The Tough-Minded Optimist by Norman Vincent Peale

Author:Norman Vincent Peale
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2003-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Note that “two solid years.” She was really demonstrating perserverance, wasn’t she? How easily many people get discouraged with a program of daily effort before even two weeks are up! But this lady kept at it for two long years even though she still saw no results. That’s really something, believe me.

“Then one night, very late, everyone in bed,” continues the letter, “when I was at a point where I felt I had done just about everything to improve situations …”

Here is the critical point, where the issue hangs in the balance, where the danger is greatest of losing hope and ac- cepting defeat, maybe even losing faith in God and becoming bitter. When you are at your wit’s end and the feeling comes over you that you’ve done all you can, what then?—Why that’s just the time to persevere and keep on persevering. What did this lady do?

“I knelt down,” she writes, “and cried out everything to God. I prayed as I had never prayed before. This wonderful peace crept over me and the warm glow of some kind of love enveloped me. As I later understood, I had reached a complete relinquishment, after a period of repentance and godly sorrow.

“I then saw many things clearly. The passages of Scripture with which I had saturated myself took on new meaning. The whole world seemed different. It was as if I saw trees for the first time, flowers and their fragrance; as though now I had an understanding of life itself.

“This experience changed my whole life. It was so wonderful that when I tell about it I sometimes forget to mention the physical healing that took place—so much more important to me was the healing of the soul. Three physical ailments were wiped out, two organic conditions and one functional one. The organic trouble had been so painful that I had been under barbiturates most of the time. But in the years since it has never returned.

“The next day I began a clean-up of my whole life, making retribution, wherever I could.

“Now I actually feel joy even in the midst of perplexing situations, and I have a courage that amazes me. Fear is gone and I am sure there is a beyond, a very beautiful one. God enabled me to experience a rebirth or awakening of the soul that keeps growing and growing. My! how exciting life is!

“I try my best to be of help to other human beings, unhappy persons and see their lives begin to change.”

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