Without Struggle, There is No Progress
Abolitionist Frederick Douglass once said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
While Douglass’ struggle for the abolishment of slavery was definitely more consequential, his statement can apply to all hopes and dreams, even in 2013.
Basketball star LeBron James has been in the media spotlight since high school.
Given the monikers “King James” and the “Chosen One” as a teenager meant individual success would not be enough to satisfy his ambition or silence the detractors.
In fact, winning one championship, especially as a member of the Miami Heat’s Big Three, would not even be enough to meet expectations.
James’ struggles to reach, and stay at the mountaintop, should be a testimony to all who dream. Your trip to the top will not be easy, or without haters, but if you keep moving you will definitely get God’s blessings for your life.
“I’m LeBron James, from Akron, Ohio, from the inner city. I’m not even supposed to be here,” he said. “That’s enough. Every night I walk into the locker room, I see a No. 6 with James on the back, I’m blessed. So what everybody says about me off the court, don’t matter. I ain’t got no worries.”
And if you have God, no one should worry about their dreams coming to fruition if they are in line with God’s will.
In fact, God has a way of showing up right when you are about to give up on your dreams to let you know that your dreams can only come true through his blessings.
James and the Heat should have been eliminated in game six.
Their fans had given up on them as evident in them leaving the arena early.
The NBA had given up on them, as evident by the security guards and rope around American Airlines Arena, and the wheeling out of the NBA championship trophy for the San Antonio Spurs.
However, the Heat didn’t give up until the final buzzer sounded and they miraculously pulled out a win in game six and clinched their second championship in a row with a win in game seven last night.
Testimonies are obviously not limited to sports
Media mogul Tyler Perry was homeless and living in his car before his stage plays became worldwide hits.
Comedian Steve Harvey worked on the assembly line for Ford Motor Company before his career took off. He didn’t even have a car registered in his name until he was in his thirties, which gives you perspective on how bleak his financial circumstances were before he found superstardom.
Rapper Eminem had virtually given up on his music career before he made one last trip to Hollywood to seek a recording contract. He told his band mates in D12 that if things did not work out on that trip he was giving up on his rap dreams.
However, that trip to California led to him signing a contract with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, and the rest is as they say, history.
No one’s road to success is a smooth trip and no one fulfills a dream without a few nightmares along the way.
But, if you keep walking towards your dreams and keep believing, your blessing is probably closer than you can even imagine.
