Jack’s Winning Words 9/9/14
“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”  (Arthur Ashe)  The men’s finals of the US Open tournament were played yesterday in a stadium named for Arthur Ashe, who won the original “Open” in 1968.  Is that why the stadium is named for him?  Or could it be because he broke the tennis “color” barrier?  I’d like to think that it’s called, Arthur Ashe, because Arthur exemplified today’s “Winning” Words.    ;-)  Jack

FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  It seems that Ashe's quote notes the importance of a fundamental honesty. Admitting what one "can do" with what one actually "has been given" starting at "this particular moment" requires a sort of inner accounting for application and use....right now. I think a similar message can be found in the parable of the "talents". Know the talents given to you by the One who is the owner of them; and utilize them so that fruit may result. Don't neglect them or wait until tomorrow to start using them...for the Master comes for an accounting at a time we know not.  ====JACK:  Thanks for catching the spirit of the quote and expanding on it.  Ashe was more than a tennis player...but we all are more that what we appear to be.====RAY:  I think it is easy to miss the "more than what one appears to be" because we get distracted by the "appearance". Hence, the question, was the stadium named after the great black tennis champion or the "more than what he appeared to be"?====JACK:  Sometimes "the rest of the story" is more interesting than the "original" story....something like the plant that comes from the seed.  Perhaps, instead of writing, "more interesting," I should have written, "adds further interest." 

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  Like.====JACK:  Arthur Ashe was a classy person.  I like that about him.

FROM TARMART REV:  Another good word today!! When a tragedy occurs (self-inflicted or inflicted by another), assess what you have left, use it for the glory of God and watch God multiply it for His use once again . . . I've kind of liked that thought as well over the years.====JACK:  I'm glad that you called attention to the gist of the Ashe quote.  Arthur's life was not an easy one.  Even his heath seemed "unfair."  But, somehow, negatives have a way of turning into positives.

FROM QUILTING CAROL:  Wouldn’t it be nice to get to a place where ‘color’ didn’t matter!====JACK:  That's one of the advantages that Helen Keller enjoyed.

FROM VW MARY:  I do like this advice.