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Good Morning. Here is a great thought for the day:

I WAS SWEATING. Dr. Moss was about to give us the final exam in freshman English.

He told us our task was to write a theme presenting the merits of integrating schools. These were difficult times. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had recently been killed, the National Guard had been called out to Mississippi to block James Meredith from entering Ole Miss. The nation was torn... especially in the South.

Of the thirty people in my class, twenty-nine were white and one was black. Much to my amazement, about five minutes into the two-hour exam the black student walked to the desk, handed Dr. Moss his paper, and left. I was shocked and thought maybe he was upset about the topic and was walking out in protest. However, I continued writing, and just before the two-hour mark turned in my paper.

Two days later the class gathered to receive their final grades, and all the themes were returned, except one. Dr. Moss said there were some good papers and there were some lousy papers. (I was thrilled with my B+.) But he said the one A+ was earned by Robert, the young black student in the first row. Dr. Moss said, "I'd like to read it to the class. It's short, and won't take long. In fact he said it's only one sentence... fourteen words to be exact."

"It takes both the black and white keys to play the Star Spangled Banner."

Wow! I remember the chills that went up my spine when I heard those words. What insight from this young man!

We are all in this world together. And think about it for a moment . . . if we were all totally committed to the Golden Rule, regardless of looks, religion or skin color . . . can you imagine what a wonderful world it could be?

Have a wonderful day.

"Each morning is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When the sun rises tomorrow this day will be gone forever, in its place will be something you have left — may it be something good. Follow your heart, it knows what to do."

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