April 2008 Newsletter

Ron Kervin   

Writer/Author, Motivational Speaker

Noteworthy news:

     The new cover art for “Between God & Warriors is almost completed.  I am really excited about the new look. Let us keep our expectations up that the time quote from the publisher is accurate.    

Upcoming events:

A summer time convention in Orlando is tentatively scheduled for some time in July. I must discuss with them the feasibility of moving that event to January. Orlando is a great place to be in winter. 

Quote for the month:

The person of wisdom is never of two minds

The person of benevolence never worries;

The person of courage is never afraid.

Confucius

Scriptures for the month:

“Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”

Galatians 5:7

For Your Consideration:

        I would like to ask each of you a question but first I will need you to paint a mental picture with me. Visualize with me the following scene. You are looking at one of the many Savannah Plains of Africa and on this open expanse you see a group of lions. These lions are out to fetch their dinner for the day. One of the lions spots a herd of gazelles. These are the small, fleet deer that can run very fast and jump really high.  This individual lion we are visualizing has now spotted the one gazelle in the entire herd that it wants for dinner. The lion rushes toward the herd and cuts out this one individual gazelle. The chase is on. The deer runs really fast and cuts back and forth to keep the lion from catching it.    

          Here is the question I would like to ask you. What is the main difference between these two animals?  When I refer to the main difference I am referring to something other than the obvious such as, one is doing the chasing and one is being chased or one is the predator and one is the prey or even perhaps one is a member of the cat family and the other a member of the deer family.  I want to know what you consider is the really big difference between these two animals, which places them into separate groups altogether. Think about that for a moment and we will get right back to the answer. 

          During the early part of my life I was fortunate enough to train with some martial arts masters in their own countries.  My association with the military took me to foreign countries where my interest and training with in the martial arts of Japanese Karate, Kendo and Thai kick boxing allowed me the opportunity to actually train with the old masters within their domains. These opportunities that allowed me to learn from grand masters while they were in their native countries and settings were priceless to me. 

          While I trained with these grand masters of their arts, I was the visitor. I was the one who had ventured onto their turf and their homes. It was my responsibility to assume the mantel of their customs and mold myself to their way of doing things. I can relay to you that many things were different from what they would have been if we were training within the borders of our great nation. Of all the many customs to which I had to adjust, the one that stood out above all the others was the amount of discipline and concentration that was expected of each individual student. 

          I can recall several of my fellow American soldiers who ventured into the training facilities of these old masters. I can also recall several of my fellow soldiers who were quickly tossed out of the training facilities. These old masters were very strict and demanding. When you stepped out in front of them to learn their craft you had better be serious about the venture or you would quickly find yourself on your backside and out the back door. These masters demanded a lot from their students but the thing they demanded most was for the students to be serious about their studies. These masters were scrutinizing avengers of their domain and they judged every move a student would make. They were lords of all they surveyed within their domains. The lessons I learned from these masters have served me well even until today.  

          Now back to our original question. What have you decided is the main difference between the lion and the gazelle?  The main difference between the two animals is this; the lion is running for its dinner and the gazelle is running for its life.  The lion may go hungry today if it does not catch the gazelle but it knows that there are other animals that can fill the dinner menu and tomorrow it may have another opportunity to catch one. The gazelle, on the other hand, knows that if the lion catches it, everything will be gone and there will be no tomorrow. Life has only one race and the gazelle recognizes the fact that there will be no second chance. It must be serious about the race or it will soon be dinner for the lion. 

          It is sad to say, but there are too many of us in life who do not realize that we are running for more than just dinner. There are too many who have not yet grasped the fact that we are in a race for our spiritual lives and we are not going to have a second chance to run the race if we don’t maximize our chances while we have them. Too many of us still do not fully grasp the fact that we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Like the old masters with whom I trained in the Orient, we now run a race under the watchful eye of a God who scrutinizes every move we make. Nothing moves in our world, our universes and our lives that does not fall under the judgment of God. We need to be serious about the race that God has set before us or we will find ourselves tossed out the back door of paradise and into a place that will be less than pleasurable, to say the least.

          It is my hope for you that today when you step out before God for your day’s activities you will recognize that God demands our serious attention to the race we are running and the lessons he is trying to teach us. We can be running for our spiritual lives or we can be dinner for the one who roars about like a lion seeking those whom he may destroy. I have always said that I am not a preacher and I do not spit fire and brimstone at folks but if I did, this would be the point I would do so. The lesson is yours; I hope you maximize your race and win the crown that God has set before you.   

Parting Thoughts:

If you know someone who would like to receive my monthly newsletter, please let me know their email address. If they would prefer to view my newsletters online, they may go to my website at (www.RonKervin.com).

If the word be good, then spread it! 

I can use all the exposure I can get. I appreciate your telling your friends about my work. I also appreciate your support and encouragement.

Until next month, may God bless your pilgrimage! May you live long and prosper and may the force be with you!