The Secret

/ Walt Disney is said to have taken a friend to a large, unimpressive plot of land and told him, “Buy it now, as much of this as you can. Soon the time will have passed and it will be too late!.” But his friend wasn’t in on the secret: He didn’t have the vision Walt Disney did, he couldn’t see what Disney saw in his head. He politely declined his friend’s advice, and gave up the chance to buy thousands of acres of land adjacent to a Disney theme park.

/ There was a secret Disney wanted to let his friend in on that would have made a huge difference in this man’s life, but he didn’t know it and act on it.

How to live well

/ I want to know how to live well and there are a ton of people who want to show us.

The secret to a longer life

The secret to a happy marriage

The secret to work / life harmony

The secret to better cancer care

The secret to happy children

The secret to living to 100

A variety of experiences

/ We all have struggles, and most of us go through significant seasons of heartbreak and and happiness.

Find satisfaction in life

Keep physically healthy, remaining mobile and strong

Keep learning and developing skills

Remaining emotionally healthy and sound

/ And we want to do these things while

We have zero spare time while raising children

We’re aging, with all the increased wisdom and physical challenges accompanying that

We’ve known real joy

We’ve experienced piercing pains

The secret...

“In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret...”

p / Four seasons visual. We know that circumstances differ at various times, in different settings.

/ We want to know the secret to living well no matter what!

Paul has known:

Having little, having plenty

A satisfied appetite, hunger

Freedom, imprisonment

Praise, slander

Being well received, fleeing because of a murderous plot

Friendship, the breaking of friendship

Secrecy/mystery: Hidden things revealed by God to his people

Ongoing communion with the Lord

p / Woman praying

/ Talk to God. Let the voice within your head that narrates your life be directed in conversation toward the living God

p / Man studying

/ Learn what God has revealed about himself

We share the secret

The story is told of an outstanding actor who was asked to entertain one evening at an immense dinner party. As the great actor arose to speak the room was filled with excitement as the eager guests anticipated his message.

The star of the day said that he was going to recite the Twenty-third Psalm. This he did in a dramatic and eloquent manner. As soon as he had finished the chamber roared with applause as the audience arose in a standing ovation.

The next speaker of the evening was an elderly white-haired man who was bowed and feeble, worn by many long years of steadfast, patient labor as a missionary. A hush fell over the audience as he arose. After a moment’s silence he said humbly, “I, too, would like to recite the Shepherd’s Psalm.”

Then, lifting his face slightly toward Heaven he closed his eyes and began:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

When the servant of the Lord finished, a pin could have been heard if one had dropped on the floor. This time there was no applause. There was standing ovation. Not a sound was heard. Yet, throughout the room there was not a dry eye. Tears were flowing freely.

Shortly afterward, a man approached the outstanding actor and said, “I don’t understand. You both said the same thing. Your presentation was perfect in every way. Yet, when he spoke in his halting, imperfect manner, people were moved too deeply for words. What made the difference?”

The actor hesitated and then replied, “The answer is simple. I knew the Twenty-third Psalm and I knew it well, but he knows the Shepherd!”

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