Balloons

Every year near around the Fourth of July, near Battle Creek is the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival.  Dozens of hot air balloonists from all over the country come to Battle Creek to participate,  The skies of southern Michigan are filled with balloons and people come from all over the Midwest to take in the festivities.

Whenever I see a hot air balloon I am reminded of a story that I once heard about Benjamin Franklin.  He was in Paris and saw an exhibition of one of the first hot air balloons.  People (including Franklin) were amazed at this new technology.  One skeptic in the crowd offered the question, "What good it?"  Franklin's response was, "What good is a new born baby?"  Franklin saw more than a novelty.  He saw potential.

Potential.  It's not about what it is but what it can become.  As a teacher I have seen many students over the years rise above a rough start to become very impressive adults.  Who we are now is not who we can become.  

Think of Abraham Lincoln.  Before becoming President he tried starting two different businesses and failed both times.  He lost eight elections for various offices.  He suffered a nervous breakdown and spent weeks in bed recovering.  He could have given up, but he persevered.  He was the right person in the right place at the right time.  He never let his early failures limit his future potential.

Potential.  That is the trick for all of us.  Seeing ourselves not for who we are, but rather for who we can become.  God is the real master at unlocking our true potential.  Through His grace we can be released from the burdens of the the past and we can become more than we ever thought was possible.

Watch this clip from Pastor Chris.

Potential.  We can be in a place that is pretty good by the standards of the world, but still far behind what we could be while walking on God's path for us.  Only by surrendering our selves to Gos's plan and purpose for our lives can we find our true potential.