Category Archives: Seeing the possibilities

The Power of One

Posted on April 18, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

Do you know that one vote made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector and gave him control of England. One vote caused Charles the First to be executed. One vote changed France from a monarchy to a republic. One vote also made … Continue reading →

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‘Some people look at the way the world is and say, why?’

Posted on February 21, 2016 by vincentsmithauthor

When I was young I shared with most young people of my generation a great admiration for John F Kennedy. We were idealistic and thrilled to his inaugural speech: ‘Ask not what your country can do for you; ask rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Determination, Seeing the possibilities | Tagged | Leave a comment

Never discount people you think can’t do anything for you.

Posted on October 20, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

An elderly couple once went to see the President of Harvard College, who begrudgingly gave them a few minutes of his time. They told him they wanted to erect a memorial to their son. He told them that Harvard didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Generous spirit, Respect, Seeing the best in people, Seeing the possibilities | Tagged | Leave a comment

Missing the things we want most, even when we already have them

Posted on October 20, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Russell H Conwell, in his famous lecture entitled Acres of Diamonds, tells the story of a Pennsylvania farmer who became obsessed with oil exploration, then sold his farm and went off to Canada to prospect for it. However, the man … Continue reading →

Posted in Blindness, Contentment, Disatisfaction, Life, Living Life, Seeing the possibilities, Seeking and Finding, Sight | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Telescopes to God

Posted on August 27, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Hans Lippershey was a Dutch spectacle maker who in sixteen hundred created the first telescope. One day two children came into his shop and were playing with some of the lenses scattered around. They put two together and found they … Continue reading →

Posted in Childlike faith, Faith, God, Seeing Jesus, Seeing the possibilities | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sitting on a gold mine

Posted on June 6, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A few years ago builders, while renovating a landmark hotel in Georgia, discovered the entrance to a shaft under the concrete floor in the main dining room. To their amazement they found the shaft led to the entrance of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Seeing the possibilities, Treasure | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The way God would paint our portrait

Posted on March 10, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s a story of a homeless man sitting across the street from an artist’s studio. The artist saw him and thought he’d make an interesting portrait. So from a distance he painted this man – but not with downcast eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in God, New Life, Salvation, Second chance, Seeing the best in people, Seeing the possibilities | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Spotting the one good thing amidst the failures

Posted on February 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Edward Steichen, one of the world’s most renowned photographers, almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures. At the age of sixteen he bought a camera and took fifty photos. Only one turned out – a portrait … Continue reading →

Posted in Accomplishments, Encouragement, Failure, Positive Thoughts, Seeing the possibilities | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

God’s alternative makes sweeter music

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

There was once an Italian boy named Antonio. He loved music and wanted above everything else to become a singer, but whenever he tried to sing his friends laughed at him. However, his village was home to Nicolo Amati, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Disappointed, Discerning God's Will, God's faithfulness, inner yearning, Making the most of what you've got, Music of life, satisfaction, Second chance, Seeing the possibilities, Stradivarius | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Assuming too little too often

Posted on December 31, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Nobel prize-winner Richard Feynman, while visiting his old high school, was surprised to find that his grades there were not as good as he remembered and that his IQ level was reported as being only a bit above average. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Aspiration, Assumptions, Discerning God's Will, Faith, Life's journey, Making the most of what you've got, Opportunities, Positive Thoughts, Renewed Minds, Seeing the possibilities | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment