| You can learn through Life Training that Adversity can | | | | Before the Civil War, Edmund McIlhenny operated a |
| make you stronger. It is not your enemy. In fact, | | | | sugar plantation and a salt works on Avery Island, |
| Adversity is proof that an enemy exists. | | | | Louisiana. Yankee troops invaded the area in 1863, and |
| Adversity is an opportunity for promotion. Without | | | | McIlhenny had to flee. When he returned in 1865, his |
| Goliath...David would have stayed a lowly shepherd | | | | sugar fields and salt works were ruined. |
| boy. With Goliath...David became a King! A rodeo rider | | | | One of the few things left were some hot Mexican |
| wants the meanest bull he can get! He’ll get a | | | | peppers that had reseeded themselves in the kitchen |
| better score. You need to remember, that it’s not | | | | garden. McIlhenny, who was living hand to mouth, |
| what you are going “through” that matters ... | | | | started experimenting with the ground peppers to |
| it’s what you are going “to” that matters! | | | | make a sauce that would liven up his dull diet. His new |
| Adversity CAN make you stronger... if you let it. | | | | found sauce is known today as Tabasco sauce. To |
| Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children. She was | | | | this day, over a hundred years later, the McIlhenny |
| born prematurely and doctors didn’t expect her to | | | | Company and its Tabasco business is still run by the |
| survive. She did ... but at the age of 4, she contracted | | | | McIlhenny family. |
| double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with | | | | He allowed his Adversity to build him rather than break |
| her left leg paralyzed. | | | | him. It has become a trite saying ... none the less it’s |
| At the age of 9, on a beautiful Sunday, she removed | | | | true ... when life gives you lemons ... make lemonade! |
| the metal leg brace she had depended on for the past | | | | Did you know that when a baby chick is born and you |
| five years and began walking down the aisle of her | | | | try to help it by taking off the shells that you are |
| church. | | | | probably dooming that chick. Because the struggle to |
| By 13, she had developed a rhythmic walk, which | | | | free itself it what develops it’s lungs and muscles. |
| doctors said was a miracle. That same year, she | | | | The fight to survive keeps it alive. There are battles |
| decided she wanted to begin running. She entered her | | | | we must fight if we are to live! |
| first race and came in last. | | | | And when our struggles seem lost ... and we face |
| For the next three years, she came in dead last in | | | | criticism ... we have to realize that the only way we |
| every race she entered. But, she kept on running until | | | | can avoid it easily is by saying nothing, doing nothing |
| the day came that she won a race. | | | | and being nothing! |
| Wilma became more determined than ever. In 1958, | | | | Think about this ... The higher we fly the smaller we |
| she began college at Tennessee State University and | | | | appear to those who choose to stay on the ground! |
| became a member of Ed Temple’s | | | | Here’s some free advice ... a freebee from Eby ... |
| “Tigerbelles” track team. In 1960, she set a world | | | | Don’t talk to cynics and don’t address critics. |
| record for the 200-meter dash during the Olympic | | | | One more quick illustration ... When a blacksmith is |
| trials. | | | | making a horseshoe it is a difficult process. He begins |
| Eventually, the little girl who was not supposed to live | | | | by heating the metal almost to the melting point ... |
| and then who was not supposed to be able to walk | | | | “almost” being the key word. He then pounds it |
| would win three Olympic gold medals. | | | | and pounds it and pounds it. Then when it’s glowing |
| She absolutely refused to let her Adversity deny her | | | | hot and starting to take shape. He submerges it in |
| dreams. Her great testimony was a direct result of her | | | | water and cools it down. And then the whole process |
| great test. It is a fact that you can’t run before you | | | | starts over again! Until finally, he has a shoe that can |
| walk. Do you understand that? You can’t sing | | | | take all that the horse can give out. It’s been |
| before you talk. There is a natural order through Life | | | | through so much ... it will not fail its ultimate test. |
| Training...a progression, if you will, to growth. | | | | Now, to end on a lighter note... |
| Everybody wants these great testimonies of star | | | | A bricklayer had an accident on a construction site and |
| athletes, business leaders, and public figures ... right? | | | | had to file a detailed report for his insurance company. |
| Don’t you want 2000 cheering people to stand up | | | | This is what he wrote: “I’m a bricklayer by trade, |
| and chant your name as you walk across the stage ... | | | | and on the date of the accident I was working alone |
| and they plant a crown on your head ... give you a | | | | on the roof of a new six-story building. When I |
| scepter and sit you on a thrown, and allow you to | | | | completed my work, I discovered that I had a sizable |
| pontificate for a while. Everybody wants those great | | | | pile of bricks left over, and rather than carry the bricks |
| testimonies. But I’m here to tell you ... you can’t | | | | down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel |
| have a testimony until you’ve had a test. Let’s | | | | using a pulley that was attached to the edge of the |
| look at some of the lyrics from a song I wrote that I | | | | roof on one side of the building. After securing the |
| think are pertinent to our discussion. | | | | rope at ground level, I went back up to the roof, swung |
| The victor’s crown only goes to those who’ve | | | | the barrel out, and loaded the bricks into the barrel. |
| been in war. Eagles can’t stay in their nest if they | | | | I then went to the ground and untied the rope, holding it |
| want to soar. Sitting on the sidelines you’ll never be | | | | tightly to ensure slow descent of the bricks. You will |
| your best. You can’t have a testimony ‘til | | | | notice I stated in block number 2 of the accident report |
| you’ve had a test.” | | | | form that I weigh 150 pounds. The bricks, I was soon |
| And the chorus goes, | | | | to discover, weighed slightly more than 500 pounds. |
| You can’t have a testimony ‘til you’ve had a | | | | My weight was not enough to keep me down. |
| test. First the trial of your faith then you will be blessed. | | | | Because of my surprise at being jerked off the ground |
| A seed must die, and be buried before it has success. | | | | by the weight of the bricks, I lost my presence of mind |
| You can’t have a testimony till you’ve had a | | | | and forgot to let go of the rope. (Life Training will teach |
| test. | | | | you!) |
| Isn’t that like life? Listen to the next verse. | | | | Needless to say, I proceeded up the side of the building |
| “God won’t send thirsty people to an empty | | | | at a rather rapid rate of speed. In the vicinity of the |
| well. Heaven’s cup sure is sweeter once | | | | third floor I met the barrel on its way down. This |
| you’ve tasted hell. | | | | accounts for my broken ankle and lacerations along |
| There’s no wine until the grape had gone through | | | | the left side of my body. |
| the press. You can’t have a testimony ‘til | | | | This encounter with the barrel slowed me down |
| you’ve had a test. | | | | enough to minimize my injuries when I landed on the |
| Some of you want that sweet fragrance of wine. You | | | | pile of bricks on the ground. I’m sorry to report that |
| want your life to be like a fine wine ... getting better | | | | as I laid on my back looking at the empty barrel six |
| with age. But, you can’t have the “wine” until | | | | stories above me, I again lost my presence of mind |
| the “grape’- your life, your struggles - has gone | | | | and let go of the rope. The empty barrel weighed |
| through the press. | | | | more than the rope, so it came zooming back down. |
| Adversity can build you. Challenges can cause the | | | | This explains my broken right arm.” |
| muscles to grow. Life Training can keep you. Think | | | | I hope your day is better than his was! But seriously.. |
| about this ... you wouldn’t be what you are today | | | | using Adversity to your advantage is a power principle |
| unless you had walked through what you’ve had to | | | | we all need to use! |
| walk through. You had to deal with those adversities. | | | | It’s like this, folks ..sometimes struggles are exactly |
| Unless you had known what it’s like to fail ... unless | | | | what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go |
| you’ve tasted the bitter cup ... you won’t | | | | through all our life without any obstacles, that would |
| understand the sweetness of success when it comes. | | | | cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we |
| And it will come! | | | | could have been. |
| It’s not how you act in the midst of adversity ... | | | | Don’t let Adversity break you. Through Life Training |
| it’s how you “re”act that will help determine | | | | you can make up your mind to break through! |
| your destiny. | | | | |