I heard this poem regularly as a student @ Morehouse College. It’s about squeezing value out of the time that God has given you. I’m pretty sure most of us forget that our time on earth was given to us as a gift to use and is severely limited.
Simple but profound, Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, the beloved President of Morehouse from 1940-1967, recited this poem regularly to students and I will be sharing it today as we launch our series on 100 Life Goals @ Courageous Church.
I’ve only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can’t refuse it,
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,
But it’s up to me to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it,
Give an account if I abuse it,
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.
{ 5 comments }
He is a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. I have used this poem many times to get me through hardships I have faced in life!
Man, that poem is awesome. I saw your tweet and it led me here. And now, I'm gonna pass it fwd to encourage some I know need to hear it.
Man, that poem is awesome. I saw your tweet and it led me here. And now, I'm gonna pass it fwd to encourage some I know need to hear it.
Shaun
I recently read about what happened to you and your wife on that fateful day, on that icy stretch of highway. I know the pain that you suffered because a drunk driver ran a red light and hit my van 21 years ago. My head went thru the drivers side glass and I lost consciousness and went head first thru my windshield after running into a tree! I was so badly hurt that the paramedics were told at the first hospital that they rushed me to told them that they were not equipped to handle my injuries. I was lapsing in and out of consciousness for two days. When I maintained consciousness, I was in a circle bed and was paralyzed on my entire left side from a bone that broke from my neck and lodged into my shoulder. In addition my neck was broke in three places and my head was split open in four places. I was in physical and occupational rehabilitation for almost a year. I had to have a spinal fusion to take bone from my hip and remake the broken bones in my neck, 5octors said I would only be 40 percent of what I was before the accident. I am a living testimony of how God is Great! After my rehab, I was walking, swimming, playing basketball and being able to pick my little girl up who was 4 years old at the time. I have my story many times to my adult ed students to always remember that God stayed with me thru my ordeal and reminded me that life is short and you should do what He has destined for you now. Inspire and encourage others as I am thankful the God sent your testimony to me all the way up here in Detroit. May God’s message forever resound in your ministry! .. ,
As a child of God, I appreciate this poem, because I understand it. I pray that it blesses all who reads it, and that they apply it. Thanks writer!
{ 1 trackback }