Life's Constant Trials

In Morgan's case you'd be completely wrong! Well, at least he had a good start with the benefit of a Hunterdon education. No, that's wrong too. He left his parent's farm after a dreadful argument with his father. At 17 using his fists was about all Daniel knew. He was hardly literate.

As for a good job - all he could manage was to drive a wagon for the English army in the French & Indian War. At 20 he had his back torn open by being sentenced to 500 lashes after an altercation with a British Lieutenant. Yet there was a spark of humor in him. The drummer lost count and he often quipped that the English army owed him a lash.

Despite this he joined the army and was an ensign within a year. If your life started out rough - take courage better things can be up ahead.

Stop dwelling on a poor start.

In an ambush at the appropriately named Winchester, Virginia Indian marksmen killed 2 soldiers with him. Morgan was wounded. The bullet entered the back of his neck, shattered the teeth on his left jaw, and exited his cheek. That marred his good looks!

Somehow the place of the ambush became his home. By 33 he owned a home there, 4 years later he was married and fathered 2 girls. Ah, at last Morgan could settle down and leave in peace.

No, for along came the Revolutionary War calling him to years of soldiering.

Are you starting to get the picture? Life isn't necessarily about prolonged happiness. It's about growth in character. Daniel was a rough diamond and tough times were doing the polishing.

He accepted a captain's rank in Washington's army, marched with Benedict Arnold to fight at Quebec where he was captured and languished in prison. The English freed him and soon he saw action against them at the Battle of Saratoga. Have you worked hard and had other people got the credit? Then you'll know what he felt after Saratoga! 2 years later with much discouragement and disappointment he resigned from the army. The reason he wasn't promoted was his refusal to court favors with congress. There must have been some temptation to wallow in bitterness.

Yet, with a stout heart he put on the uniform again and perhaps his greatest moment came in his 45th year at the battle called Cowpens. The British lost 910 to the Americans 73. Don't let anyone tell you that if you haven't made your mark in the world by the time you're 40 it's all over. History calls that talk "defeatist nonsense." That night before the battle it was actually the sight of his scarred back that rallied his troops.

You'll be surprised how today's sufferings might come back to make you a more effective person in days up ahead. His teamstering earned him the troops' nickname: The Old Wagoneer.

In Morgan's 54th year a grateful nation honored his efforts. In 1797 he served one term in the House of Representatives.

He only lived to 66, but the aim of this life isn't how long you live but how well you spent the years.

St. Paul had an inkling that he wasn't long for this world. That's why he said: "In every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

So live with your life given to the embrace of a cause bigger than your luxury or fame. Discover what it means to find your life by laying it down for the good of others, and like Morgan, don't shrink from sufferings.

Life could be making you.