Churchill's Example
This flair for humor and occasional jokes also characterized Sir Winston Churchill. During the war, he wore a varied and obviously funny assortment of uniforms, hats and paraphernalia. Alan Moorehead wrote: "There was an immense love for Churchill in England through these years. The crowds knew everyone of his uniforms and hats, his siren suits, the bow tie, the shoes with zip fasteners, the walking stick, the watch chain. Nothing apparently could ever weary them of the V-sign or the cigar, and the first sound of the grumpy, reassuring voice on the radio silenced all conversation in any pub or public place."
Once, at the White House, President Roosevelt was wheeled into Churchill's room and found him, surprisingly, still drying himself after a bath. Roosevelt began to apologize and started to leave. But Churchill protested it was quite all right: "The Prime Minister of Great Britain has nothing to conceal from the President of the United States."
So learn to laugh even at yourself — and at the many funny things that happen in life. Of course, always try to laugh with people, not at them. Learn also to preserve, or recapture, your youthful zest for the right kind of up-building fun and games — and for the new and different things and experiences that help make life interesting!
III. Learn to be Patient, Compassionate and Modest
Perhaps the thing that irks others most about many so-called "important" people is that they are so impressed with SELF that they seem blind to the needs and wishes of others. They are pompous and vain. They are impatient and demanding — cutting other people off in conversation and expecting superhuman efforts of their subordinates that even they themselves would not be able to accomplish. They utterly lack real compassion — the ability to share in the plans, hopes, dreams and suffering of others.
Like many a politician, they can put on a grand show in public — "demonstrating" by some pompous act or gesture that they care, after all, for the "common man."
But, sooner or later, they get found out. For, as Abraham Lincoln is reputed to have said: "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time."
Indeed, one of the characteristics which made Lincoln great was his sincere compassion for the slaves and the downtrodden — plus his personal modesty and profound humility. Perhaps you have heard the story of the little old lady who was impatiently waiting outside her apartment house or hotel for a buggy to take her to the train station. Although the station was only a few blocks away, she had a large trunk too heavy even for an average man to want to carry for that distance. Finding her in distress — in fact almost at the point of tears over the prospect of missing her train — and with no buggy or help in sight, President Lincoln picked up the large trunk, placed it across his strong shoulders which had split so many rails back in Illinois, and said: "Follow me!"
The little old lady, and her trunk, were personally placed on board the train by the President of the United States!
For a far greater example yet, it is very enlightening to read the life story of the greatest Personality of all times — looking as you read for the word "compassion."
"And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his . . ." (Mark 1:41).
"And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her. . ." (Luke 7:13).
"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them . . ." (Matt. 9:36). Etc., etc.
Genuine outgoing concern for others — as Jesus had — will by expressed in hundreds of little ways. Tact, courtesy, consideration — we have many different names for such small attentions. Yet it is often through these acts of thoughtful kindness that we demonstrate to people the depth of our concern, our friendship and our love.
Again, learn to "give" yourself to others with sincere love and outgoing consideration for them. Have empathy — express compassion for them when they are suffering, or when they are down and out. Become more patient and tolerant of the mistakes of others — realizing your own human frailty. And be loyal to your friends and loved ones — not expediently "throwing them aside" when you think you have become "important."
Do all this — and you will inspire the love, confidence and personal devotion of others in a manner that will enrich your life beyond measure.
IV. Be Strong, Confident and Courageous
Strength of will and personality, infectious optimism and raw courage are qualities all of us admire. The greatest leaders and personalities of all time have had, at least in measure, these qualities.
To be this way, you must, of course, have a purpose in which you fervently believe — and for which you are willing to die if necessary.
Again, Churchill — the Man of the Century — is a moving example. In England's darkest days of the Second World War, he was constantly encouraging and uplifting the spirits of the British nation and the entire free world by his resolute conduct and his magnificent speeches. As President Kennedy stated: "He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle."
In the critical period just after Dunkirk — when invasion by Hitler's legions seemed imminent — Churchill's ringing voice proclaimed to Britain and the world: "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight in the seas and oceans . . . we shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches and landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. . . We shall NEVER surrender."
Courageous? Indeed it was, under the circumstances. But more, the weight of sincerity and truth, the infectious optimism and confident manner, the unbinding determination and WILL to win — all these things lifted and inspired the British people so that this was, indeed, "their finest hour."
Real Courage Involves FAITH
The greatest examples of faith and courage are found in the Bible. In Acts 5:17-42, we read the account of the Apostles of God being put in prison and threatened by the Jewish hierarchy of the time. The Jews had almost decided to kill them until Gamaliel, a wise counselor spoke. "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and BEATEN them, they COMMANDED them they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go" (verse 40).
After being threatened for their very lives — and their backs raw and bleeding from a cat-o'-nine-tails beating — you would certainly think they would at least slack off in their preaching, or perhaps go "underground."
Quite the contrary!
"And they departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And DAILY in the temple, and in every house, they CEASED NOT to teach and preach Jesus Christ" (verses 41-42).
They had absolute confidence in the LIVING God, and plenty of RAW COURAGE to go through terrible trials and suffering often necessary in His service.
The man who has this type of courage and confidence, the man who is bold and SURE of his convictions will inspire the admiration and respect of his friends and associates. Any real leader of men must have this bold power of decision, this sense of "captaincy" in storming the beaches of life, scaling the mountains and conquering all obstacles.
Learn to cultivate and build courage and absolute confidence into your life! Practice these qualities when the little trials and tests come along — then it will become second nature to exercise them on the great occasions. Most important of all, surrender your life to your Creator and to His PURPOSE — then you can in faith ask Him for His strength, confidence and courage!
V. Enthusiasm, Drive and PURPOSE
No matter what his other faults, a person or a public speaker will always capture at least our momentary attention and interest if he has an abundance of just one quality — ENTHUSIASM. For if the poorest speaker in the world is on fire — completely GIVEN to his message — he is going to speak, gesture and perhaps shout with such ringing conviction and force as to wake up even the sleepiest audience.
But most people seem only HALF ALIVE. They have no goal or purpose. They have lost their youthful zest for living and doing. They are often dull, boring and uninteresting. But the interesting person is lively and enthusiastic — and he usually makes life more interesting for others.
Discussing the colorful personality and zeal of Sir Winston Churchill, even in his private life, Bernard Baruch tells us: "I often wish people could look in on him as he walks through his garden with his dog, pausing to admire the beauty of a rose or to lecture the goldfish in the pond as he feeds them. I wish people could read the cables I have received from this master of English prose, cables in which he expressed his ENTHUSIASM over some development with a brisk 'O boy!' "
The very word "enthusiasm" comes from the Greek en theos, or "God in us." We often speak of one as being "inspired" in his cause if he portrays great enthusiasm.
"Eloquence," said the great orator, William Jennings Bryan, "may be defined as the speech of one who knows what he is talking about, and means what he says — it is thought on fire . . . Knowledge is of little use to the speaker without earnestness. Persuasive speech is from HEART to HEART, not from mind to mind."
Find the Real Goal
To sincerely be enthusiastic and driving ahead in all your activities, you must have a goal, or PURPOSE. So learn to set goals for yourself and cultivate enthusiastic DRIVE and ZEAL in all that you do. In your voice, your face and your actions, show that you are excited and thrilled about the opportunities and challenges of life.
God says: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest" (Eccl. 9:10). So be zealous for those things that are right and good in this life, and put your whole BEING into seeking your Creator and His PURPOSE in giving you life and breath. Then you will REALLY have something to be "ENTHUSIASTIC" about!
As His servant and His begotten son, become more outgoing and warm to all those about you; build zest and humor into your life; be patient, compassionate and modest toward your fellow human beings; with God's help become strong, confident and courageous; and finally, with God's supreme PURPOSE in mind, build drive and enthusiasm into all you think, say and do.
Do these things — and you will have a richer and happier life, you will extend additional happiness and courage to others, and you will have made great progress toward fulfilling the great purpose of your loving Creator.