this day, in fact, on this Wednesday, why are you alive?
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” Acts 1:8
Let God empower you today, on this specific day.
What you can accomplish then is truly unlimited and world changing.
JHH
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