Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.
—James 1:12
Duffy Daugherty was football coach at Michigan State 1954–1972. In demand as an after-dinner speaker, the colorful coach gave his rubber-chicken speech hundreds of times, proclaiming you only need three bones to navigate life successfully:
- A wishbone to dream.
- A backbone to get through tough times.
- A funny bone to laugh along the way.
The apostle Paul had all three.
His wishbone enabled him to dream and realize the far-reaching spread of the gospel.
His backbone is seen in the dark side of his résumé (2 Cor 11: 23–27).
His funny bone wasn’t shattered by life’s difficulties. Beaten mercilessly and dumped in a dungeon, Paul and Silas sang duets of praise (Acts 16:22–25).
Dream big, my friend. Stay strong. And find joy along the way.
Survival gear: Vision. Courage. Joy.